Retirement: Avoid mistakes and follow tips

Here you will find everything you need to know about pensions. With our book recommendations, you can really get smart and avoid mistakes when concluding the pension. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced reader, we’ll show you the best and most helpful books.

Here’s another tip for you (external). What’s the best way to protect yourself from poverty in old age due to low pensions? The answer is: turning taxes into assets. Tax avoidance means building knowledge yourself. Online you can find a lot of (free) articles and tips on Lukinski.de: From real estate as an investment by renting to asset management to saving taxes with real estate (external). Everything free of charge from the expert.

Tip! Overview Wealth Building XXL – Book, Video, Tips & Tricks

If you want to build up private wealth and create financial reserves, there are a few things you should keep in mind. In addition to the tips you get in this article, you might also be interested in our extensive overview page. There you will find an overview of articles, as well as book and video tips with successful and helpful books and videos on the subject of wealth accumulation – including tips and tricks from professionals and experts.

• Book & Video Tips Overview: Wealth Creation XXL

Retirement for beginners

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (557 ratings)

For decades, you showed up for work every goddamn workday. Always dutiful, often on time, and usually in a good mood. You put up with no grumbling about missing raises, countless hours of overtime, and merry Christmas parties. You never thought about what it would be like when it was all over. And then suddenly it’s here: retirement. And now?
This book helps you prepare for the new phase of your life and is an indispensable companion for the time after work! Because in the huge, pitch-black hole into which you inevitably threaten to fall after your last day at work, there are plenty of pleasant surprises waiting for you!

• Buy at Amazon

Retirement in sight: Your financial guide to retirement

Ratings: 4.3 / 5.0 (10 ratings)

Well positioned for the third stage of life:

• What needs to be considered with regard to statutory pensions and occupational pension schemes?
• Tax liability and saving taxes: What applies to different incomes in retirement?
• Making the most of financial investments: How the transition to retirement influences financial strategy
• Health insurance, long-term care insurance and other insurance policies: This is how the insurance portfolio is reorganized
• Enjoying retirement abroad: What to consider when it comes to pensions, property and insurance? Pensioners and retirees are in a special financial situation: income, expenses and time horizon have become more manageable. Restrictions apply, for example on loans, and special rules apply, for example on taxation. In addition to retirement income, many men and women aged 60 and over have to take care of other financial areas, such as reducing investment risks or making well-considered arrangements for their estate.
• Buy at Amazon

My pension – Planning for retirement – Early retirement options

Ratings: 4.2 / 5.0 (5 ratings)

The new guidebook from Stiftung Warentest clarifies all the important questions using many clear practical examples: How do I manage to have enough money available after my working life? What can I do as an employed person to collect more pension points? What do part-time work, self-employment, child-raising periods and maternity pensions, mini-jobs, periods spent abroad or divorce mean for my pension provision? How can private pension provision supplement the state pension?

• Your personal roadmap: How to make the right decisions for more retirement at key life junctures
• Work and family: getting more out of life as an employee, self-employed person and in family times
• The pension in front of your eyes: Increase your pension with voluntary payments, find the right date to jump ship
• Buy at Amazon

You don’t get retirement for free, you have to earn it!

Ratings: 4.7 / 5.0 (122 ratings)

Your father, a friend or a colleague is retiring? Then give the retiree in Spe with this small gift book a farewell gift with a wink. The booklet is an amusing substitute for a greeting card on retirement. It also makes a wonderful addition to a bouquet of flowers or a monetary gift. The combination of colourful illustrations, funny texts and wise words give the retirement gift that certain something.

• Buy at Amazon

Private old-age provision: Provision requirements – Financial roadmap

Ratings: 4.5 / 5.0 (8 ratings)

Close the pension gap. Start your retirement planning now and time will work for you. Every year, the Finanztest experts test more than 10,000 products on the subject of old-age provision. Make more of your money – despite low interest rates. This guide shows you which investments you can use to build up a comfortable financial cushion even in times of low interest rates. Determine your individual pension needs and develop your personal financial roadmap.

