Trusted by 100+ expats
across Germany
Independent Pension Advice
Private pension Germany planned properly,without the guesswork
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Whole-market access
Christian compares providers across the market, not one insurer's shelf.
Independent by law
Licensed under §34d GewO — advice shaped by your situation, not a sales quota.
English, start to finish
Every document, every conversation, explained in plain English.
What is a private pension for expats?
Germany’s state pension rarely covers the life you’re planning for. Most
expats arrive mid-career, which shortens the years counted toward it. STAT LINE: ~€1,913/month — After 45 years at average wages, the state pension pays roughly €1,913/month. Most expats never reach anywhere near 45 contribution years
A private pension in Germany helps you build additional retirement savings alongside the statutory pension. This can be particularly important for expats who move to Germany later in their careers and may accumulate fewer years in the German pension system. A private pension can help close that potential retirement gap while giving you more control over how you save and invest for the future.
Build beyond the state pension
Create additional retirement income instead of relying on Germany’s statutory pension alone.
Choose a pension that fits your plans
Compare costs, flexibility and investment options before committing for the long term.
Real expats, real private pension Germany decisions
A few words from people who finally understood their pension gap and
did something about it.
Super. Nur gute Erfahrungen gemacht. Super Kundenservice. Netter Mensch und kompetente Beratung
Kompetente Beratung ohne Schnickschnack
Eigentlich hatte ich mir vorgenommen, hier ein lyrisches Meisterwerk als Rezession zu hinterlassen, aber mit Fakten ist man hier besser bedient 🙂 Das Thema Versicherungen war für mich immer eine Blackbox und ich habe es jahrelang vor mir hergeschoben, was natürlich auch nicht zielführend war. Chris konnte viel Licht in den dichten Versicherungsnebel bringen, hat mir alles super geduldig und ausführlich erklärt und mir die bestmöglichen Versicherungsoptionen angeboten. Kein Schnickschnack, kein unnötiger Quatsch. Super kompetent, prima Beratung und bei insure-Germany ist man einfach gut aufgehoben. Merci!
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- IHK-registriert im Vermittlerregister
- Berufshaftpflicht wie gesetzlich vorgeschrieben abgeschlossen
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Christian Keller · independent broker, Mannheim
- Independent advice
- Long-term planning
Pension advice that actually fits your timeline
Pension advice isn’t a one-off policy check — it’s a decades-long relationship.
Christian isn’t tied to any insurer, so the plan fits you, not a quota. Every recommendation is explained in the open: what it costs, what it doesn’t guarantee.
Advice stays free — he’s paid by commission, not by you.
- Independent comparison across Rürup, Basisrente, and betriebliche Altersvorsorge options
- A clear picture of your personal pension gap, in numbers you understand
- Ongoing review as your income, residency, or plans change
No obligation, no cost — just clarity on where you stand.
Know your pension gap today
A short, free conversation shows exactly where your retirement savings in Germany stand.
Do expats in Germany need a private pension?
Most expats end up with a smaller state pension than German nationals
who worked here their whole career, simply because fewer contribution
years mean a smaller payout. If you arrived in your 30s or later, this
pension gap can be significant by the time you reach retirement age.
A private pension in Germany doesn’t replace the state system — it closes
the gap it leaves behind. Whether that means a Rürup pension, an
ETF-based plan, or your employer’s company pension, the right mix depends
on your income, residency plans, and how long you intend to stay.
Not mandatory
But widely considered essential
Few € / month
Typical entry-level pricing
German name
Private Altersvorsorge (Rürup / Riester / bAV)
Who it's for
Anyone living in Germany — employees, freelancers, self-employed, expats
Mandatory?
No (only the state pension is mandatory for employees)
Tax benefit
Rürup: up to €30,826/year fully deductible (2026, single)
Retirement age
67 (born 1964+); earliest private payout from age 62
Pension gap risk
High for expats with fewer than 30 contribution years
Who needs a private pension in Germany?
Germany’s state pension was built for people who contribute for decades.
If your working life here is shorter, or your income sits above average,
the maths simply doesn’t stretch as far — and that’s true whether you’re
employed, self-employed, or somewhere in between.
Employees
The state pension alone rarely covers 48% of your previous net income for long, and that’s assuming a full contribution history. If you’re employed, your employer must offer you access to a betriebliche Altersvorsorge (company pension) and add at least 15% on top of what you pay in — a straightforward way to build retirement savings without much extra effort on your part.
