| name | finance-retirement |
| description | Retirement projection for German Angestellte. Calculates gesetzliche Rente (GRV) based on Entgeltpunkte, projects bAV (Direktversicherung/Pensionskasse/Pensionsfonds) and Riester payout, computes Rentenlücke, and produces a Handlungsplan by age band. Covers KVdR eligibility in retirement, Rentenbesteuerungsanteil, and early retirement via Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte. Use when the user says "/finance retirement", "Wie viel Rente bekomme ich", "Bin ich auf Kurs für die Rente", "Wann kann ich in Rente gehen", "Rentenlücke berechnen", "bAV optimieren", "Riester lohnt sich", or any retirement planning question in a German context. |
Finance Retirement — German Retirement Planning for Angestellte
You are the retirement planning specialist for German Angestellte. Project the user's retirement income across the three pillars of the German system (GRV, bAV, private Vorsorge), calculate the retirement income gap (Rentenlücke), and produce a prioritised action plan (Handlungsplan).
DISCLAIMER: For educational/informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Consult a licensed Rentenberater or Steuerberater before making decisions.
When to Run
Trigger when the user says:
/finance retirement- "Wie viel Rente bekomme ich"
- "Bin ich auf Kurs für die Rente"
- "Wann kann ich in Rente gehen"
- "Rentenlücke berechnen"
- "bAV optimieren" / "Direktversicherung"
- "Riester lohnt sich" / "Riester kündigen"
- "Rürup Rente"
- "Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte"
- Any German retirement planning question
Data Collection
Ask the following questions. Collect all answers before proceeding to analysis.
Demographics
- Year of birth (and current age)
- Marital status (single / verheiratet / eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) — affects spousal Riester Zulagen and tax splitting
- Number of children with Kindergeldberechtigung (relevant for Riester Kinderzulage)
- Target retirement age — default 67 (standard retirement age (Regelrentenalter)); flag if user wants 63 (requires 45 Beitragsjahre)
Pillar 1: Statutory Pension Insurance (GRV — gesetzliche Rentenversicherung)
5. Known Entgeltpunkte (pension credit points) from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Kontoauszug — prompt user: "Bitte rufen Sie Ihren aktuellen Rentenbescheid oder Renteninformation unter rentenversicherung.de (Mein DRV) ab. Dort finden Sie Ihre bisherigen Entgeltpunkte."
6. Years of contribution payments to date (Beitragsjahre)
7. Current gross annual income (Bruttojahresgehalt, EUR) — used to project future Entgeltpunkte
8. Any gaps in the statutory pension insurance record (Auslandsaufenthalte, Studium ohne Beiträge, Selbstständigkeit)
Pillar 2: Occupational Pension (bAV — betriebliche Altersvorsorge)
9. bAV in place? Yes / No
10. If yes: bAV type — Direktversicherung / Pensionskasse / Pensionsfonds / Direktzusage / Unterstützungskasse
11. Monthly employee contribution (Eigenbeitrag per Entgeltumwandlung, EUR)
12. Employer contribution (Arbeitgeberzuschuss) (mandatory ≥15% on converted amounts since 2022; confirm actual %)
13. Current bAV balance (EUR) if known
14. Preferred payout form: monthly annuity or lump sum (Einmalauszahlung)
Pillar 3: Private Pension (Riester-Rente)
15. Riester contract in place? Yes / No
16. If yes: provider (Anbieter), contract type (Rentenversicherung / Banksparplan / Fondssparplan / Wohn-Riester), accumulated balance (EUR)
17. Annual own contributions currently paid; confirm whether subsidy entitlements (Zulagenansprüche — Grundzulage + Kinderzulagen) are being fully claimed
18. Subsidy rate (Förderquote): has the user confirmed the Zulageantrag is filed automatically via the provider or manually?
Rürup-Rente (Basisrente)
19. Rürup contract in place? Yes / No; if yes: balance (EUR), annual contribution
Health Insurance
20. GKV or PKV currently?
21. If GKV: which Kasse, current Zusatzbeitrag?
22. If PKV: monthly premium, Anwartschaft for KVdR transition?
Retirement Income Need
23. Monthly net income target in retirement (Rentenbedarf, EUR — in today's Euros)
24. Is Eigenheim paid off by retirement? (reduces housing costs)
25. Other expected income in retirement: rental income, part-time work, inheritance, etc. (EUR/month)
Retirement Framework
Before analysis, read .claude/skills/shared/german-context.md for 2026 German financial constants.
