Frequently Asked Questions.

Our consultation is free of charge and non-binding.

Even though Swiss Life Select Headquarter in Hannover allows a one-time consultation fee, the German Sherpa Expat Team decided to skip this fee for our clients.

What is the reason for this?

We believe that first you should experience how we work and build trust with us. If you are a happy client, you may recommend us to your friends and colleagues.

• You get our consultation for free
• Your friend receives the same good consultation
• We get additional clients through fair recommendations

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.

Please bring or prepare your salary slip, passport, residence permit and current insurance or investment documents if available.

It also helps to think about your goals in Germany, for example retirement, buying property, family security or long-term investment planning.

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.

Usually, you can nominate one person as your beneficiary in case of your death. This can be your spouse or another person such as a parent, brother or sister.

It is usually irrelevant whether this person lives in Germany or abroad. You can also change the beneficiary in the future.

For many contracts, there is an extra cancellation right if you officially deregister from Germany.

In case of leaving Germany, we usually need the official deregistration form from the city. Insurance providers can then refund already paid future premiums back to your account. This may take a few weeks, but it is a proven process.

Some products, such as flexible asset growth schemes, may also be continued abroad. In certain scenarios, it can make sense to continue contracts for a period of time.

Usually: No.

Private liability insurance covers damage that you or family members in the same household cause to third parties. It does not normally protect your own belongings against damage caused by yourself.

But: There may be an option to add electronic device insurance to special household contracts. This can also cover damage to mobile phones and laptops owned by you. Ask us for an offer if this is relevant for you.

Welcome to Germany. An insurance policy is still an official document and therefore often needs to be sent to you as an original by post.

Please make sure that your name is on the letterbox so that you can receive the post with your policy document.

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

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

As financial consultants, we are not allowed by law to do tax filing for our clients.

We can support you with legally allowed ways to structure future financial decisions, use government support and subsidies where suitable, and avoid unnecessary future taxes through proper planning.

For tax filing, there are usually three alternatives:

• Apps like Elster or Taxfix — low-cost solution, mostly for standard tax filing
• Communities like Steuerring — personal contact, medium price range
• Dedicated tax consultants — individual support for more complex cases, usually higher cost

Yes, but the rate and method depend on the product type. We help you understand your options and structure investments tax-efficiently within the legal framework.

Yes. We only work with licensed and regulated providers in Germany.

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.

This depends on the type of real estate.

For emotional investment — meaning you buy a property to move in yourself — the process can take several months.

For capital investment in real estate — meaning you buy a property to rent it out — it can be faster. The fastest processing we have seen was around two weeks from first meeting to notary signature. The average time is usually around three to six months.

Typical starting points are:

• Attend one of our free real estate seminars
• Join our preferred list to receive future offers
• Have a 1:1 meeting with Marcel
• Decide on the right project
• Discuss financing details and tax advantages
• Attend the notary appointment
• Become a landlord in Germany

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.

You can start with as little as 25 € per month — or build larger portfolios for long-term growth.

Yes. Even with a temporary residence permit, you can usually invest legally in Germany.

It can offer higher long-term return potential, inflation protection and tax advantages compared with a standard savings account.

Compared to a regular investment depot, a fund-based pension contract can offer several advantages for long-term, tax-optimized wealth building:

• No annual capital gains tax inside the contract — returns grow tax-deferred until withdrawal
• Flexible access depending on the product structure
• No front-end load on selected investment funds in many solutions
• Access to selected institutional funds depending on the provider
• Free fund switches in many contracts
• Potential tax advantages after age 62 under current rules
• International portability depending on contract and destination country

This can make it an efficient option for expats planning for retirement or long-term investing with cross-border flexibility.

In managed products like fund-based pension schemes, total contract costs can be front-loaded. This means many costs are charged during the first years.

That is why the break-even point is often reached later, commonly between year five and seven. This can be normal for mid- to long-term investment strategies.

Performance also depends on selected funds, market conditions and your individual investment profile.

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.