{"id":6098,"date":"2020-02-11T21:22:58","date_gmt":"2020-02-11T20:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/?p=6098"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:25:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:25:23","slug":"best-investments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/best-investments\/","title":{"rendered":"Investment comparison 2024: Best investments right now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: bold\">\r\n\tThe best investment right now depends on your investment horizon: For long-term investments, we consider rented real estate and broadly diversified equity ETFs to be the strongest combination of return and security. \r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: bold\">\r\n\tMoney that needs to be available in the short term belongs in an instant access savings account, fixed-term deposit, or a high-interest savings account \u2013 following the ECB\u2019s key interest rate hike in June 2026, interest rates there are once again above 2 percent. \r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: bold\">\t\r\n\tGold is suitable as an addition to your portfolio, while Bitcoin is, at most, suitable in small doses for tech-savvy investors. Important before any investment: pay off consumer debt first, then build an emergency fund, then invest.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>What is an investment \u2013 and what comes before it?<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAn investment is any use of money with the aim of preserving or increasing its value \u2013 from a savings account to ETFs to rented apartments. Which investment is the best cannot be answered in general terms, but only by looking at three questions: \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ol>\r\n\t\t<li>How long can you do without the money?<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>How much fluctuation can you tolerate? <\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>And what return do you need to reach your goal?<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ol>\r\n\t<h3>Pay off debts first<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tBefore thinking about investment options, you should pay off expensive debts. The interest rates on overdraft facilities and consumer loans are almost always significantly higher than the returns you can achieve with a safe investment. Every euro paid off is therefore the most profitable and, at the same time, risk-free investment of all. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tReal estate loans and other loans that are part of an investment are excluded \u2013 here, borrowed capital works for you (more on this under <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/leverage-effect\/\">leverage effect<\/a>).\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Then build an emergency fund<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tKeep three to six months&#8217; worth of expenses as a reserve for broken washing machines, car repairs, or loss of income. This reserve must be available daily and therefore belongs in an instant access savings account \u2013 not in a brokerage account. Only what is left over beyond that should be invested in the medium and long term.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>The magic triangle of investment<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe magic triangle of investment is the most important mental model for investors. It describes three goals that any investment can only partially fulfill at the same time:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ul>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Return:<\/strong> What does the investment yield \u2013 interest, dividends, rent, or capital appreciation?\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Security:<\/strong> How likely are losses up to a total loss?\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Liquidity:<\/strong> How quickly can you access your money again?\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ul>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe triangle is called &#8220;magic&#8221; because it is impossible to maximize all three corners at once. A safe investment with high interest and daily availability does not exist \u2013 anyone promising you exactly that is concealing a risk or running a scam. Simply explained with examples:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tExample\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tReturn\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSecurity\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tLiquidity\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Low<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Very high<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Very high (available daily)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>3-year fixed deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Medium<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Very high<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Low (tied to term)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Equity ETF<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>High<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Medium (price fluctuations)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>High (tradable every stock market day)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Rented real estate<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>High<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>High (real asset, land register)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Low (sale takes months)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tSome expand the model to the magic quadrangle of investment and add sustainability as a fourth objective. A detailed explanation with further examples can be found in our article on the <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/magic-triangle-of-investment\/\">magic triangle of investment<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Inflation: the silent opponent of every investment<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tStates and central banks aim for an inflation rate of around 2 percent per year \u2013 as a safety margin against dreaded deflation, in which consumers postpone purchases and the economy stalls. For savers, this means: your money loses purchasing power according to plan. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIn times of crisis, it happens faster: in 2022\/2023, inflation temporarily reached almost 9 percent, and in 2026, inflation in the euro area is again noticeably above the target at around 3 percent. Current figures for Germany are published monthly by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.destatis.de\/DE\/Themen\/Wirtschaft\/Preise\/Verbraucherpreisindex\/_inhalt.