009 Guide

Finance,
without the jargon.

Every article answers one concrete question, gives the figures that currently apply and says where they come from. No product advertising.

New Investments ETF advance lump-sum tax: what 2026 brings The base rate for 2026 is 3.20 percent. How the advance lump sum is calculated, when it is debited and why an empty settlement account causes trouble. 7 min 04 Aug 2026
Financial planning Building a financial plan: the right order Emergency fund, risks, debt, wealth building. Why the order decides the outcome and which 2026 figures serve as a reference point. 8 min Protection Income protection: why the wording matters more than the premium Mental illness is the most common cause of being unable to work. Four clauses in your policy decide whether anything gets paid when it matters. 9 min Retirement Planning to move back? Check what you have signed Some savings products require repayment of all state subsidies if you move permanently outside the EU. Not for Croatia, but yes for Bosnia and Serbia. 7 min Retirement Calculating your pension gap: what will actually be missing The average German pension sits below the poverty threshold for a single household. What that means, how to work out your own gap and which 2026 figures apply. 9 min Retirement A pension from two countries: what actually counts You work in Germany and have contribution years back home. The 1968 agreement still applies. What is added together, who pays what, and where people go wrong. 8 min

Also available in German and BCS

Every article exists in the same languages I advise in: German, English and Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Switch language in the navigation above.