Financial questions in Germany, answered clearly.

Our initial consultation is currently offered free of charge and without obligation. We use the first meeting to understand your situation and explain how we work.

If you decide to proceed with a product or service, we explain the relevant remuneration structure and documents before implementation.

We start with a needs analysis and then design a financial concept tailored to your situation. You can choose to implement it with our support.

Usually, new clients attend our free seminars first — either face-to-face or online. After that, we schedule an individual 1:1 meeting with one of our consultants to discuss your financial topics and suitable solutions.

Once you become a client, we usually set up at least yearly follow-up meetings to monitor changes in your personal or financial situation and adapt the strategy accordingly.

Yes. Our consultations are available in English, Spanish and German.

Think about your goals, current financial commitments and the questions you would most like to clarify. You may have recent income information, insurance summaries and investment overviews ready if relevant.

Please do not send passports, residence permits, bank statements or other sensitive documents through an ordinary contact form. We will explain any secure document process if required.

An EU Blue Card is a residence title, not an insurance or financial product. However, your employment terms, income, family situation and plans to stay in Germany can affect decisions about health insurance, income protection, saving and retirement.

We can explain financial products and help you prepare questions about your personal situation. Immigration eligibility and residence-law advice should be checked with the responsible authority or a qualified legal professional.

Some types of cover are essential from the start, especially suitable health insurance. Other products may only be available once you have a German address, identification, bank account or employment details.

We recommend prioritising healthcare cover, liability protection and an emergency fund before committing to longer-term investment contracts. Exact eligibility depends on the provider.

We support selected sports teams and events that align with our expat values. Reach out to apply or discuss a partnership model.

Yes. We are happy to support initiatives that strengthen expat communities, cultural exchange and integration in Germany.

We hold webinars regularly. Dates are announced on our website, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Please check our seminar calendar for upcoming online and live seminars.

We rotate cities based on demand. If you want a session in your city, send us a request.

Not always. We compare providers independently and recommend a suitable mix based on coverage and pricing.

There is usually no single company that is the best provider for every insurance product. With our Best Select approach, we aim to find the best provider and solution for each product.

For some insurance types it can even make sense to separate the provider. For example, if legal insurance and liability insurance are with the same provider, conflicts of interest may arise in certain situations.

Some life insurance and pension contracts allow you to nominate beneficiaries who live abroad. Eligibility, required details, inheritance considerations and payment procedures depend on the contract and applicable law. We can check the options for your specific policy.

It depends on the contract. Deregistering from Germany does not automatically create a special cancellation right for every insurance or financial product. Some policies can be cancelled after moving abroad, while others may remain in force or require an ordinary notice period.

Contact us before you move. We can review the terms, explain which documents a provider may request and help clarify potential refunds of prepaid premiums.

Private liability insurance normally covers certain losses you cause to other people, not accidental damage to your own devices. Separate device insurance or specific optional cover may offer protection for accidental damage, subject to exclusions, deductibles and policy terms.

Delivery depends on the insurer and the product. Many documents are available digitally, while some providers still send policy documents or additional correspondence by post. Check your insurer’s customer portal and make sure your postal address and letterbox name are correct.

Statutory health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance (PKV) work differently. GKV contributions generally depend on contributory income, while PKV premiums depend on the tariff and individual underwriting factors. Family coverage, benefits, deductibles and long-term cost development can differ significantly.

Whether you can choose PKV depends on factors such as your employment and insurance status and applicable eligibility rules. Neither system is universally better; we look at your family, health situation, income outlook and plans to remain in Germany before comparing options.

A return to GKV is not always possible by choice. It depends on the statutory insurance rules and whether a situation arises that creates or restores compulsory insurance or another qualifying entitlement. Age and employment status can be especially relevant.

Because moving into PKV can have long-term consequences, it is important to assess future family and career scenarios before switching. We review insurance implications; binding eligibility decisions rest with the relevant insurer and statutory rules.

Occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, BU) can pay an agreed monthly benefit if you can no longer perform your insured occupation to the degree defined in the policy because of illness or injury.

The scope, occupational definition, health assessment, exclusions, benefit period and premiums vary. It can be particularly relevant if your income supports your rent, family or long-term commitments. Whether cover is available to you depends on underwriting and residence-related criteria.