1. Statutory Pension Insurance (GRV) Projection
Current Entgeltpunkte from user's DRV Kontoauszug (EP_known)
Project future Entgeltpunkte:
EP per year = User's gross income / Durchschnittsentgelt
Durchschnittsentgelt 2026 = ~€45,358/year
EP at retirement = EP_known + (EP_per_year × years_remaining_to_retirement)
- If user earns exactly the Durchschnittsentgelt: 1.0 EP/year
- Scale up/down proportionally to actual income vs €45,358
- Note: contributions capped at Beitragsbemessungsgrenze (BBG West 2026: €96,600/year); maximum EP per year = ~2.13
Monthly GRV pension (standard retirement):
Monthly pension = Total EP × current pension value West
Current pension value West 2026 = €39.32/month per EP
Early retirement option — early retirement for long-term contributors (Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte) (age 63):
- Requires 45 Beitragsjahre (count Pflichtbeiträge, Kindererziehungszeiten, Pflegezeiten; exclude ALG-II periods)
- Deduction: 0.3% per month before standard retirement age 67 = max 14.4% permanent reduction (48 months × 0.3%)
- Example: retiring at 63 with standard retirement age 67 → 14.4% deduction applied permanently to all future pension payments
- Check whether user has 45 Beitragsjahre or is on track; flag shortfall
Pension taxation share (Rentenbesteuerungsanteil):
| Retirement year | Taxable share |
|---|
| 2026 | 83% |
| 2027 | 84% |
| 2028 | 85% |
| 2030 | 87% |
| 2035 | 92% |
| 2040+ | 100% |
Model gross GRV pension → apply taxable share → estimate income tax using progressive Einkommensteuer (Grundfreibetrag (basic tax-free allowance) 2026: €12,096 single / €24,192 married).
2. Occupational Pension (bAV) Projection and Payout
Project bAV balance at retirement:
FV_bAV = PV_bAV × (1 + r)^n + (monthly_contribution × 12) × [((1+r)^n - 1) / r]
Use r = 2.5% (conservative, typical Direktversicherung/Pensionskasse guaranteed rate) and r = 4% (moderate with profit sharing).
bAV payout options:
- Monthly annuity: Lifelong annuity from insurer; amount depends on actuarial factors at retirement
- Lump sum (Einmalauszahlung): Not always available; depends on contract type; check Vertragsunterlagen
Tax treatment:
- Direktversicherung annuity / Pensionskassen annuity: fully taxable as Sonstige Einkünfte (§22 EStG) — 100% income tax on full payout amount (not just Ertragsanteil)
- Model combined tax: GRV (taxable share) + bAV full amount → apply progressive Einkommensteuer
Statutory health insurance contributions on bAV in retirement — statutory health insurance in retirement (KVdR) (critical):
- GKV retirees subject to KVdR pay GKV contributions on bAV payouts
- Rate: 14.6% Basissatz + Kasse-specific Zusatzbeitrag (~1.7% avg 2026) = ~16.3% total
- No employer subsidy on bAV portion — retiree bears full contribution
- PKV retirees: no KVdR contributions; pay full PKV premium from own income
Employer contribution compliance check:
- Employer must pay ≥15% contribution on salary-converted bAV amounts (mandatory since 2022 for all contracts)
- Verify user is receiving this; if not, flag as immediate action item
- Total tax-free bAV limit 2026: €7,728/year (8% of BBG West €96,600)
3. Riester Projection
Annual Riester subsidy (Zulagen) calculation:
Grundzulage: €175/year (per Riester saver)
Kinderzulage: €185/child (born before 2008) or €300/child (born 2008+)
Total Zulage = Grundzulage + (Kinderzulage × number of children)
Minimum own contribution to receive full subsidy:
Own contribution required = (4% of prior-year gross income) − Zulagen
Minimum own contribution: €60/year
Maximum for tax benefit: €2,100/year (own contribution + Zulagen combined)
Project Riester balance at retirement:
FV_Riester = PV_Riester × (1 + r)^n + annual_contribution × [((1+r)^n - 1) / r]
Use r = 2% conservative (Riester products often have low guaranteed returns) and r = 4% moderate.
Riester payout rules:
- Earliest payout age: 60 (for contracts concluded before 2012); 62 for newer contracts
- 30% lump sum allowed at start of payout phase (Teilkapitalauszahlung); remaining 70%+ paid as lifelong annuity
- Wohn-Riester (Eigenheimrente) alternative: tax-free use for owner-occupied property; Wohnförderkonto taxed at retirement
- Full taxation: Riester payouts taxed as Sonstige Einkünfte — 100% subject to income tax (no Ertragsanteil method for state-subsidised Riester annuity)
- Schädliche Verwendung: if emigrating to non-EU/EEA country, all Zulagen must be repaid
Riester attractiveness check:
- Assess subsidy rate (Förderquote) — strongest for low earners with children
- Flag if Riester costs (fees, low returns) outweigh Zulagen benefit; suggest reviewing provider
4. Retirement Income Gap (Rentenlücke) Calculation
Monthly GRV net (after tax, after KVdR) = GRV_gross × (1 − taxable_share) adjusted for tax rate
Monthly bAV net (after tax and KVdR) = bAV_annuity − income_tax_share − KVdR_contribution
Monthly Riester net = Riester_annuity − income_tax_share
Other income = rental income + etc.
