Pension Advice
Pension advice for employees
Pension counselling at our office in Munich
In our everyday lives, we come into contact with issues long before retirement age that can have a huge impact on the later pension amount and the possible start date. For example, parental leave, a reduction in working hours or a longer stay abroad can play an important role.
It is therefore advisable to take control of your own pension provision at an early age.
But even if retirement is already imminent, there are still many issues to clarify. No matter what stage of life you are currently in, we will support you with our personalized advice.
FAQ’s
When does pension counselling make sense / When do I need pension counselling?
There is actually no set age. As soon as you start thinking about retirement provision, we can support you with our advice. This can make sense from your mid-50s if you want to start planning your retirement provision.
Advice can also be useful in many other life situations, for example when switching from full-time to part-time work, joining an occupational pension scheme, becoming self-employed or taking up a mini-job.
What are independent pension consultants?
Pension consultants are not employees of Deutsche Rentenversicherung or any other insurance company. They therefore act independently and neutrally in the following areas, among others:
- Application procedures (including pension applications, account clarifications)
- Pension calculations
- Organizing voluntary contribution payments
- Company pensions
- Occupational pensions
- Health and long-term care insurance matters
- Organizing and planning individual pension provision
- Appeals and legal proceedings against German Pension Insurance
Why is a pension consultation with Ecovis worthwhile? What is the difference to a consultation with the German Pension Insurance?
We are independent advisors and provide you with comprehensive advice on your statutory pension, considering tax and social security aspects. In addition, unlike the statutory pension insurance scheme, we can also analyze your private pension and occupational pension.
Which areas can we advise on?
- Statutory pension insurance
- Company and private pension schemes
- Professional pension schemes
- Statutory health insurance
- Statutory long-term/nursing care insurance
- Tax factors relating to the items listed
How long does a consultation take?
Good preparation by us for the appointment will save you time. A comprehensive consultation usually takes around 60 minutes.
What documents do I need to submit in advance?
We require a current statement from your pension account (pension information) and all relevant pension documents on which you would like advice (e.g. insurance policy).
What does a consultation cost?
We advise you on all aspects of pension provision. An hourly rate of 250 euros is charged for standard pension planning advice.
However, you will always receive a fee agreement with an estimate of our working hours in advance.
How do I get a pension consultation?
We can advise you on site in one of our offices or online via video conference. We will be happy to find the best possible way for you.
How long does it take to get an appointment?
We try to find an appointment for you within three weeks. In order to prepare for the consultation in the best possible way, we need your documents in advance.
I want to apply for my pension. Who can help me with this?
Pension applications are complicated and inconvenient for many insured persons. It is not unusual for a pension application to require several applications, attachments, questionnaires and declarations to be completed. Errors in the pension application can cause permanent damage and reduce your pension in the long term. We can advise you on your options for claiming your pension and support you in the pension application process.
When can I retire at the earliest?
There are several different types of pension in the German statutory pension insurance scheme. But which type of pension is the earliest you can start your retirement and how high is the monthly pension? It is advisable to have this checked between the ages of 55 and 60 at the latest, as this is the only way to avoid applying for a pension too late or incorrectly. If you want to retire as early as possible, you should seek advice as early as possible, as this often gives you even more room for maneuver.
How will part-time work, partial retirement or parental leave affect my pension?
In order to plan for retirement, it is important to know the effects of changes in employment. If your salary is lower when you work part-time, you will also pay less in pension insurance contributions. As a result, your monthly pension entitlement will only increase less than if you work full-time. We will be happy to provide you with a trial calculation of the effects on your future pension amount.
How do I find out whether all periods have already been correctly considered for my pension?
The so-called account clarification procedure is used for this purpose. This involves checking all pensionable periods. Time and again, gaps are discovered in the insurance account that lead to a reduction in the pension. In rare cases, insurance periods have not been correctly transferred to the German Pension Insurance.
If you have worked abroad, it is essential to check whether these periods have already been considered in your insurance history. We will be happy to assist you with the process and bring your insurance history up to date.
Do I have to pay pension insurance contributions as a self-employed person?
Self-employed persons are not usually obliged to pay contributions. However, the law provides for compulsory pension insurance for certain occupational groups. These are, for example, aerobics, yoga and other sports instructors, nursing carers, craftsmen and employee-like self-employed persons. If you take up self-employment, you should definitely check beforehand whether you have to pay pension insurance contributions.
How am I covered by health insurance as a pensioner?
Your health insurance status depends on several factors. It is important to clarify how you will be covered by health insurance before you draw your pension. We will be happy to help you with this.