- 17
- Episodes
- 2025
- First episode
About it's finance, mate!
The team behind financemate.de, vibing about financial topics for internationals in Germany.
- Publisher
- Financemate
- Category
- business
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 11 Jul 2025
- Latest episode
- 31 Oct 2025
Latest episodes
17 episodes in the feed.
31 Oct 2025
My Portfolio is down 20%! Now what?
The moment every investor dreads... Seeing red across the board. Do you sell, hold, or buy more? And how do you even know which decision makes sense? In this episode, we go deep on what really matters when markets drop: your thesis, time horizon, risk appetite, and emotions. We share our own stories from early crypto trades and gold “theses” gone wrong to classic 25% drawdowns and 80% crashes. We unpack what we learned about conviction, timing, and patience. Learn why “time in the market beats timing the market,” why emotion is the hardest asset to manage, and how to separate belief from bias. Start investing wisely, not emotionally. financemate.de (https://www.financemate.de)
23 Oct 2025
US Citizens in Germany: this ones for you (w/Jonathan)
Living abroad is already complex. If you hold a US passport, your finances just got a lot more so. In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Henkels, a US-based Certified Financial Planner who specializes in working with Americans living in Germany. From passive foreign investment corporations (PFICs) to tax treaties, FATCA, IRA contributions abroad, and the ETF block many Americans run into… we unpack the why, how, and what you can still do to build wealth across borders. Whether you’re preparing to move, already living in Germany, or married to an American, this episode gives you the mental checklist and strategy to stay compliant, invest wisely, and avoid nasty surprises down the line. Share this with your American friends abroad. It might just save them a tax nightmare. Plan smart, start at financemate.de (http://financemate.de) You can also connect directly to Jonathan here https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhenkels/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhenkels/) https://beaconglobaladvisors.com/ (https://beaconglobaladvisors.com/) Jonathan Henkels' commentary is intended to be informational and educational. It is not intended to be tax or investment advice. It is not a solicitation to purchase or sell any stock, security or form of investment. Disclaimer: This video is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered tax, financial, legal, or investment advice. The content presented represents personal opinions and experiences and may not be suitable for your specific situation. Tax laws and financial regulations vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always consult with qualified professionals such as certified public accountants, tax advisors, financial planners, or attorneys before making any financial or tax-related decisions. The creator of this video is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. Your individual circumstances are unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
17 Oct 2025
It's compensation, mate!
Your German payslip hides more than it shows. In this episode, we break down how to actually understand your total compensation as an international in Germany: salary, bonuses, equity, and benefits and how to make each of them work for you. We explain why salary is your stability, bonuses are your flexibility, equity is your upside, and benefits are your protection. From tax classes and social contributions to company pensions, 13th-month salaries, RSUs, and blackout periods, we unpack how German compensation really works, what to watch out for, and how to plan your finances around it. Whether you’re negotiating your next role or finally trying to make sense of your payslip, this episode helps you see your income as a system, not just a number. Ready to turn your compensation into a real plan? Book your first session at financemate.de.
10 Oct 2025
Financemate 2.0 is here
Financemate 2.0 is here. We share why we rebuilt our hybrid financial planning experience and what’s new: a client-led dashboard with lifetime access to your data, shaped by months of real user feedback. We introduce the Independence Chart that projects your income and net worth across your life so decisions connect (not live in silos). Then we walk through the upgraded planners: Income (drag-to-forecast), Cash (fund near-term goals), Pension (German + foreign), Portfolio (projection and withdrawal rules), and Real Estate (investment vs. home with after-tax math). We also cover data security (EU hosting, best-practice auth) and why a living, holistic plan beats static PDFs every time. Want to see it live? Book a discovery call at financemate.de.
3 Oct 2025
Hybrid Financial Planning: Modern tech, Human Empathy
DIY apps or done-for-you wealth managers? We make the case for a hybrid: your numbers in a live dashboard plus a human co-pilot to turn data into decisions. We compare DIY vs. fully serviced, talk bias-free calculators, better visuals and inputs, and why a dynamic plan that adapts with life beats static PDFs so you keep control and still get guidance. Ready to plan together? Visit financemate.de.
26 Sept 2025
How to plan for a successful career change w/ Maritza from Changepath
Thinking about a career change, sabbatical, or startup? We sit down with Maritza from ChangePath.ai to connect career design with money: when to resign (bonus/RSU timing, notice period), how to handle housing/mortgages as employee vs. freelancer, and why to move essentials to a runway account and build a 6–12-month buffer. We cover unemployment benefits, company/foreign pensions, and simple ways to build bridge income and cut burn, so your transition is funded, not frantic. Runway creates negotiation power. Sequence the big moves: money first, then the leap. Ready to plan your pivot? Visit financemate.de and changepath.ai.
