Goal & motivation mapping
We start with what you actually want, retirement income, early independence, family security, not just product categories.
Clarity before products
Main navigation
All tools
Property & Mortgage
Affordability Calculator Property Investment Rent vs. Buy Total Cost Construction Payment Home Loan InsuranceLoans & Investments
Personal Loan Compound Interest Lump Sum Interest & Repayment Pre-ClosureReal Estate Tools
Search Engine Property Valuation German Home Loan Bonds
Markus
From DIY to a plan he trusts
Build a financial plan that fits your life in Germany
We help expats turn vague savings goals into a clear plan, whether you want a secure retirement, financial independence earlier, or wealth that works across borders. Goal-first, tax-optimized and transparent. First call free.
Service scope
What we do for you
Holistic financial planning for expats, from goals and motivation to investment strategy, retirement and ongoing review. In plain English, with cross-border situations in mind.
Retirement & pension planning
Close your pension gap, understand German pillars and build portable retirement savings, whether you stay in Germany or move abroad.
Built for expat mobilityInvestment strategy (ETF & beyond)
ETF core portfolios, gold, silver or investment property, aligned to your risk profile, tax situation and life goals.
Tax-optimized structureIncome & expense analysis
We capture income and expenses together, read from your documents or fill in jointly. A rough picture is enough to start.
Done together, not aloneCross-border & family planning
Assets in multiple countries, international families and generational planning, coordinated into one strategy.
International familiesOngoing review & managed service
Annual reviews, plan adjustments, four webinars per year and newsletter updates, your plan evolves with your life.
Managed over time
The process
How financial planning works
From a free first conversation to a living plan you can trust. Four practical phases, no product pressure, no hidden fees.
Step 1
We help you self-qualify
Free discovery call
30 minutes, no obligation, we discuss your situation, goals and whether this service fits.
Step 2
Rough picture is enough to start
Financial snapshot together
Income, expenses, existing products and assets, we read from your documents or fill in jointly.
Step 3
We help explain every recommendation
Your personalized plan
A written plan with prioritized building blocks, aligned to your motives, not just returns.
Step 4
We help adapt as life changes
Implementation & ongoing care
Optional implementation support, annual reviews, webinars and newsletter, your plan stays current.
Who this is for
Financial planning for different expat profiles
Whether you want to retire comfortably, reach financial independence earlier, or coordinate wealth across borders, we help you find the right planning path before any product decisions.
FIRE seeker
Cover fixed costs before 67?
Lean FIRE, Coast FIRE or traditional FIRE, we help you define which level of independence fits your life and build a path to get there.
Book call as FIRE plannerRetirement planner
Secure income in retirement.
Close your pension gap, plan beyond the German state pension and build portable savings, independent of where you retire.
Book call for retirementInternational family
Assets & family across borders.
Multi-country assets, children, generational goals, one coordinated plan for your whole family, not isolated products.
Book call for family planningLump-sum investor
€50k–€100k+ and unsure what to do.
Property vs. ETF vs. a mix, we assess risk, mobility and tax impact so you invest with a plan, not a guess.
Book call with capital to investDIY investor
Already investing but no plan.
Single stocks, options or scattered products without structure, time to align investments with actual life goals.
Book call to review strategyHigh net worth
Complex wealth, multiple assets.
Dedicated planning for HNW profiles, cross-border structure, tax coordination and long-term wealth architecture.
Request HNW consultation
Find your path
What kind of financial independence do you want?
Not every expat wants the same outcome. Name your goal first, then we look at which building blocks fit.
Secure retirement income
- Target income from state + private pillars at retirement age
- Close the pension gap (Rentenlücke) with structured savings
- Protect family and lifestyle in later life
- Plan for healthcare and fixed costs in retirement
Best when your priority is reliable income at 67+, not necessarily leaving work early.
Financial independence before 67
- Cover fixed costs without employment income (FIRE / Coast FIRE)
- Define your FIRE number and withdrawal strategy
- Build portable, liquid wealth (ETF core, alternatives)
- Less dependence on German state pension alone
Best when you want optionality earlier, with a clear savings rate and investment plan.
Investment building blocks we coordinate
ETF core portfolio
Long-term wealth building, portable and liquid, the default building block for most expats with a 10+ year horizon.
Investment property
Tax benefits and leverage, often smarter as buy-to-let than as a home if you may relocate. We coordinate with FFE Real Estate.
Pension, gold & alternatives
Added only when they fit your plan, never in isolation. Tax-optimized structures without unnecessary advance tax drag.
What we capture together
Your financial snapshot
You do not need to send everything in advance, we often read from your documents or fill this in together during the consultation. A rough picture is enough to start.
Income & expenses
- Salary, freelance or business income
- Fixed costs and discretionary spending
- Current savings rate
- Planned large expenses
Existing products
- Insurance contracts
- Brokerage accounts & depots
- Pension & retirement products
- Property ownership
Goals & timeline
- Retirement target age & income
- FIRE or early independence goals
- Family & generational planning
- Relocation or mobility plans
Cross-border assets
- Accounts in other countries
- Foreign pension entitlements
- Property abroad
- Tax residency considerations
Nothing needs to be perfect before the first call. We build the picture together, and refine it as your plan develops.