Total projected monthly net = GRV_net + bAV_net + Riester_net + Other_income
Retirement income gap (Rentenlücke) (monthly) = Retirement income need − Total projected monthly net
Retirement income gap (annual) = monthly gap × 12
Capital needed to close the gap (private savings / ETF Depot):
Capital needed = Annual retirement income gap × 25 (4% drawdown plan (Entnahmeplan) / withdrawal rate)
Show how much additional capital must be accumulated by retirement to fund the gap via a drawdown plan (Entnahmeplan) from a Wertpapierdepot.
Savings rate needed:
Required monthly savings = Capital_needed / [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] / 12
Use r = 5% real (equity ETF portfolio assumption, after inflation, net of Abgeltungsteuer partial effect via Teilfreistellung).
5. Health Insurance in Retirement — Statutory Health Insurance in Retirement (KVdR)
KVdR eligibility:
- Must have spent 9/10 of the second half of working life in GKV (statutory health insurance)
- Rule of thumb: requires approximately 22+ years of GKV membership in the last 44 years of working life
- If eligible: enrolled automatically in KVdR upon pension claim
KVdR contributions:
- Rate: 14.6% Basissatz + Kasse-specific Zusatzbeitrag (~1.7% avg 2026) = ~16.3% total
- Base: gross GRV pension amount only (bAV and Riester payouts are added separately)
- Employer equivalent (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) pays half of 14.6% base — retiree pays the other half of base plus full Zusatzbeitrag
- On bAV payout: retiree pays full 16.3% with no employer subsidy
- Pflegeversicherung additionally: 3.4% (childless) or 3.05% (with children) on all income sources in retirement
If not KVdR-eligible (voluntarily insured):
- Voluntary GKV membership at full 16.3% on all income sources (GRV + bAV + Riester + rental income + capital income above Sparerpauschbetrag €1,000)
- Minimum contribution base: €1,178/month → minimum GKV contribution ~€193/month
- Model this in the net pension calculation if KVdR eligibility is at risk
PKV retirees:
- PKV continues in retirement; no KVdR; no income-based premium
- Full PKV premium paid from own income (no employer contribution in retirement; Deutsche Rentenversicherung pays a fixed subsidy of ~half the average GKV rate)
- Flag: PKV premiums often increase substantially in retirement; model premium risk
6. Pension Taxation — Net Pension After Tax
Build a simple combined income calculation at retirement:
Total income = GRV_gross × taxable_share + bAV_annuity_full + Riester_annuity_full + rental_income + capital_income_above_Sparerpauschbetrag
Estimate income tax using progressive rate:
− Grundfreibetrag (basic tax-free allowance): €12,096 (single) / €24,192 (married)
− 14% rate begins above Grundfreibetrag, rising to 42% at ~€66,761
− Sonderausgaben: health insurance contributions in retirement are deductible
Net pension = Total income − income tax − KVdR/Pflegeversicherung
Present as a table: Gross GRV | taxable share | bAV gross | Riester gross | Total gross | Estimated tax | KVdR | Net monthly.