Some BU policies provide worldwide cover, but territorial scope, claim verification requirements and ongoing obligations differ by contract. A move abroad may affect how medical evidence and claims are handled.

Before relocating, check your exact policy wording and notify the insurer where required. Do not assume that a policy ends or continues on identical terms without reviewing it.

Yes. We assist with a free German bank account setup for expats.

You can find more information here: German bank account setup.

German Sherpa offers financial consulting, not individual tax return preparation. Depending on your case, you can use official ELSTER services, tax software, an authorised income tax assistance association or a tax adviser.

For specific tax outcomes, deductions or cross-border issues, please consult an authorised tax professional.

Investment taxation depends on your tax residence, the investment type, holding structure and any applicable double-taxation agreement. Different products can be taxed differently. We can explain product features from a financial-planning perspective; individual tax advice and filing should be provided by a qualified tax professional.

German financial and insurance providers operate under different regulatory and consumer-protection frameworks. The exact safeguards depend on the product and provider; investment losses from market movements generally are not guaranteed against.

We can explain which institution is responsible for a specific product and what protections and risks apply.

We work with many banks, and the interest rate is affected by several factors such as household income, expenses, loan-to-value ratio of the property and other details.

We suggest booking a 1:1 meeting with one of our loan and home loan specialists.

Timelines vary widely based on property availability, financing, due diligence and the notary process. A purchase may take several months; faster transactions are possible but should never be assumed.

Typical steps include defining your budget, discussing financing, checking documents, selecting a suitable property, reviewing the purchase agreement and completing the notarised transaction.

We begin by identifying your personal investor profile. This includes:

• Your financial goals
• Your current financial situation
• Your investment experience
• Your preferred investment horizon
• Your attitude toward risk

We then compare this profile with available investment options in Germany, current market trends and our experience with expat needs. The result is a tailored investment proposal based on your situation.

Some savings plans are available from approximately €25 per month, but minimum contributions depend on the specific provider and product. We first look at your emergency savings, goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before considering an investment plan.

Permanent residency is not always necessary to invest in Germany. Access depends on your residence status, tax residence, identification documents, the provider’s eligibility rules and the product concerned.

A fund-based pension can offer long-term growth potential and, depending on the contract, tax features. It also involves market risk, fees, restrictions and potentially a long time horizon. A savings account can be more appropriate for emergency funds and short-term goals.

Neither option is automatically better: the appropriate choice depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, liquidity needs and expected time in Germany.

A fund-based pension policy and a standard investment account have different trade-offs. A pension contract may offer tax deferral or retirement-focused features under certain conditions, but it can also involve additional insurance costs, product restrictions and lower flexibility.

An investment account may provide greater transparency and access to your assets, but its tax treatment differs. We compare net costs, taxes, investment options, portability and flexibility based on your goals. No structure is universally better.

Short-term returns depend on market performance, fund selection and all product-level costs. Some pension and insurance-linked investment contracts deduct significant costs in their early years, which can reduce the surrender value. There is no universal five-to-seven-year break-even point.

We can help review your policy documents, cost disclosures, performance and investment horizon before drawing conclusions.

Many plans can be continued internationally. Others can be frozen or paid out, depending on the product and your destination country. We advise based on each individual case.

Betriebliche Altersvorsorge (bAV) is an occupational pension arranged through an employer. Depending on the scheme, contributions may come from the employee, employer or both. Salary conversion can have tax and social-insurance effects within statutory limits, and employer contributions depend on the applicable rules and arrangement.

Before joining, compare the employer subsidy, product costs, vesting, portability after changing jobs, access at retirement and potential tax or health-insurance contributions on future benefits.

Your rights depend on the type of occupational pension, how contributions were funded, vesting rules and the conditions of the scheme. Changing employers does not necessarily mean losing an accrued entitlement, but transferring or continuing contributions is not always straightforward.

Moving abroad may also raise questions about future payments and tax treatment. Request the provider documentation and obtain specialist tax advice where needed before making changes.

Many products can remain in place, but providers may restrict new contributions, trading, changes or service depending on your destination and tax residence. Taxation may also change when you leave Germany.

Check each contract before relocating, update your address and tax-residency information, and seek professional tax advice about possible cross-border consequences.