21.03.2025

Retirement: Here’s How to Best Secure Your Future

In a world where the state pension is often insufficient to maintain the usual standard of living during retirement, private pension schemes become an indispensable pillar. For investors and private savers, it is essential to find the right balance between state support and profitable investment products. This article explores how, through targeted private savings and effective products, you can best secure your future during retirement.

Easy Retirement: Designing an Optimal Private Savings Plan

An elderly couple plans their retirement with state support.

In a time when the state pension is often not enough to maintain the usual standard of living during retirement, private pension schemes represent a crucial piece for financial security. The variety of options for private pension schemes can seem overwhelming. However, a smart combination of different products can help minimize risks while optimizing returns.

The first step towards successful private pension planning is to clearly define your needs and possibilities. Every financial plan should begin with calculating the “pension gap,” which is the amount needed to maintain the desired standard of living during retirement, surpassing the state pension. In this regard, pension calculators can be useful for planning.

With this information in mind, you can begin choosing the most suitable products. ETF savings plans, appreciated for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness, are particularly suitable for beginners. They allow access to a variety of markets and are an attractive option for long-term investments as they automatically replicate a diversified basket of stocks.

Pension insurance, on the other hand, offers the security of a lifelong pension, although they may prove less appealing in terms of cost and flexibility. Depending on personal circumstances and the degree of need for security, pension insurance can play an important role in the pension plan.

The investment in real estate should not be underestimated. These offer a stable investment and can represent an additional source of income through renting. However, real estate requires a high initial capital and is less liquid compared to other forms of investment, so careful planning and cost estimation are essential.

State support should also be taken into account in your reasoning. The Riester pension particularly offers interesting subsidies to families with children, while the Rürup pension is particularly appealing to the self-employed and wealthy due to tax advantages.

In summary, it is the wise combination of state pensions, state support, and a strategically chosen private pension scheme that can help you enjoy your retirement with financial security. Start early to capitalize on the compounding effect and maintain the necessary flexibility through regular review of your strategy, so you can adapt to changes in your life situation.

Fruitful Pension Products: A Guide for Optimal Selection

An elderly couple plans their retirement with state support.

In the context of pension planning, there is often a question of which products are really advantageous. Given the increasing uncertainty regarding the state pension, it is essential for many to plan their pension privately. However, choosing the right product can be challenging, as there are many options with different advantages and disadvantages.

A central element of private pension provision is ETF savings plans. These not only offer flexibility but also a cost-effective way to participate in the global financial markets. Thanks to their wide diversification and low fees, they are particularly attractive for long-term oriented investors. Compared to actively managed funds, whose costs are often unclear and higher, ETFs constitute a transparent choice.

Another popular product is pension insurance. These guarantee a lifelong pension and are particularly suitable for those who value security. The downside is their relatively low flexibility and often high costs. Therefore, an investment in pension insurance should be well thought out and tailored to personal needs.

No less important are investments in real estate. These are considered a relatively safe investment and offer, in addition to the potential for value increase, also the opportunity for a regular income stream through rent. However, real estate requires a high initial capital and, compared to other forms of investment, is less liquid, which may make them less attractive to some investors.

Finally, when choosing the right pension product, personal factors such as risk tolerance, income, and financial goals should be considered. A well-planned combination of different pension products can help diversify risks and enhance the chances of a financially secure future. As with any financial decision, regular review and adaptation of the chosen strategy is essential to account for new developments and personal changes.

Frequently asked questions

The first step towards successful private pension planning is to clearly define your needs and possibilities. This process often begins with calculating the ‘pension gap’, which is the amount needed to maintain the desired standard of living during retirement, beyond the state pension. Pension calculators can be beneficial for this kind of planning.

ETF savings plans are suitable for beginners because of their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. They allow access to a variety of markets and are optimal for long-term investments as they automatically mirror a diversified collection of stocks.

Pension insurance offers the security of a lifelong pension. However, they often lack appeal in terms of cost and flexibility. Depending on individual circumstances and the requirement for security, pension insurance can still represent a significant element in the pension plan.

Investing in real estate can provide a stable investment that potentially offers an additional source of income through renting. However, this type of investment requires significant initial capital and offers less liquidity compared to other investment forms. Therefore, careful planning and cost estimation are vital.

State support should be factored into your retirement planning. For instance, the Riester pension gives attractive subsidies especially to families with children, while the Rürup pension appeals to the self-employed and affluent individuals due to its tax benefits.