--- title: What.Finance? - Fee-only financial advice for expats in Germany description: Fee-only financial advisor, fee-based, fiduciary, flat-fee, independent financial advice, expats, expatriates, immigrants, foreigners, international, independent fee-only investment advisor, advice-only, financial planner, how to invest in Germany, §34h, 34h, Germany, Deutschland, Finanzberatung für Ausländer in Deutschland, Jonas Voelker, independent, commission-free, fixed price, hourly, client-first advice, ETF, insurance advisor, registered investment advisor, RIA, IFA, CFP, MBA, Honorarberater, Versicherungsberater, trust, English, online, video-call, graduates, academics, professional, scientific, evidence-based investing, Bavaria, Bayern, Nuremberg, Erlangen, Munich, München, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, member of BVHF, Bundesverband der Honorar-Finanzanlagenberater e.V. image: https://what.finance/hubfs/Profilbild%20querformat.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://what.finance/en/#main-content) [![What.Finance?](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20red%20Logo%20quer.png?width=250&height=63&name=New%20red%20Logo%20quer.png)](https://what.finance/en) - [About me](https://what.finance/en/#about) - [Services](https://what.finance/en/#services) - [Blog](https://what.finance/en/#blog) - [FAQ](https://what.finance/en/faq) - [Contact](https://what.finance/en/#contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [About me](https://what.finance/en/#about) - [Services](https://what.finance/en/#services) - [Blog](https://what.finance/en/#blog) - [FAQ](https://what.finance/en/faq) - [Contact](https://what.finance/en/#contact) [🇩🇪 Deutsch](https://what.finance/) # Fee-only fiduciary independent financial advisor & insurance advisor for Expats in Germany - without commissions, products or sales As an expatriate or immigrant in Germany, are you struggling to understand the German pension savings products like Riester, Rürup, Bausparen, Lebensversicherungen, and how they apply to you?   Are you not sure how to best save and invest in your situation?   Are you not getting good and knowledgeable (or English-speaking) advice from German banks, or not sure if they know or recommend the most suitable products for your circumstances?   Would you prefer to get an independent second opinion from a trustworthy licensed fiduciary? Someone who has been an expat, while at the same time knowing the German financial system? **You've come to the right place!**   [Free contract- or investment-portfolio-check](https://what.finance/en/contract-check) ## Why I am different from 99% of financial advisors ### Radically independent fiduciary, zero conflicts of interest What many don't know, free advice of banks or insurance agents does not exist. In 99% of cases these are sales calls that are financed by commissions! Even if your advisor is very likeable, you have known him or her for a long time and trust him, he has big conflicts of interest, as he's under pressure to sell you expensive products of his financial institution, as (at least partly) this is what his income and job depends on. He is acting in the interest of his employer (or his own), not in yours! He will therefore hardly ever mention the costs in the small print, and he will rarely advise you not to buy a product. You should also not ask your barber if you need a haircut!  I, on the other hand, have no connection  to any financial institution, insurance, investment firm or broker pool whatsoever, and am therefore radically independent. ### Fixed prices **Other** independent advisors often charge 0.4–1.5% of assets under management, which becomes relatively expensive over the years. Or sometimes they **cannot tell you exactly how much their advice will cost**, as they charge an hourly rate and cannot accurately estimate the effort upfront. I however work with flat-rate **fixed prices, you will know from the beginning exactly how much the advice will cost**. ### No products or sales. Guaranteed by law! As a fee-only (or fee-based) fiduciary financial advisor as per §34h GewO, I will NEVER sell you products or investments, or pressure you to sign anything. As your sparring partner & coach I recommend you product categories with different options, from which you can choose yourself, and for which (or against) you can freely decide yourself. As I am only supporting and encouraging you, but am not directly involved in the purchase of any investments, it is also very transparent, that I cannot get any hidden commissions. This way, I can advise you objectively and in your interest. I do not recommend products which in most cases are unsuitable or unnecessarily expensive or complex, like 'fondsgebundene Lebensversicherung', 'Riester- or 'Rürup-Rente' and 'Bausparvertrag'. ### Tell it like it is, no jargon If an insurance policy or investment vehicle is rubbish, I will tell you so. I can also advise not to buy additional products, recommend to cancel existing contracts, and instead go for the simplest, cheapest and most efficient investments (such as ETF), that your bank advisor will never offer you (as he's not making any money on those)! To truly help people, and tell them like it is, and what makes sense, is my principle.  ### Flexible, location-independent advice Via video conferencing, I can offer the advice flexibly and location-independent), as well as in-person in [Munich](https://what.finance/en/fee-only-financial-advisor-for-expats-in-munich), [Nuremberg](https://what.finance/honorarberater-nuernberg), [Erlangen](https://what.finance/honorarberater-erlangen), [Regensburg](https://what.finance/honorarberater-regensburg), [Wuerzburg](https://what.finance/honorarberater-wuerzburg) ,[Ingolstadt](https://what.finance/honorarberater-ingolstadt) or [Neumarkt i.d.OPf.](https://what.finance/honorarberater-neumarkt). I focus on the most cost-efficient solutions (that are not of lower quality, quite on the contrary!). ### Holistic approach I am not focusing on products. Starting from a comprehensive questionnaire, I consider your overall life circumstances, and also coach you if desired, for example regarding potential improvement of cost of living, savings rate, real estate ownership, etc. Throughout this, in me you will always have the same personal contact person. ### Money-back-Guarantee I am confident of my quality. If you are not happy with the value-add of the advice, you will get your money back!   [![BVHF e.V. Logo](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/BVHF_Logo_eV.webp?width=450&height=150&name=BVHF_Logo_eV.webp)](https://bundesverband-34h.de/)Member ## About me - Jonas Voelker Fee-only Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Insurance Advisor for Expats in Germany Guaranteed by law (§34h GewO) to be on your side ## ![Quality seal §34h](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/Abzeichen%20en.png?width=200&height=183&name=Abzeichen%20en.png) ![Jonas Voelker](https://what.finance/hubfs/IMG_0607%20gross.jpeg) ![Jonas Voelker](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/text-1737932533401.png?width=281&height=53&name=text-1737932533401.png) **Founder of What.Finance?**     [Book initial free consultation](https://what.finance/kennenlerngespraech) - 'Diplom-Kaufmann' (Master in Business), **studied in Augsburg, London and Pittsburgh, USA** - **INSEAD MBA**, Singapore & France - **25 years experience in financial services**, in investment banking/M&A at Lehman Brothers in Frankfurt & London, and 14 years as investment manager in private equity in the Middle East, at Gulf Capital in Abu Dhabi, Oman Investment Authority (Sovereign Wealth Fund in Muscat), and recently as Head of private equity in Dubai - **Bought first stock at age 14, since the 1987 crash made every mistake in the book and learnt from it** - Passion for personal finance and investing for many years already, deep knowledge gained from hundreds of books, studies and articles - **Have been an expat myself for 15+ years and** over my life **lived in 9 countries** and **had bank accounts in 6 of them**. Therefore I have a good understanding of characteristics and challenges of the financial life of an expat - At the same time, good knowledge of the German financial products and Government pension savings schemes - Founded What.Finance? out of shock about the **[poor quality of financial advice in Germany](https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2022/08/15/how-clients-of-german-banks-get-mistreated/)**, in 99% of cases commission-driven product sales with direct conflicts of interest - Known from **[![FOCUS online](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/FOCUS-online-LOGO%20narrow.png?width=120&height=45&name=FOCUS-online-LOGO%20narrow.png)](https://www.focus.de/finanzen/boerse/wie-unscheinbare-ausgaben-sie-jahrzehnte-ihres-lebens-kosten_c3365bf7-3584-4606-af09-3a54d490796a.html)** **[Financial independence](https://www.focus.de/finanzen/boerse/wie-unscheinbare-ausgaben-sie-jahrzehnte-ihres-lebens-kosten_c3365bf7-3584-4606-af09-3a54d490796a.html) [(& reactions)](https://www.focus.de/die-debatte/leserdebatte-bringt-extremes-sparen-mehr-freiheit-oder-mehr-verzicht_ba016262-d770-4483-aa41-e753361f55f4.html)** **[Guarantees](https://www.focus.de/finanzen/boerse/garantien-bei-der-geldanlage-garantieren-nur-verluste_20bd1b65-0c89-44f3-847d-7b1065e19ce6.html)** **SZ-Depotcheck: [Part 1](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/etf-nachhaltigkeit-rendite-esg-empfehlung-e971218/), [Part 2](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/geldanlage-notgroschen-riester-rente-etfs-e652203/), [Part 3](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/etf-rente-auszahlung-plan-depotcheck-e046256/), [Part 4](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/rente-sparen-etf-altersvorsorge-beamte-e626730/), [Part 5,](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/geldanlage-etf-risiko-e302639/)** **[Part 6,](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/altersvorsorge-riester-etf-altersvorsorgedepot-e138234/) [Part 7,](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/geldanlage-boerse-etf-blase-crash-e002098/) [Part 8,](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/geldanlage-start-investieren-anfang-etf-e304862/) [Part 9,](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/etf-altersvorsorge-beamte-vermoegen-sparen-e972587/) [Part 10](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/depotcheck-geldanlage-gold-e059196/)** [![Süddeutsche Zeitung](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/S%C3%BCddeutsche%20Zeitung.png?width=250&height=29&name=S%C3%BCddeutsche%20Zeitung.png)](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/staatsfonds-geldanlage-strategie-e502910/) [![Berliner