Freelancers and self-employed
Freelancers and the self-employed are usually not enrolled in the state pension system at all, which means retirement savings are entirely down to personal planning. The Rürup pension (Basisrente) is the main tool here: contributions are fully tax-deductible up to €30,826 a year, making it a natural fit for anyone managing irregular or higher self-employed income.
Expats who arrived later in life
Arriving in Germany in your 30s or 40s often means accumulating only 20–25 years of state pension contributions instead of a full career’s worth. That shorter contribution history translates directly into a smaller monthly payout at retirement age — and a wider pension gap that private pension planning needs to address earlier rather than later.
Starting early changes everything
The pension gap grows quietly
Each year without extra retirement savings, the gap between your expected income and your actual state pension widens — often unnoticed until retirement is close.
Tax advantages you lose if you wait
Rürup contributions are tax-deductible up to €30,826 a year. Delaying doesn't just cost you savings time — it costs you years of tax relief you can't reclaim.
Compound growth — time is your biggest asset
Retirement savings started in your 30s have decades to grow. The same contributions started later simply have less time to compound, regardless of the returns involved.
Which pension route fits your situation?
Germany offers several private pension routes, and the right one depends
on your situation rather than a single “best” answer. Rürup (Basisrente)
suits self-employed people and high earners who want maximum tax
deductibility and plan to stay in the German tax system long-term.
Riester works well for employees with children thanks to state subsidies,
though it’s less suited to expats who may leave Germany before
retirement, since subsidies can require repayment. ETF-based private
pensions offer flexibility and growth potential without state
involvement, appealing to those comfortable with market-linked products.
Classic (guaranteed) plans suit those who prioritise predictability over
growth. Your employment status, tax bracket, and — crucially — whether
you plan to stay in Germany until retirement age all shape which option
fits.
10–30+ yrs
Think long term, stay flexible.
Private pension plans can run for decades, so fees, investment flexibility and what happens if you leave Germany matter just as much as the projected return.
What to look for in a pension plan
- Tax deductibility of contributions
- Portability if you leave Germany
- Flexibility to pause or adjust payments
- Low ongoing fees
- Transparent cost structure
- Choice of underlying investments
- Guaranteed versus fund-based returns
- Clear terms for exiting the contract
Comparing these details across providers is the actual work — and it’s what the free advice is for. As an independent broker, we’re paid via commission already included in the product cost, so checking the fine print costs you nothing.
What a good pension plan does for you
- Covered
Building retirement income alongside the state pension
A private pension adds a second (or third) income stream in retirement, designed to sit on top of whatever the state pension provides.
- Covered
Tax-deductible contributions that reduce your annual tax bill
Rürup contributions are deductible up to €30,826 a year (2026, single), lowering your taxable income while you build long-term retirement savings.
- Covered
Portable pension that follows you if you leave Germany
Unlike Riester, a Rürup pension has no subsidy repayment requirement, meaning it stays yours if your career eventually takes you elsewhere.
- Covered
Company pension top-up from your employer (bAV)
Employers must offer betriebliche Altersvorsorge and add at least 15% on top of your own contributions, effectively boosting your savings rate.
What a private pension doesn't do
Common exclusions worth understanding before you rely on a policy.
Short-term savings goals
Private pensions are structured for retirement, not for a house deposit or a holiday fund a few years away.
Guaranteed high returns
No pension product can promise a specific investment outcome — returns depend on the underlying plan and market conditions.
Early withdrawal before retirement age
Funds are generally locked until at least age 62, so a private pension isn't a source of accessible short-term cash.
Replacing proper risk insurance (BU/disability)
A private pension builds retirement income; it does not protect you if illness or disability stops you from working beforehand.
Rürup vs Riester vs company pension (bAV)
Three pension routes that work differently. Here’s how they compare.
Rürup (Basisrente)
Riester
Company pension (bAV)
Best for
Self-employed, freelancers, high earners
Employees, especially with children
Employees at companies offering it
Tax benefit
Up to €30,826/year fully
Subsidies + possible tax
Contributions can receive tax/social-security advantages
Portable abroad?
Generally portable
⚠ Limited — subsidy consequences may apply when moving abroad
Depends on provider & contract
Employer contribution
No, but widely expected
No
No
Earliest payout
Age 62
Generally from age 62
Depends on scheme and applicable retirement rules
Flexibility
Low — designed for retirement
Low — tied to subsidy conditions
Moderate — tied to employment and scheme
Many people combine two or all three. On a free call, we work out which
mix suits your income, tax situation, and residency plans.