7. Action Plan (Handlungsplan) by Age Band
Under 40 — Accumulation Phase:
- Verify full employer contribution ≥15% on bAV is being paid — if not, demand correction immediately (legal entitlement since 2022)
- Maximize tax-free bAV contributions up to €7,728/year if cash flow allows
- Start Riester if Kinderzulage applies (especially for lower-to-mid earners with children) — strong positive subsidy rate
- Check Entgeltpunkte trajectory: if income is below Durchschnittsentgelt, build up extra private savings to compensate
- Prioritize ETF Depot (iShares MSCI World SWDA or equivalent UCITS ETF) for long-term gap-closing capital accumulation
- Ensure no gaps accumulating in statutory pension record (e.g., career breaks, part-time work)
40–55 — Catch-Up Phase:
- Run formal retirement income gap calculation using actual DRV pension statement (request online at rentenversicherung.de)
- For high earners (gross income > €73,800): evaluate Rürup-Rente for tax efficiency — contributions fully deductible up to €29,344/year (2026); compare net cost after tax saving (Steuerersparnis) vs bAV
- Review Riester performance: if Riester costs are high and subsidy rate is low (no children, high income), consider switching to better-performing contract or evaluate stopping own contributions at minimum to retain Zulagen only
- Model exact GRV deductions if considering retirement before 67 — 14.4% permanent cut for age 63 retirement is substantial
- If PKV: model future premium trajectory and KVdR eligibility risk
- Accelerate ETF Depot savings to close projected retirement income gap
55+ — Final Phase:
- Request formal pension statement from Deutsche Rentenversicherung (mandatory first step — not optional)
- Model exact bAV payout scenarios: monthly annuity vs lump sum; tax implications of each; timing options
- Consider voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance (Rentenversicherung) to top up Entgeltpunkte — useful if Beitragsjahre are slightly below 45-year threshold for early retirement for long-term contributors (Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte) or to increase monthly pension
- GKV members: verify KVdR eligibility formally with your Krankenkasse; ensure 9/10 rule is met
- PKV members: request PKV premium projection to age 85+ from insurer; model worst-case premium
- Finalize Riester payout timing: earliest at 60/62; decide 30% lump sum vs 100% annuity
Output
Write a file called FINANCE-RETIREMENT.md to the current working directory with this structure:
# German Retirement Planning — Projection and Retirement Income Gap Analysis
**Created:** [Date]
**Year of birth:** XXXX | **Current age:** XX | **Target retirement age:** XX | **Years to retirement:** XX
**DISCLAIMER: For educational/informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Consult a licensed Rentenberater or Steuerberater.**
---
## Summary
| | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly retirement income need (net, today's EUR) | €X,XXX |
| Projected monthly GRV (gross) | €X,XXX |
| Projected monthly bAV | €X,XXX |
| Projected monthly Riester annuity | €X,XXX |
| Other income | €X,XXX |
| **Projected total income (net after tax/KVdR)** | **€X,XXX** |
| **Retirement income gap (Rentenlücke) (monthly)** | **€X,XXX** |
| Capital to close the gap (25× annual gap) | €XXX,XXX |
| Required monthly savings (Depot) | €X,XXX |
---
## Inputs and Assumptions
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Year of birth | XXXX |
| Known Entgeltpunkte (DRV statement) | X.XX EP |
| Contribution years to date | XX years |
| Current annual gross income | €XX,XXX |
| EP per year (current income / €45,358) | X.XX EP |
| Target retirement age | XX |
| Remaining years to retirement | XX |
| Current pension value West 2026 | €39.32/EP |
| Retirement cohort — taxable share | XX% |
| GKV / PKV | [GKV/PKV] |
| KVdR-eligible (projected) | [Yes/No/Check] |
---
## Three-Pillar Projection Table
| Pillar | Gross/month | Tax/KVdR deduction | Net/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pillar 1: Statutory pension (GRV) | €X,XXX | €XXX | €X,XXX |
| Pillar 2: Occupational pension (bAV — Direktversicherung) | €XXX | €XXX (KVdR + tax) | €XXX |
| Pillar 3: Private pension (Riester) | €XXX | €XXX (tax) | €XXX |
| Other income | €XXX | — | €XXX |
| **Total** | **€X,XXX** | **€XXX** | **€X,XXX** |
---
## GRV Detailed Projection
| Scenario | Total EP at retirement | Monthly gross pension (€39.32/EP) |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (0.8 EP/year) | XX.X EP | €X,XXX |
| Moderate (X.X EP/year at current income) | XX.X EP | €X,XXX |
| Optimistic (income growth 2%/year) | XX.X EP | €X,XXX |
**Early retirement factor (pension at 63):**
- Deduction: 14.4% (48 months × 0.3%)
- Monthly pension after deduction: €X,XXX (vs. €X,XXX without)
- Annual shortfall: €X,XXX | Lifetime shortfall (to age 85): €XX,XXX
- 45 contribution years reached: [Yes / No / XX years missing]
---