19 Sept 2025
5 Money Mistakes Internationals Make in Germany
Everyone makes the same five mistakes at first: the “I’ll figure it out later” trap, flipping between public and private health insurance, calling rent “dead money,” sleepwalking through a company pension, and trusting pensions without running the numbers. We unpack each one with simple, international friendly frameworks: fair rent-vs-buy math, how to think about GKV vs. PKV, what employer “matching” really means in bAV, and why your pension deserves a realistic line in your plan. Ready to fix yours? Book a call at financemate.de.
12 Sept 2025
Planning for independence
Independence isn’t a number, it’s choosing how you live, where you live, who you work with, and what you work on. In this episode we each define independence, share client moments (from 80% work weeks for new parents to quitting jobs for a camper van and more family time), and turn it into a practical plan: build runway, adjust risk, time big moves like property vs. starting a business, and treat planning as an ongoing process, not a one-off. Ready to design your independence? Book a call at financemate.de.
5 Sept 2025
5 Questions everyone asks about their finances
Everyone asks us the same five things: What should I do with my money? Is real estate a good investment? When can I retire? How can I start investing in ETFs? Does my company pension (bAV) make sense for me? In this episode, we tackle each one through a financial planning lens, putting priorities before products and flexibility before hype, and share simple tests you can run yourself. We clear up common misconceptions and give you a reusable framework so you walk away with decisions, not confusion. Ready to plan? Book a call at financemate.de (http://financemate.de/).
29 Aug 2025
Feierabend 2060: The economy you retire into
You won’t retire on a date, you’ll retire into a global economy. We zoom out to the next 30–40 years: the 1972 Limits to Growth “2030 bend,” AI’s productivity (and job) shock, stubborn energy costs, global debt, China–US shifts, and Europe’s footing. For a mid-30s listener in Germany, we turn those themes into scenarios and a plan: diversified income lanes, skill upgrades, and smart location choices for a resilient retirement. Ready for the future? Start planning at financemate.de.
22 Aug 2025
ETFs, Real Estate, Pensions? Stop picking, start planning!
Most people think about their finances by picking products: ETFs, Real estate, pensions or others. But if you don’t know why you’re investing, none of it really lines up. In this episode we flip the order: set goals, map life events, and define timelines, risk, liquidity and flexibility (especially if you’re an international in Germany). Then we compare the big options: ETFs, real estate, company/private/foreign pensions, only as vehicles to carry you from A → B once the destination is clear. Ready to start planning? Book a call at financemate.de.
15 Aug 2025
Retire in Germany: Kaffee, Kuchen & Cashflow
Retirement isn’t just an age, it’s a plan. In this episode we unpack what “retire” really means in Germany: legal ages vs. your funded age, the different cashflow sources you could have when you retire and how to choose where you’ll live without tripping over taxes or healthcare. Practical, international friendly steps to make Feierabend forever feel real. Ready to plan your retirement? Visit financemate.de
8 Aug 2025
5 myths that delay Financial Planning
We all procrastinate when it comes to money, but what’s really holding us back? In this episode, we bust 5 common myths about financial planning, from “you need to be rich” to “just use an app.” Turns out, you don’t need perfect finances, you just need a plan that fits real life. Check out financemate.de, if you're interest to start planning for your financial future.
1 Aug 2025
Let’s get real about Real Estate
Think bricks are always safest? Let’s get real. We explain why Germany stays a nation of renters and discuss the investor tax benefits that can make becoming a landlord surprisingly attractive. We’ve built several calculators to help our clients evaluate real estate decisions in Germany, if you’re interested, visit financemate.de (http://financemate.de) and book a discovery call.
25 Jul 2025
I’m looking for a mate in Finance
Finance is emotional, not just about number crunching. In this episode we lay out our vision for Financemate: smart, easy-to-use planning tools guided by a real human who helps you prioritise, decide, and follow through. We explain why internationals, especially those living in Germany needs a different kind of financial planning and our approach to solving that. Check out financemate.de (http://financemate.de) and book a discovery call.
18 Jul 2025
Germany's obsession with Insurance!
In a country with five times as many insurance policies as people, Germany's love affair with insurance is hard to ignore. How did it get this way? In this episode, we unpack the historical roots and cultural mindsets behind it all. For internationals, insurance is important too, but knowing what you actually need is key. We break down how to stay properly protected without going overboard.
11 Jul 2025
Why Financial Planning doesn't really exist in Germany
In our first episode, we explore what financial planning actually means and why it’s surprisingly hard to find proper financial planning services in Germany. We discuss the cultural differences, regulatory landscape, and what this means for internationals living in Germany. Interested in planning your own finances, check out Financemate.de (http://financemate.de/)
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