How private pension planning works in Germany
The practical details behind your options — kept short. Open only what’s relevant to you.
How does the German pension system actually work?
Germany runs a three-pillar pension system: the state pension
(gesetzliche Rente), the occupational pension (betriebliche
Altersvorsorge), and private pensions. After 45 years of average-wage
contributions, the state pension pays around €1,913/month (July 2026) —
roughly 48% of pre-retirement net income. Most people need the other
two pillars to maintain their standard of living.
What is the Rürup pension (Basisrente) and who is it for?
The Rürup pension is designed mainly for the self-employed and
freelancers, who typically aren’t part of the state pension system.
Contributions are fully tax-deductible up to €30,826 a year (2026,
single). If you retire in 2026, 84% of the pension is taxable, rising
gradually to 100% by 2058.
Can I take my German pension with me if I leave?
It depends on the product. A Rürup pension is portable — there’s no
subsidy repayment if you move abroad, unlike Riester. State pension
contributions are generally preserved under international agreements,
though payout arrangements vary by country. This portability makes
Rürup a common choice for pension planning expats who may not stay in
Germany permanently.
How much should I save for retirement in Germany?
There’s no single figure — it depends on your income, expected state
pension, and how many contribution years you’ll accumulate. Someone
with 20–25 years of German contributions typically faces a larger
pension gap than someone with a full career here, so a broker can
help estimate the shortfall based on your specific timeline.
What happens to my state pension if I only work here for a few years?
Contributions you make are not lost — they count toward your eventual
state pension, even with a short German career. However, fewer
contribution years mean a proportionally smaller monthly payout, which
is exactly why private pension planning becomes more important the
shorter your time in the state system.
Is pension advice from a broker really free?
Yes. As an independent broker under §34d GewO, Christian Keller is
paid by commission from the insurer, which is already built into the
product cost. You don’t pay a separate advisory fee for the initial
consultation and recommendation.
Advice that's on your side, not the insurer's
Three different policies that expats often mix up. Here’s what each one actually does.
Verglichene Versicherer
Whole-of-market view instead of a single product line — we compare cover and conditions, not just price.
Licensed broker
Registered insurance broker under § 34d GewO — legally your representative, not the insurer's salesperson.
Advice is free
Brokers are paid via commission already included in the premium. Your policy costs the same, with or without us.
English-speaking support
Setup, documents and claims handled in English or German — whichever is easier for you.
Named contact
One person who knows your file — from the first call through to a claim years later.
Clients advised
Insert your real figure once available — a verified client count builds strong trust here.
Private pension in Germany — FAQ
Is a private pension mandatory in Germany?
No. Only the state pension is mandatory for employees. Private
pensions like Rürup, Riester, or ETF-based plans are voluntary additions
that help close the pension gap the state system alone may leave.
What's the difference between Rürup and Riester?
Rürup offers larger tax deductions (up to €30,826/year) and full
portability abroad, suiting the self-employed and high earners. Riester
offers state subsidies aimed at employees with children but carries
repayment risk if you leave Germany before retirement.
How much can I deduct from taxes with a Rürup pension?
In 2026, single contributors can deduct up to €30,826 a year in
Rürup contributions, reducing taxable income. If you retire in 2026, 84%
of the resulting pension is taxable, a share that rises annually toward
100% by 2058.
Can I combine a private pension with my company pension?
Yes. Betriebliche Altersvorsorge, Rürup, Riester, and private
savings can all work alongside each other. Many people combine a company
pension for the employer top-up with a Rürup or private plan for
additional tax-deductible retirement savings.
What if I'm only in Germany for a few years?
Your state pension contributions still count, though fewer years mean
a smaller payout. A Rürup pension remains portable with no subsidy
clawback, making it worth considering even for a shorter stay — Riester
is generally less suitable in this case.
Does a private pension make sense if I already invest in ETFs?
It can complement your ETF investments rather than replace them. A
Rürup pension adds tax deductibility that standalone ETF investing
doesn’t offer, while ETF-based pension products combine market exposure
with the structure of a formal retirement plan.
Do I pay you for pension advice?
No separate fee. As an independent broker (§34d GewO), Christian
Keller is remunerated by commission from the insurer, already factored
into the product’s cost — so the advice itself is free to you.
Cover expats often sort out alongside
Image created with AI
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