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Federal Statistical Office<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tA simple sample calculation shows how strong currency devaluation is: \u20ac10,000 in a non-interest-bearing account has a purchasing power of only around \u20ac7,440 after 10 years at 3 percent inflation, and after 20 years only about \u20ac5,540 \u2013 almost a halving.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t<div id=\"attachment_12298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12298\" src=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation-1024x592.webp\" alt=\"Real purchasing power of \u20ac10,000 over 20 years at 2 %, 3 %, and 5 % inflation (own calculation and representation)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation-1024x592.webp 1024w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation-300x173.webp 300w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation-768x444.webp 768w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/kaufkraftverlust-inflation.webp 1530w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-12298\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>Real purchasing power of \u20ac10,000 over 20 years at 2 %, 3 %, and 5 % inflation (own calculation and representation)<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThis leads to the most important rule for any investment strategy: only when the return after costs and taxes is above the inflation rate does your wealth grow in real terms. There is no inflation-proof investment in the strict sense \u2013 but real assets such as real estate, stocks, and gold have historically preserved purchasing power much better than nominal values such as savings passbooks and cash. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<strong>Fixed-income investments are therefore not yield instruments<\/strong>, but ways to park money largely protected from inflation.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Current investment interest rates: What the ECB decision means for savers<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tOn June 11, 2026, the European Central Bank raised key interest rates for the first time in three years: the deposit facility rate, which is decisive for savers, has been at 2.25 percent since June 17, 2026. The background is inflation in the euro area rising to over 3 percent. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tFor further interest rate trends in 2026, many observers expect one or two additional rate hikes, provided inflation does not ease \u2013 this is not guaranteed. The applicable key interest rates are officially published by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecb.europa.eu\/stats\/policy_and_exchange_rates\/key_ecb_interest_rates\/html\/index.de.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">ECB<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tSpecifically for your investment, this means: interest rates for instant access deposits, fixed deposits, and savings accounts are rising again. The best instant access offers are currently at a good 2 to 2.5 percent, while fixed deposits currently yield around 2.5 to 3 percent depending on the term. However, banks pass on interest rate increases at different speeds \u2013 which is why comparing investment interest rates is particularly worthwhile right now. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhat average interest rates banks in Germany actually pay is shown by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundesbank.de\/de\/statistiken\/geld-und-kapitalmaerkte\/zinssaetze-und-renditen\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">interest rate statistics of the Deutsche Bundesbank<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Short-term investments: Savings accounts, instant access deposits, and fixed deposits<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tA short-term investment makes sense whenever you need the money in the foreseeable future \u2013 for an emergency fund, a planned purchase, or as a transitional solution, such as between selling a house and buying a new one. Crucial factors here are security and availability, not maximum return. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe following applies to all three products: within the EU, deposits up to \u20ac100,000 per customer and bank are protected by law (details in the deposit protection section below).\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Savings passbooks and savings accounts<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe classic savings passbook is nowadays mostly a savings account without a physical book. It generally offers a three-month notice period for amounts over \u20ac2,000 and often yields slightly better interest than instant access deposits for existing customers of the same bank. Compared to instant access deposits it is less flexible, and compared to fixed deposits it pays worse interest \u2013 as a standalone investment, the savings account is therefore hardly attractive anymore and primarily a matter of habit.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>1<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Instant access deposits (Tagesgeld)<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tInstant access deposit is the most flexible interest-bearing investment: no term, no notice period, the money is available daily. In return, the bank can change the interest rate at any time, and many banks entice people with temporary introductory rates for new customers that drop significantly after a few months. Instant access is the top choice for an emergency fund and for money you might need again in the short term \u2013 for instance within a year.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>2<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Fixed deposits (Festgeld)<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWith a fixed deposit, you invest an amount for a fixed term \u2013 from 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year up to 5 or 10 years. The interest rate is fixed for the entire term; in return, you cannot access the money early or can only do so at a loss. Fixed deposits usually offer the highest interest rates among safe fixed-income investments and are suitable for money with a clear date of intended use.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tFlexibility is created by an interest rate ladder (also called the terrace model): instead of fixing \u20ac30,000 for 3 years, you divide \u20ac10,000 each across terms of 1, 2, and 3 years. Every year, one tranche becomes available, which you can spend or reinvest at the then valid rate \u2013 meaning you are neither fully tied down nor giving up returns if interest rates rise.