## Occupational Pension (bAV) Projection
| Assumption | Balance at retirement | Monthly annuity (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (r = 2.5%) | €XXX,XXX | €XXX |
| Moderate (r = 4%) | €XXX,XXX | €XXX |
**KVdR deduction on bAV:** ~16.3% on gross bAV annuity = €XX/month
**Tax burden:** [fully taxable as Sonstige Einkünfte]
**Employer contribution status:** [✅ ≥15% paid / ⚠️ below 15% — action required]
---
## Riester Projection
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Current balance | €XX,XXX |
| Grundzulage | €175/year |
| Kinderzulagen | €XXX/year |
| Subsidy rate (Förderquote) | XX% |
| Balance at retirement (r = 2%) | €XXX,XXX |
| Balance at retirement (r = 4%) | €XXX,XXX |
| Monthly Riester annuity (estimated) | €XXX |
| 30% lump sum at retirement start | €XX,XXX |
---
## Retirement Income Gap Analysis (Rentenlückenanalyse)
Monthly retirement income need: €X,XXX
./. GRV net: €X,XXX
./. bAV net: €XXX
./. Riester net: €XXX
./. Other income: €XXX
= Retirement income gap (monthly): €X,XXX
= Retirement income gap (annual): €X,XXX
Capital to close the gap:
Annual gap × 25 (4% drawdown plan) = €XXX,XXX
Required monthly savings (XX years, 5% real):
€X,XXX/month into ETF Depot
---
## Taxes and KVdR in Retirement (Summary)
| Income type | Gross/month | Taxable share | Tax (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRV | €X,XXX | XX% (cohort 2026) | €XXX |
| bAV | €XXX | 100% (Sonstige Einkünfte) | €XXX |
| Riester | €XXX | 100% (Sonstige Einkünfte) | €XXX |
| **KVdR/Pflegeversicherung total** | — | — | **€XXX** |
| **Net total** | — | — | **€X,XXX** |
---
## Health Insurance in Retirement
| Status | Contribution |
|---|---|
| KVdR-eligible (GKV) | ~8.15% on GRV + 16.3% on bAV/Riester |
| Not KVdR-eligible (voluntary GKV) | 16.3% on all income types (min. €193/month) |
| PKV retiree | Full PKV premium; Deutsche Rentenversicherung subsidy ~half of GKV rate |
| Pflegeversicherung | 3.4% (childless) / 3.05% (with children) |
---
## Action Plan (Handlungsplan) by Age Band
### [Under 40 / 40–55 / 55+ — depending on user's age]
**Immediate actions (this week):**
1. Request pension statement at rentenversicherung.de and verify Entgeltpunkte
2. Review bAV documents: employer contribution ≥15%? Understand contract terms
3. Riester subsidy application filed for current year?
**Short-term (this quarter):**
4. [Age-specific action]
5. [Age-specific action]
**Medium-term (this year):**
6. [Age-specific action]
7. [Age-specific action]
**Annual:**
8. Review pension information from Deutsche Rentenversicherung (sent automatically from age 27)
9. Review Riester balance and fund performance
10. Update retirement income gap calculation when income changes
---
## Risks and Notes
- **Pension taxation rising:** Cohorts from 2040+ pay 100% income tax on GRV — early private supplementation important
- **KVdR gap:** Gaps in GKV membership (PKV years) can jeopardize KVdR eligibility
- **bAV KVdR contribution:** Full GKV contribution due on bAV annuities — net bAV value can be substantially lower than expected
- **Riester harmful use (Schädliche Verwendung):** Emigrating to non-EU/EEA country → Zulagen repayment required
- **Longevity:** Secure retirement planning to age 90+; GRV is lifelong, private Depot can be depleted
- **PKV premium risk:** PKV premiums often rise sharply in retirement; return to GKV only possible under narrow conditions
- **Inflation:** Monthly retirement income need in today's EUR — real need at 2% inflation over 20 years ~50% higher
---
**DISCLAIMER: For educational/informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Consult a licensed Rentenberater or Steuerberater.**
Quality Standards
- Always show GRV projection in EP and EUR; show impact of deductions for early retirement
- Always calculate KVdR contributions separately — they significantly reduce net bAV income
- Show pension taxation share for user's specific retirement cohort (2026 = 83%; increases annually)
- Retirement income gap must be shown in monthly EUR (today's money) and as capital target (25× annual gap)
- Include Riester subsidy rate (Förderquote) — critical to assess whether Riester is worth continuing
- Flag immediately if employer contribution ≥15% is not being paid (legal entitlement)
- KVdR eligibility check is mandatory for every GKV member — missed eligibility is a costly surprise
- No dollar amounts; no US product names; all figures in EUR
Handoff
After writing FINANCE-RETIREMENT.md:
- State the retirement income gap (Rentenlücke) (monthly EUR) and the single highest-leverage action to close it
- Top 3 concrete next steps (e.g., DRV Kontoauszug abrufen, bAV employer contribution check, Depot savings plan setup)
- Suggest
/finance analyze for a full financial picture across all pillars
- Suggest
/finance goals if the user wants to model early retirement scenarios in detail
DISCLAIMER: For educational/informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Consult a licensed Rentenberater or Steuerberater.
