Planning for retirement

Your first regular income, a change in salary or a move into self-employment also changes your retirement planning. Statutory entitlements, workplace benefits and private savings belong in one overview. This helps identify what additional provision could fit your future needs and the budget you can sustainably afford today.

Put your retirement income gap in perspective

Pension statements and current policy values provide a starting point. Purchasing power, taxes and possible social insurance contributions also affect the amount available later. Housing costs, family needs and your preferred retirement date belong in the assessment too. Calculation scenarios help compare different outcomes; projected values are not promises. As your income or life plans change, the overview should develop with them.

What should the solution provide?

A lifelong pension, accessible capital and additional survivor protection are different goals. Unit-linked pension insurance combines an insurance policy with capital market opportunities and possible losses. A Basis-Rente is designed to provide a lifelong retirement pension and does not allow freely chosen lump-sum withdrawals. For any guarantee, its scope, conditions and timing must be considered explicitly.

Include costs and the long-term commitment

A comparison includes acquisition and distribution costs, administration costs, investment costs and any costs of additional protection. These reduce the amount available for later benefits. Also review changes to contributions, payment breaks, withdrawals and cancellation. Leaving early can have financial disadvantages; tax advantages alone do not explain the overall outcome.

Documents that provide a useful starting point

Have current pension statements, workplace pension commitments and private policy statements ready. Add your preferred retirement date, an overview of regular expenses and available reserves. Record guaranteed benefits separately from model calculations for existing policies. This helps identify gaps without assuming a particular product from the outset.

Altersvorsorgedepot: distinguish the reform from a specific offer

The reform of subsidised private retirement provision also includes retirement investment accounts without a guarantee, known as Altersvorsorgedepots. According to Germany's Federal Ministry of Finance, the new products may be offered from 1 January 2027. This does not confirm whether or which specific offer will be available through Joel. Eligibility for subsidies, costs, investment risks and payout rules must be checked against the actual contract. As of September 2026.