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Where to find daily updated conditions<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tSpecific interest rates of individual banks quickly become outdated. Two continuously updated and independent sources are sufficient for an overview: <strong>Stiftung Warentest<\/strong> maintains continuously verified interest rate comparisons for&#8230; \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ul>\r\n\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.test.de\/Zinsen-Tagesgeld-Vergleich-4586406-0\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Instant access deposits<\/a><\/li>\r\n\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.test.de\/Zinsen-Festgeld-Vergleich-4586374-0\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Fixed deposits<\/a><\/li> \r\n\t<\/ul>\r\n\t<p>\t\r\n\t\t&#8230;and only considers banks from countries with stable deposit protection schemes. In addition, the aforementioned interest rate statistics of the Bundesbank show which interest rates are paid on market average \u2013 if your offer is significantly below that, you should switch.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>When does which short-term investment make sense?<\/h3>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tTime Period\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSuitable Investment\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tTypical Situation\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Available daily<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Emergency fund, transitional solution, &#8220;parking depot&#8221; for undecided money<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>3 to 6 months<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Short fixed deposit or instant access deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Planned purchase, tax back-payment<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>1 year<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>12-month fixed deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Equity for a real estate purchase in the following year<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>2 to 5 years<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Fixed deposit ladder, possibly high-rating bonds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Medium-term investment with a fixed goal (car, renovation)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tConversely, there is no legitimate short-term investment with high returns: anyone promising significantly more than the best fixed deposit rates for a few months is demanding significant risk \u2013 or running a scam.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Long-term investments: Real estate, stocks, ETFs, funds, and bonds<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tFrom an investment horizon of about 10 years, the picture flips: price fluctuations lose their terror because you can ride out weak phases, and the compound interest effect unfolds its full power. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tFor long-term investment, higher-yielding asset classes are therefore suitable options.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Real estate as an investment<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tRented real estate, as a tangible asset, combines security with high yield potential. Its decisive advantage over all securities: banks readily accept real estate as loan collateral. Through debt financing, you leverage your equity return (<a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/leverage-effect\/\">leverage effect<\/a>) \u2013 an effect hardly accessible to retail investors in this form with stocks. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAdded to this are ongoing rental income, <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/saving-taxes-with-real-estate\/\">tax optimization options<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/increase-in-real-estate-value\/\">long-term appreciation<\/a>, secured by entry in the land register at a German district court.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tTo be honest, the drawbacks of real estate as an investment include: high capital requirements or good creditworthiness as an entry barrier, purchasing side costs, administrative effort, concentration risk with only one property, and low liquidity \u2013 a sale takes months, not seconds. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhether real estate is a good investment for you therefore depends on income, equity, and investment horizon. Read more in the article <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/capital-investment\/\">Real estate as a capital investment<\/a> \u2013 or directly in a <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/contact\/\">non-binding consultation<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Stocks<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tStocks represent corporate ownership and are historically one of the highest-yielding asset classes \u2013 with corresponding fluctuations. Spring 2025 showed it: after tariff announcements by the US government, US stocks in particular slumped significantly, only to reach new record highs within a few months. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThose who can ride out such phases are historically rewarded; those forced to sell at the bottom realize losses. Dividend stocks resemble real estate here: appreciation plus ongoing payouts. Growth stocks rely solely on capital gains. Single stocks require time, knowledge, and diversification across many titles \u2013 otherwise, stocks as an investment are more like speculation.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>ETFs<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAn ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) automatically tracks an index like the MSCI World \u2013 without expensive fund management. ETF investing is thus the easiest and cheapest way to invest broadly in stocks, and is also perfectly suited as an &#8220;investment for lazy people&#8221;: a savings plan on a global equity ETF is enough to participate in global economic growth. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tHistorically, the average return of global stock indices over long periods was around 6 to 8 percent per year \u2013 without any guarantee for the future.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhy are ETFs still not a risk-free investment? \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ol>\r\n\t\t<li>ETFs are based on stock prices: if the market crashes, the ETF crashes too \u2013 temporary losses of 30 to 50 percent are possible during crises. <\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>The popular MSCI World is heavily concentrated on US companies and specifically on a few tech corporations; buying it means betting on the continued dominance of the US. <\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>Easy tradeability tempts people to sell at the worst possible moment.