• Personal roadmap: How to get to the optimal provision step by step
• Statutory pension: What you can get out of it
• Pension provision with state assistance: Which offers are worthwhile – and which are not
• Private pension provision: How to find top providers
• Practical examples: Which investments fit your life situation
• Buy at Amazon

The pension consultant

Ratings: 5.0 / 5.0 (2 ratings)

The expert guide to all pension issues and retirement provision (including Riester pension and Rürup pension). The book includes all legal changes through the latest pension package, the new regulations, the Flexi-Rente.

• When can I retire without deductions?
• How much will my pension be?
• What are pension deductions?
• Which periods are taken into account for my pension?
• What can I earn in addition to my pension?
• Buy at Amazon

State Pension Practice: The expert guide

Ratings: 5.0 / 5.0 (3 ratings)

When can I retire?, How much is the pension?, What are pension deductions?, Which periods are taken into account for my pension? The book provides answers to these and many other questions. The authors place great emphasis on the connection to practice.

• 55 years of reforms in the statutory pension insurance
• The three pillars of old-age provision
• Periods under pension law
• Minijob and Midijob
• Insured persons’ pensions
• Survivor’s pension claims
• Pension equalisation and pension splitting
• The most important facts about pension calculation
• The tax treatment of pensions and contributions
• The insurance account and information
• Private old-age provision in the form of a Riester pension
• Private pension provision in the form of the Rürup pension
• Company pension scheme
• Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity
• Buy at Amazon

Further links

We have more helpful video and book lists for you on topics that might interest you. Below are some helpful links for you.

Retirement provision

The topic of old-age provision is one of the most important issues Germans are concerned about. Already at a young age, one is made aware of the need to provide for later. But how exactly do I do that? When do I start with the old-age provision? Which mistakes should I avoid? Where can I get tips? And why do I need a pension at all? We answer all these questions and more here.

• Video tips on the subject of old-age provision
• Book recommendations on the subject of old-age provision

Tax return

Why, why, why are tax returns so important? Not only professionals, but also students or pensioners can benefit from a tax return. If you have never deducted anything from your taxes and have no previous knowledge, you can get super informed in our tax return guide. We show you tips and tricks on how to avoid mistakes and provide you with tutorials that will help you with your first or next tax return. If you want to know even more, then we have a great article on the tax basics: income, sales & Co.

• Video tips on the subject of tax returns
• Book recommendations on the subject of tax returns

Buying real estate

With our book and video list on buying real estate, you can’t go wrong with your next real estate purchase. Our book tips cover all topics from the right inspection to the closing and the possible resale. What do you have to pay attention to? How do you finance your purchase? How do you evaluate a property? And how do you conclude the contract? You will find the answers here.

• Video tips on buying real estate
• Book recommendations on the subject of buying real estate

Advisor Wealth Accumulation XXL: Finance, Investment & Co.

Who wouldn’t like to build up their own assets? Whether you want to be able to afford something or would like to generate a financial buffer for old age, asset accumulation is a relevant and, above all, sensible topic for virtually everyone. But what options are there for building up assets? Life insurance, retirement planning, or investing in real estate? Here you will find an overview of articles, as well as book and video recommendations on the subject of asset building. From saving taxes to passive income to tips on successful investing – experts and professionals share their know-how in their videos and readings and answer all questions about wealth accumulation.

• Book and Video Tips: Wealth Building XXL

Understanding pensions and avoiding mistakes: Tips and tricks for more pension

Here you will find everything you need to know about pensions. With our video tips, you can really get smart and avoid mistakes when concluding the pension. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, we’ll show you the best and most helpful videos.

Here’s another tip for you (external). What’s the best way to protect yourself from poverty in old age due to low pensions? The answer is: turning taxes into assets. Tax avoidance means building knowledge yourself. Online you can find a lot of (free) articles and tips on Lukinski.de: From real estate as an investment by renting to asset management to saving taxes with real estate (external). Everything free of charge from the expert.

Tip! Overview Wealth Building XXL – Book, Video, Tips & Tricks

If you want to build up private wealth and create financial reserves, there are a few things you should keep in mind. In addition to the tips you get in this article, you might also be interested in our extensive overview page. There you will find an overview of articles, as well as book and video tips with successful and helpful books and videos on the subject of wealth accumulation – including tips and tricks from professionals and experts.