Tools & resources
Guides & resources before you plan
Orient yourself first, then decide whether you need a structured plan. These resources support the conversation, the planning itself happens with your advisor.
How does wealth building work in Germany?
Knowledge Hub
Guides and orientation content for expat finance questions, pensions, investing and when to get help.
Explore guides How does the German pension system work?Pension guide for expats
Deep-dive on public pension, private options and what expats should know before planning retirement.
Read the guide Property vs. ETF, what do the numbers say?Property Investment Calculator
Model yield and cash flow for rental property, useful context before deciding on investment property.
Run the numbers Want expat finance updates by email?Newsletter
Regular updates on pensions, investing and financial planning for expats in Germany, practical, not promotional.
Subscribe to updates
Pricing
What does financial planning cost?
Transparent net fees, no hidden commissions. We explain packages clearly before you commit. The first call is always free.
How pricing typically works
Financial planning uses a net fee model, you pay for advice directly, not through product commissions. After the free discovery call, we recommend a package based on your situation: plan setup, optional ongoing management.
- First call free. 30-minute discovery to assess fit and explain how we work.
- One-time plan setup fee. Covers goal mapping, financial snapshot and your written plan.
- Optional ongoing administration. Annual reviews, plan updates and managed service, only if you want it.
Trust
Why expats choose Finance for Expats
Goal-first planning, transparent net fees and a connected expat ecosystem, built into the service, not added as a slogan.
Tax-optimized structure
Portable solutions designed to minimize unnecessary tax drag, including structures without advance lump-sum taxation.
Portable across borders
Plans that work if you stay in Germany or move, assets and payouts designed for international mobility.
Goal-first, not product-first
We start with your motives and life goals, then recommend building blocks that actually fit.
Transparent net fees
One-time plan setup plus optional ongoing care, no hidden commissions, no surprise charges.
Connected FFE ecosystem
Property, mortgage, tax and insurance coordinated from one platform, one advisor relationship.
Ongoing education
Four webinars per year plus newsletter, you stay informed on what to do and when.
Free
First planning call
Net
Fee model, no hidden commissions
4×
Webinars per year
6
Languages supported
Client story
From DIY speculation to a plan that fits his life
How an expat moved from rejected advice and friend-group trading to a structured plan aligned with his family goals. Name changed for privacy.
I started with insurance, then said financial planning was too expensive . I would do it myself. With friends I traded options for a few hundred euros. No ETFs, no plan. Then life got complicated: an international family, two kids, and around €100k I did not know what to do with. Buy a home? Investment property? Something else? Finance for Expats asked what I actually wanted, not just what product to sell. We realized buying a home was too risky because we might move. So we built a plan: ETF core, gold as a diversifier, and a clear monthly savings target. For the first time I feel my money serves my life, not the other way around.
Markus
International family · From DIY to a structured wealth plan
FAQ
Financial planning questions expats ask first
The questions we hear in almost every consultation. The first one is open by default, answer it before you scroll on.
Friends mean well, but did they study finance? DIY investing often costs more through mistakes, tax inefficiency or emotional decisions. Professional planning pays for itself when it prevents one bad move or aligns your money with what you actually want.
Many expats can, but do you know German investment taxes, cross-border implications, FIRE math and how relocation affects your strategy? A plan connects investing to your actual goals, not just market returns.
Brutto advisors earn commissions on products, costs are often hidden in the product price. Netto (fee-only) advisors are paid directly by you, with no product incentives. Our model is transparent: you know what advice costs before you commit.
We advise on strategy and building blocks, you decide what to implement. Our net fee model means we are not paid by banks or insurers to sell specific products. Recommendations follow your goals, not commissions.
Nothing, the discovery call is free and without obligation. We use it to understand your situation and explain whether financial planning with FFE is the right fit.
Yes. We help you define your FIRE level, covering fixed costs, full independence or traditional retirement, and build a savings and investment path to get there. See our planning paths section.
Cross-border planning is a core strength. We coordinate assets, pensions and goals across jurisdictions, and connect you to FFE tax support when specialist filing is needed.
Packages depend on complexity, plan setup is a one-time fee, with optional ongoing administration. We explain everything transparently in the discovery call. See the Pricing section for the fee logic.
Financial planning sits at the center of FFE. Insurance, real estate, mortgages and tax support can all be coordinated from one relationship, so your plan is not fragmented across providers.
We schedule your free 30-minute discovery call, discuss your goals and situation, and if it fits, recommend a package for plan creation. You decide whether to proceed, no pressure.
Ready to build a plan that matches your goals?
Book your free planning call or explore who this service is for first. We help you understand fit, goals and what to prepare before any commitment.
First call free, we explain scope and packages before any paid work begins.