Expat Finance · Berlin, Germany
XpatGermany
Helping expats navigate the German financial system since 2015. Expert advice on tax, insurance, pensions, and investments. In plain English.
Book Your Free Strategy CallBuilt for expats. Run by people who get it.
XpatGermany was founded in Berlin in 2015 with one goal: to give internationals access to the same quality of financial advice that German residents take for granted. The German financial system is complex by design: tax classes, private versus public health insurance, pension gaps, investment rules. Most generic advisors aren't equipped to handle the cross-border dimension that expat life adds on top.
We work exclusively with expats in Germany. That focus means every strategy we recommend is built around the reality of international careers: portability, dual-tax treaties, insurance that travels with you, and investments that make sense whether you stay in Germany for three years or thirty.
All advice is given in English. All consultations are remote, available to expats anywhere in Germany. No German-only contracts, no translation bottlenecks. Just clear, practical guidance from a team that has navigated these questions themselves.
Helping Expats
Succeed in Germany
Eljas Thranberend
I grew up in Germany as the child of expats. From an early age I saw how difficult it was for internationals to navigate a financial system that wasn't designed for them: complex tax rules, unfamiliar insurance products, a pension structure built around a 40-year career in one country. That experience shaped everything I do today.
Since 2015 I've worked as a financial advisor specialising in expat finance in Germany. I focus on the areas that matter most for internationals: reducing your tax burden legally, choosing the right health insurance, building a pension strategy that works across borders, and investing efficiently in the German market. All advice is given in English.
XpatGermany exists because most generic financial advice in Germany isn't built for people who might not be here in 10 years. Every strategy I recommend accounts for that reality: portability, cross-border tax implications, and the flexibility expat life requires.
The team behind XpatGermany
A small team with a clear focus. We help expats in Germany get their finances right.
Eljas Thranberend
Founder & Financial Advisor
Lic. §34f & §34d GewO
Jeronimo Zielke
SDR & Marketing
Abigail Calderón
Customer Support
Jessica Thurau
Personal Assistant
Areas of expertise
Eight domains where expats in Germany consistently need expert guidance.
Tax Planning
Legal income tax reduction strategies for expats. Entfernungspauschale, Kinderbetreuungskosten, Rürup, and more.
Private Health Insurance (PKV)
GKV vs PKV analysis. Access to 160+ insurance companies and financial partners. Individual savings potential depending on your profile.
ETF Investing
Depot setup, Sparplan design, Freistellungsauftrag, Vorabpauschale. Done right from day one.
Retirement & Pension Planning
Rürup, ETF-based private pension, and GRV gap analysis for internationally mobile professionals.
Wealth Management
Holistic financial planning for expats building long-term wealth in Germany.
German Tax Classes
Steuerklassen explained for expats and couples. Find the optimal class for your situation.
Salary Calculation
Gross-to-net calculator for all tax classes, GKV/PKV, and social contributions.
Property Purchase
End-to-end property buying for expats. Access to Germany's exclusive real estate portfolio.
Why expats work with XpatGermany
Three things that set expert expat financial advice apart from a bank or an online tool.
Expert-led advice
Advice built around your situation, not a generic product package. Every recommendation is tailored to your income, timeline, and goals as an expat in Germany.
Built for expat life
Growing up as the child of expats in Germany gave Eljas a firsthand understanding of the challenges internationals face. Every strategy accounts for the possibility that you may not stay in Germany forever: portability, cross-border tax treatment, and the flexibility expat careers require.
English, always
All consultations, documentation summaries, and follow-up are in clear English. No navigating German-only contracts or relying on translation tools for financial decisions. Remote advice by video call, available to expats anywhere in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eljas Thranberend a licensed financial advisor in Germany?
Yes. Eljas Thranberend holds both a §34f GewO licence (Finanzanlagevermittlung, registered with the IHK) and a §34d GewO licence (Versicherungsmakler). All advisors at XpatGermany are fully licensed under German financial services regulations. The free strategy call is a consultation, not a product sale. Recommendations are based on your individual situation and goals.
Do you advise expats across Germany, or only in Berlin?
All consultations are conducted remotely by video call in English, which means location within Germany makes no difference. Expats in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, and elsewhere all receive the same depth of advice. In-person meetings in Berlin can be arranged on request.
Is the first strategy call really free?
Yes, completely free, with no obligation. The call covers your employment situation, existing financial products, tax class, and long-term plans. By the end you'll have a clear picture of what's in place, what's missing, and what the priorities are. There's no pressure to proceed, and no charge if you decide not to.
Who is XpatGermany best suited for?
XpatGermany works with both employed and self-employed expats in Germany: professionals who want to reduce their tax burden, choose the right health insurance, build a private pension, and invest correctly in the German market. Whether you're in your first year in Germany or have been here for several years without optimising your finances, the advice is equally relevant. Employed expats benefit from tax class optimisation, PKV switching, and salary-linked pension strategies. Self-employed and freelance expats get the same depth of advice, particularly on PKV selection, Rürup investment, and structuring income tax efficiently.
Start with a free strategy call
30 minutes. No obligation. A clear picture of your financial position in Germany and what to do next.
Book Your Free Strategy Call