• Book & Video Tips Overview: Wealth Creation XXL

The pension system

How does the German pension system work and what options are there to provide for retirement? This and much more you will learn in this video!

How much pension do you get?

You’ve always wondered how much pension you can expect later on? Learn in the video, based on an example how you can easily calculate your pension amount.

Pension information: What the numbers mean

Social security contributions (health insurance and long-term care insurance) and taxes may still be deducted from the gross pension. In this video, the information in the pension information is explained to you based on an example and clarifies what pension you can really count on. Net comes out significantly less than I imagine that many.

Calculate pension

The video shows you how the pension formula works and which decisive factors influence the pension amount.

This is how pensions are taxed

Whether it’s the statutory pension, benefits from a Riester contract or a company pension scheme, anyone who receives a pension these days will almost certainly have to pay tax on it. A big problem is that every year more pensioners become liable for tax and do not even notice this at first and are also obliged to file a tax return. Pensions are taxed in Germany, but there is no single rate for this, but for many forms of pensions there are separate rules. We have summarised these and tried to explain them simply – so that you do not experience any nasty surprises when you retire.

Avoid pension errors

Apply for a statutory pension. And it’s very simple. That’s what this video is about. You don’t get your statutory pension just like that. Here, too, you have to make an application. And as always, when you make my application, you can also make mistakes. How you do not make mistakes in your pension application and what options you have for applying for a statutory pension, you will learn in the video.

Tips for more pension

More pension from the statutory pension insurance? Who wouldn’t like that? In fact, there are a few ways you can boost your state pension. However, very few people have heard of these possibilities.

Investment option: Riester pension explained

There are various pension options. One of them is the so-called Riester pension. You can find out how it works and what it actually involves in the video.

Fear for the pension

Many people worry that there won’t be enough money in retirement. Everything is getting more expensive, but the pension level is falling. Many people do not have a private pension. Do we have to work until we drop? What is the best way to save for retirement?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_m142HVh3s

Further links

We have more helpful video and book lists for you on topics that might interest you. Below are some helpful links for you.

Retirement provision

The topic of old-age provision is one of the most important issues Germans are concerned about. Already at a young age, one is made aware of the need to provide for later. But how exactly do I do that? When do I start with the old-age provision? Which mistakes should I avoid? Where can I get tips? And why do I need a pension at all? We answer all these questions and more here.

• Video tips on the subject of old-age provision
• Book recommendations on the subject of old-age provision

Tax return

Why, why, why are tax returns so important? Not only professionals, but also students or pensioners can benefit from a tax return. If you have never deducted anything from your taxes and have no previous knowledge, you can get super informed in our tax return guide. We show you tips and tricks on how to avoid mistakes and provide you with tutorials that will help you with your first or next tax return. If you want to know even more, then we have a great article on the tax basics: income, sales & Co.

• Video tips on the subject of tax returns
• Book recommendations on the subject of tax returns

Buying real estate

With our book and video list on buying real estate, you can’t go wrong with your next real estate purchase. Our book tips cover all topics from the right inspection to the closing and the possible resale. What do you have to pay attention to? How do you finance your purchase? How do you evaluate a property? And how do you conclude the contract? You will find the answers here.

• Video tips on buying real estate
• Book recommendations on the subject of buying real estate

Invest successfuly

Successful investing is a dream of many people. But unfortunately, it is not as easy as it seems. How can you start as a beginner in the investment industry? What do you have to consider and which mistakes should you try to avoid? What is worth investing in? And what does the term “investment” mean anyway? We present you the best books on the subject of investment!

• Video tips on the subject of investment
• Book recommendations on the subject of investment

Advisor Wealth Accumulation XXL: Finance, Investment & Co.

Who wouldn’t like to build up their own assets? No matter whether you want to be able to afford something or would like to generate a financial buffer for old age, asset accumulation is a relevant and, above all, sensible topic for virtually everyone. But what options are there for building up assets? Life insurance, retirement planning, or investing in real estate? Here you will find an overview of articles, as well as book and video recommendations on the subject of asset building. From saving taxes to passive income to tips on successful investing – experts and professionals share their know-how in their videos and readings and answer all questions about wealth accumulation.