<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ol>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tETFs beat real estate in terms of costs, entry barriers, and liquidity \u2013 real estate points ahead in stability, tax structuring, and debt leverage. Our recommendation is therefore not &#8220;either\/or&#8221;, but both.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Actively managed funds<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tLike ETFs, classic investment funds pool many securities \u2013 equity funds, bond funds, balanced funds, or real estate funds \u2013 but are actively managed. This usually costs 1.5 to 2 percent per year plus front-end loads. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tStudies have shown for decades: after costs, only very few active funds permanently beat their benchmark index. As an investment, funds are therefore usually the more expensive version of an ETF \u2013 relevant primarily for niche strategies.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Bonds<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWith bonds, you lend money to governments or corporations in exchange for fixed interest payments. Are bonds a good investment? As a fixed-income investment with predictable yields: yes \u2013 provided the debtor is sound. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tGerman government bonds are considered extremely safe, but yield little; corporate bonds pay more, but carry default risk. In addition, bond prices fluctuate with interest rate levels: when interest rates rise, prices of existing bonds fall. For private investors, bonds are mainly interesting as a stability component in a portfolio.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Gold, silver, crypto, and other alternative investments<\/h2>\r\n\t<h3>Gold as an investment: Pros and cons<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tGold has fascinated people for around 7,000 years and is considered by many to be the ultimate crisis-proof investment. The most important arguments at a glance:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ul>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Pros:<\/strong> Gold is a globally recognized real asset without debtor default risk, often increases in price precisely when stocks fall, and has preserved purchasing power over centuries. In times of war and crisis, as well as inflation fears, demand \u2013 including from central banks \u2013 drives the price up.\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Cons:<\/strong> Gold pays neither interest nor dividends \u2013 return comes solely from the price, which can fluctuate wildly and is quoted in US dollars (currency risk). In addition, there are costs: a safety deposit box costs from around \u20ac100 per year, is often only available to account holders, and is frequently fully booked; storing at home happens at your own risk and should be coordinated with household insurance.\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ul>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAs an addition of 5 to 10 percent of total assets, gold can stabilize a portfolio \u2013 but as a standalone investment, it falls short. Anyone buying gold bars as an investment should choose common denominations (premiums drop significantly from 50 to 100 grams up) and deal only with certified dealers. Due to price fluctuations, we no longer rate security with the top score.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>2<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Silver and other precious metals<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIs silver a good investment? Silver is more of an industrial metal than gold (photovoltaics, electronics) and therefore fluctuates significantly more wildly. Furthermore, purchasing physical silver \u2013 unlike investment gold \u2013 incurs VAT, which burdens returns right from the start. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe same applies to platinum and palladium, whose prices depend heavily on the automotive industry. Precious metals as an investment beyond gold are therefore more speculative than a means of asset protection.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>2<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAmong cryptocurrencies, we consider at most Bitcoin to be debatable \u2013 as a highly speculative addition for tech-savvy investors, not as the foundation of an investment strategy. The risks remain substantial: extreme price volatility, potential state interventions in exchange to euros and dollars, an ecosystem that is confusing for laymen (keyword: tampered hardware wallets from third-party sellers), and third-party content permanently stored on the blockchain that could still become a problem. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhether Bitcoin is a good investment ultimately depends on your risk tolerance: only invest money whose total loss you could stomach.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>4<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>1<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Collectibles: Whisky, watches, diamonds, wine, and Lego<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tBy collectibles, we mean tangible <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/investing-in-real-assets\/\">real assets<\/a> you can touch: luxury watches like Rolex, whisky (up to whole whisky casks), wine, art, rare Lego sets, or diamonds. The appeal lies in personal affinity \u2013 the return is a matter of luck. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tMarkets are opaque, driven by trends, and illiquid: there is no exchange, and sales run through dealers and auctions with high markdowns. Are diamonds a good investment? For non-experts, no \u2013 without certificates and expert knowledge, a fair price can hardly be determined, and the resale value is routinely well below the purchase price. Buy such objects out of passion, not as retirement provision.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\t<em>Return: <strong>1<\/strong>\/5 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; Security: <strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/em>\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Sustainable and green investments<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIf you want to combine returns with impact, you will find a growing range of options: ETFs based on ESG or SRI criteria, thematic funds for renewable energy, and direct participations in wind or photovoltaic projects. As a rule: sustainable ETFs work like classic ETFs with a filtered stock universe. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tCaution, however, with closed-end funds in single wind or solar parks \u2013 these carry long capital lock-up periods and, in the worst case, total loss, as several bankruptcies of green issuers have demonstrated. What you should watch out for and how to spot greenwashing can be read in the article <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/investing-sustainably\/\">Investing sustainably<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Digital investment and investing with AI<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tRobo-advisors and increasingly AI-driven investment apps promise to manage your portfolio automatically. Behind them usually lies a rule-based ETF portfolio compiled according to a questionnaire on your risk tolerance and adjusted continuously \u2013 for fees typically ranging from 0.3 to 1 percent per year on top of ETF costs. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tEven an AI-assisted investment cannot predict the future of the markets; it automates discipline, nothing more. Anyone confident in setting up a simple ETF savings plan themselves saves the fee. Those who would otherwise not start at all are better off with digital investing than doing nothing \u2013 a provider is only trustworthy with German or EU regulation and without return guarantees.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Investment comparison: all investment forms at a glance<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe following table summarizes our rating of return and security (own assessment, 1 = poor, 5 = very good):\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tInvestment Form\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tReturn\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSecurity\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Savings passbook \/ savings account<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>1<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Fixed deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>5<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Rented real estate<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Stocks (individual titles)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Bonds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Active funds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>ETFs<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Bitcoin<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>1<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Gold<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>4<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Silver \/ precious metals<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>3<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Collectibles (watches, whisky, etc.)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>1<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td><strong>2<\/strong>\/5<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<h3>Which investment fits which investment horizon?<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe investment horizon is the period during which your money can remain tied up. The longer it is, the more worthwhile higher-yielding, albeit more volatile, investments become:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tInvestment Form\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tShort-term (up to approx. 3 years)\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tMedium-term (approx. 3\u201310 years)\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tLong-term (10 years and more)\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access deposit \/ savings account<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>(\u2714)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Fixed deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Bonds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>ETFs \/ stocks \/ funds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>(\u2714)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Rented real estate<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>(\u2714)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Gold<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2714<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Bitcoin \/ collectibles<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u2013<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>(\u2714) only as addition<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAs a rule of thumb for 10 years and more: the best investment for 10 years is a combination of real assets \u2013 ETFs and\/or real estate \u2013 with a safety buffer of interest-bearing accounts. For 5 years, fixed deposits and bonds dominate; a pure stock investment is already risky over 5 years because a crisis at the end of the term can wipe out returns.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Sample calculations: What interest and returns mean long-term<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tHow large the difference between 2, 4, and 6 percent return really is, is underestimated by most \u2013 the compound interest effect works exponentially. The sample calculation for a lump-sum investment of \u20ac10,000 (before taxes and inflation):\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tReturn p. a.\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter 10 years\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter 20 years\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter 30 years\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>2 % (fixed-income investment)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac12,190<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac14,859<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac18,114<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>4 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac14,802<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac21,911<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac32,434<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>6 % (stocks\/ETF, long-term average)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac17,908<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac32,071<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac57,435<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>8 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac21,589<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac46,610<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>\u20ac100,627<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<div id=\"attachment_12301\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12301\" src=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich-1024x592.webp\" alt=\"Line chart: Value development of \u20ac10,000 over 30 years at 2, 4, 6, and 8 percent return\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich-1024x592.webp 1024w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich-300x173.webp 300w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich-768x444.webp 768w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/zinseszins-vergleich.webp 1530w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-12301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Line chart: Value development of \u20ac10,000 over 30 years at 2, 4, 6, and 8 percent return<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe effect becomes even clearer with monthly savings plans: setting aside \u20ac200 a month for 30 years means paying in a total of \u20ac72,000. At 2 percent interest, this grows to around \u20ac98,000 \u2013 at a 6 percent average ETF return, however, to about \u20ac196,000, i.e. double. Anyone wishing to calculate an investment can find neutral interest and savings calculators at organizations like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verbraucherzentrale.de\/wissen\/geld-versicherungen\/sparen-und-anlegen\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Consumer Advice Centers<\/a>.