Morgenpost](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/thumb/5/5a/Berlinermorgenpostlogo.jpg/960px-Berlinermorgenpostlogo.jpg?20230607210451)](https://www.morgenpost.de/ratgeber-wissen/finanzen/article410537338/trade-republic-private-markets-12-prozent-rendite-haken.html) [![Die Zeit](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/Die_Zeit-Logo.svg.png?width=150&height=27&name=Die_Zeit-Logo.svg.png)](https://www.zeit.de/geld/2025-12/etf-anlagen-tipps-2026-rebalancing-steuern-msci-world-usa) ## Advice & Financial Planning Services It's about your future, not products ![Traveling couple with city map](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_160966360.jpeg?width=500&height=333&name=AdobeStock_160966360.jpeg "Traveling couple with city map") ### What.Investment? ##### Advice about investing in ETFs and other funds: - Analysis of your existing investments in Germany (if any) in terms of diversification, return, cost, flexibility and suitability in your situation - Recommendation of the most efficient and cost-effective investment strategy to accumulate and sustain wealth in the long run, based on scientific evidence, your individual preferences, risk tolerance and knowledge level - Personal advice or coaching via video-conference ![Hip old couple in a car taking a selfie](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_330381043.jpeg?width=489&height=333&name=AdobeStock_330381043.jpeg "Hip old couple in a car taking a selfie") ### What.Retirement? ##### Retirement and pension planning & saving: - Check of your existing German savings products (if any) against your needs and personal situation, in particular as expat - Recommendations regarding existing or required contracts, and optimization of costs - Learn how you can secure your standard of living in the long run, while maintaining flexibility and without having to make sacrifices today - Personal advice or coaching via video-conference ![Happy couple in front of a camper van](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_528742853.jpeg?width=499&height=333&name=AdobeStock_528742853.jpeg "Happy couple in front of a camper van") ### What.Plan? ##### All-in-one financial plan & strategy: - Includes **What.Investment?** and **What.Retirement?** - Additionally holistic and comprehensive analysis of your personal finances, needs and goals under consideration of your family situation, age, existing investments and products, debt, savings rate, bigger expenses, net worth and real estate - Development of a financial plan to achieve your personal goals Typical Consultation Process ![Consultation process](https://what.finance/hs-fs/hubfs/Consultation%20process-3.png?width=2000&height=578&name=Consultation%20process-3.png "Consultation process") Next Steps: [Book initial free consultation](https://what.finance/kennenlerngespraech) [Fill in Online Questionnaire](https://form.jotform.com/whatfinance/finanz-check-up) ## WTF - What.The.Finance? Blog articles (in German) about questionable practices in the financial services Industry, ist incentive systems, efficient investment vehicles, unbelievable numbers, financial independence, and many other topics ## [Trade Republic lockt mit zweistelliger Rendite – Profi entlarvt Haken](https://what.finance/blog/trade-republic-lockt-mit-zweistelliger-rendite-profi-entlarvt-haken) Dec 17, 2025, 12:47:10 PM Mein Experten-Interview zu Private Equity ELTIFs für Privatanleger in der Berliner Morgenpost... [Read more](https://what.finance/blog/trade-republic-lockt-mit-zweistelliger-rendite-profi-entlarvt-haken) ## [Provisionsberatung VS. Honorarberatung - Die Unterschiede](https://what.finance/blog/provisionsberatung-vs-honorarberatung) Dec 13, 2025, 9:55:00 PM In Vergleichen wie der obigen Grafik wird oft die Höhe der Provision mit der Höhe des Honorars... [Read more](https://what.finance/blog/provisionsberatung-vs-honorarberatung) ## [Unabhängige Analyse von MLP-Verträgen hier!](https://what.finance/blog/unabhaengige-analyse-von-mlp-vertraegen-hier) Nov 6, 2025, 10:49:37 AM Sind Sie Kunde von MLP? [Read more](https://what.finance/blog/unabhaengige-analyse-von-mlp-vertraegen-hier) ## [Die Scheinargumente der Provisionsverkäufer](https://what.finance/blog/die-scheinargumente-der-provisionsverkaeufer) Jul 26, 2025, 10:23:44 AM In der Diskussion ‚Provisionsberatung vs. Honorarberatung‘ werden von Provisionsverkäufern immer... [Read more](https://what.finance/blog/die-scheinargumente-der-provisionsverkaeufer) ## FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions [Read more](https://what.finance/en/faq) ![Jonas Voelker](https://what.finance/hubfs/8171%20panorama.jpg "Jonas Voelker") ## Contact Me Do you have any questions? Contact me! - **Online Call - Anywhere in Germany** Wildbadstr. 20a 92318 Neumarkt i.d.OPf. - [ask@what.finance](mailto:ask@what.finance) - +49 (0) 157 5212 9448 - [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/4915752129448)  - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonasvoelker/) - [About me](https://what.finance/en/#about) - [Services](https://what.finance/en/#services) - [Blog](https://what.finance/en/#blog) - [FAQ](https://what.finance/en/faq) - [Contact](https://what.finance/en/#contact) --- What.Finance? [Legal Notice](https://what.finance/impressum) [Initial Client Information](https://what.finance/en/clientinformation) [Privacy Policy](https://what.finance/en/privacy-policy) Copyright © 2025