• Book and Video Tips: Wealth Building XXL

My motivation: save taxes, save taxes properly

Who am I? As the owner of the magazine, as a business owner in general, I have one problem like everyone: tax burden. Have you ever added up what your biggest “expense” item is? In fact, it’s taxes. The bigger your sales, your profits, the more taxes you pay.

My motivation? This initial question, which I still had before the coaching, almost sums up my motivation very well:

“How do you legally and sustainably reduce your tax burden in Germany to a minimum?”

And why doesn’t… or can’t my accountant do that?!

If you want to have an overview of the topics and different voices on tax coaching by Alex Fischer, then I can recommend the experiences of participants. On the page you will find many interviews from participants.

• Tax coaching by Alex Fischer – Application
• Tax Coaching Experiences – Participant Interviews

Alex Fischer, live in front of the tax coaching participants:

Conversely, the view from the audience to the stage of the tax coaching event:

Why the tax coaching of Alex Fischer?

In March, I “survived” my first 5 years as an entrepreneur. That gives confidence and with that confidence I wanted to finally learn how the tax game works. Not on some Youtube channel or with a book on Amazon, not a “small” tax course in Cologne or Berlin, I wanted to learn from experts. Preferably from an entrepreneur who made it to real estate millionaire even with zero equity.

As a managing director, I have little time, so I need condensed expertise. After a few comparisons with experiences and reviews of other tax coaching, my choice was crystal clear on the offer of Alex Fischer.

What bothered me about 99%? They offer dubious tax coaching, when you look at their business circumstances (for example via Northdata) you quickly see: Not serious. Offers on the Internet, which you reach via Google, are from windy online marketers, who have no idea about taxes. When it comes to taxes, I trust recommendations and personal experience. Both have matched here.

Application process and selection

You have to apply for this tax coaching. In fact, after your application, you will have an interview. Based on the data and the interview, it will be decided whether you have the right qualifications. You will see the selection at the start event at the latest. Doctors, master roofers, lawyers and board members of AGs. Here are only experienced entrepreneurs, self-employed and freelancers.

Acquisitions, depreciation and tax reduction

So I’m not interested in the “little tax 1×1” or “tips to save taxes”. I want to know:

What company structure makes sense in terms of individual sectors, acquisitions and depreciation.

In very, very simple terms:

• I’ll buy the next property through my company,
• About a new company (and if so, what does it look like)
• Or is it private?

After tax coaching, you’ll understand…

After the tax coaching you understand the constellation around asset accumulation, asset lending, asset protection, asset transfer and also investments. Too many foreign words for the beginning? Let’s start at the very beginning. Why tax coaching at all?

On our finance and tax blog, I often write about real estate, financing, and give simple tax tips to our readers. Advantage 1: The better I understand the tax game, the more informed my articles on simple tax 1×1 will be. Benefit 2: As described above, I am of course primarily concerned with private wealth accumulation (for me).

I’ll tell you about my basic problem: “tax accountant.”

Alex Fischer experience: Become an advisor to your tax advisors

“Tax burden minimization to 8% to 15% is possible” – Alex Fischer

With such rates, the ears of entrepreneurs are of course immediately pricked up. Tax burden minimization to 8% to 15%? Yes. You just have to deal with it! Nobody likes to deal with taxes. But if you manage to find the necessary motivation, the tax game quickly becomes a lot of fun.

Only 2 tips in 5 years?! My tax adviser

As I said, I motivated myself more and more in March to actively tackle the issue of taxes.

Do you know how many times my accountant actively approached me, with tips, in 5 years? 2x

That is, in 5 years of paying well monthly, I have gotten exactly 2x pro-active tax advice from my accountant.

You can’t blame him or his tax firm either. The training is state-run and what interest should the state have in training tax experts who lower the tax burden? That would mean that the state would take in less money. Ergo: tax consultants administer, they do not design.

Tax consultant training: administrator, not designer (excursus)

If you want to become a tax advisor in Germany, you have to complete a training course. Depending on the offer, this can take up to 1,200 hours.

This covers many topics such as tax procedural law, excise and transfer taxes or business management and accounting – but not tax optimisation. Why? The training is organised by the state. If the state itself were to train tax professionals, these professionals would ensure that you pay less tax. Less taxes means less revenue for the state. Here lies the dilemma of entrepreneurs and the realization:

Taxes are a matter for the boss

In fact, the tax advisor exam teaches and quizzes more basic areas of knowledge. The examination areas of the tax consultant examination are defined by the Tax Consulting Act (StBerG). You can quickly see how general the topics of the exam are by taking a look at the syllabus. Knowledge in the following areas can be the subject of the exam:

• Fiscal procedural law (AO and FGO) as well as fiscal penal law and fiscal offences law
• Taxes on income and earnings
• Valuation law, inheritance tax and property tax
• Excise and sales taxes, main features of customs law
• Commercial law and main features of the German Civil Code (BGB), company law, insolvency law and European Community law
• Business administration and accounting
• Economics and professional law

In the tax coaching, I already had more input at the welcome event than I probably would have gotten in 100 years of working together, with my tax accountant. That’s what I wanted, that’s what I wanted. I want knowledge from real experts who take me to the next level, even with topics I had thought of once again.

Tax planning is your job as an entrepreneur – that’s for sure.

Tax coaching: 9+ weeks test

To learn how this works and to get much, much more valuable tax knowledge, I started the coaching 9 weeks ago, sort of as a self-experiment.

Launch event in Düsseldorf with further experts

As I said, we applied for the tax coaching. About 20 days later, we were at the kick-off event near Düsseldorf’s Königsallee, more precisely at the Hotel Intercontinental. There were almost 400 participants. This is also where the final event takes place after various digital coaching sessions, webinars, implementation vouchers etc.

Both events are staffed with top-class experts. So, there is not only the know-how of Alex Fischer. He also has experts from his close circle at the event. Persons, to which one would otherwise never approach as entrepreneurs or freelancers. Because, these experts optimize otherwise companies. We could even personally address the experts with questions.

Digital coaching, webinars and implementation vouchers

Between the events there are various digital coachings, webinars and implementation vouchers. Here you can once again pick out specific experts to ask questions exclusively in private. That was handy, because as you know from your own business, structures can be complex.

But that’s what makes coaching so special. Because in the end, you don’t just go there with extremely deep tax knowledge, the community also enriches you if you want. Especially through first-class contacts.

Between the live events it’s all about know-how and training in the knowledge base. By timing, it’s only 8 weeks, but the density of information was so high, I was happy to take the extra time. After all, it’s about structuring my businesses and my acquisitions – the tax game. As I mentioned before, the fact that Alex Fischer now publishes content in the tax / tax optimization points really surprised me. All the more reason I wanted to know what Alex Fischer’s tax insiders are. Many say he is a real “real estate pope”. In fact, he himself holds, privately, over 20,000 square meters, alone in Düsseldorf.

PS: “Richer than the Geisses” is his bestseller. Read more about it here:

• Alex Fischer: Book Review

Conclusion: What have I learned?

Now I could spend another hour telling you about tax coaching, the live events, the experts, the digital coaching, the webinars, and much more. In order to keep the experience report short and sweet, I thought about giving you a top 3 as a conclusion!

My Top 3: Learned and Experienced

In the “Next Level Tax Coaching” I have learned and you will learn how you can legally and sustainably reduce your tax burden in Germany to a minimum. As I said, 8 to 15% are possible, but the special thing about this coaching is the combination of these 3 aspects:

1. Tax know-how
2. Business know-how
3. Investment know-how

I particularly appreciate the investment know-how. Because now I know which purchase I have to make in which way, for example to use taxes advantageously as a leverage effect. This gives me more presentable equity. Just one aspect that is extremely interesting for entrepreneurs in growth.

If you were to ask me which part of the coaching I enjoyed the most, the live events would definitely be number 1. The close and personal contact with Alex’s experts was extremely insightful. I understand the famous “tax game” more and more and I can now apply it to myself and my businesses with tax coaching. Paying less tax means more room to invest. Goal achieved.

1. Live events with Alex Fischer
2. Close exchange with AF experts at the events
3. Knowledge database is available online 24/7

Application for tax coaching

Here are the links again:

• Tax coaching by Alex Fischer – Application
• Tax Coaching Experiences – Participant Interviews