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t<div id=\"attachment_12302\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12302\" src=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich-1024x592.webp\" alt=\"Savings plan with \u20ac200 monthly: contributions paid in compared to 2 % and 6 % return p. a. (own calculation and representation)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich-1024x592.webp 1024w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich-300x173.webp 300w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich-768x444.webp 768w, https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/u\/sparplan-monatlich.webp 1530w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-12302\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Savings plan with \u20ac200 monthly: contributions paid in compared to 2 % and 6 % return p. a. (own calculation and representation)<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<h3>Investment with monthly payout<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe reverse case is particularly interesting for retirees: an investment with a monthly payout. In a withdrawal plan, a capital stock is invested with interest and consumed in fixed installments. Sample calculation: \u20ac100,000 invested at 3 percent lasts about 23 years with a monthly withdrawal of \u20ac500. Without interest, the capital would be exhausted after just under 17 years. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tAlternatives are distributing ETFs (fluctuating, but overall growing income), rental income from a property, or private annuity insurance with lifelong payments \u2013 though the latter buys its guarantee at the price of significantly lower returns and high costs, which is why annuity insurance rarely convinces as a pure investment.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Safe investments: Deposit protection, risk classes, and fraud protection<\/h2>\r\n\t<h3>How safe is money in the bank?<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tBalances in savings passbooks, instant access deposits, and fixed deposit accounts are protected by law up to \u20ac100,000 per customer and bank across the EU \u2013 in Germany regulated in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/einsig\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Deposit Guarantee Act<\/a>; details are explained by the financial supervisor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bafin.de\/DE\/Verbraucher\/Bank\/Einlagensicherung\/einlagensicherung_node.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">BaFin<\/a>. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIf you want to safely invest more than \u20ac100,000 \u2013 for example, an investment of \u20ac200,000 after selling a house \u2013 simply distribute the money across multiple banks.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tHowever, you should not rely blindly on European harmonization: in an emergency, the national guarantee scheme is liable first, and it is only as strong as the backing state. Stiftung Warentest therefore recommends limiting yourself to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.test.de\/Einlagensicherung-Wo-Spargeld-in-Europa-gut-gesichert-ist-5757592-0\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">banks from economically strong Northern and Western European countries<\/a>. A bonus is the additional voluntary deposit protection of German banks via the Deposit Protection Fund of the Association of German Banks. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tForeign setups such as investments in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, or Luxembourg offer retail investors hardly any advantages today: earnings are fully taxable in Germany, and Swiss Franc accounts merely add currency risk to your savings goal.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Risk classes of investments<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tBanks and brokers categorize investment products into risk classes \u2013 usually from 1 (safety-oriented: instant access, fixed deposit) to 5 (speculative: options, crypto). The classification helps with self-assessment: a conservative investment operates in classes 1 to 2, a balanced portfolio mixes classes 1 to 3, and anyone adding higher classes needs time and nerve. What matters is that the risk class of your overall wealth matches your investment horizon \u2013 not that of every single product.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Recognizing investment scams<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhere interest rates make headlines again, fraud schemes flourish: fake fixed deposit comparison portals, alleged AI trading platforms advertised by celebrities, shock calls from fake bank staff. Warning signs are always the same \u2013 guaranteed high returns with no risk, time pressure, payment to foreign accounts or in crypto, lack of a German regulatory license. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tBefore transferring any money, check providers in the company database of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bafin.de\/DE\/Verbraucher\/verbraucher_node.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">BaFin<\/a>, which also publishes ongoing warnings about specific providers. A reputable investment never requires time pressure.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Crisis-proof investments \u2013 even in the event of war?<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tSince the outbreak of war in the Middle East, many investors have been asking for the ultimate crisis-proof investment. The honest answer: absolute security does not exist; diversification is the best protection. Broadly diversified real assets \u2013 real estate, global stocks, a gold allocation \u2013 combined with liquid reserves have proven effective in times of crisis. Panic selling and concentrated bets on a single &#8220;crisis asset&#8221;, by contrast, have historically cost investors returns time and again.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>The right investment for every stage of life<\/h2>\r\n\t<h3>Investments for beginners and young people<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tFor beginners, students, and young people: the time advantage is your greatest capital. Even \u20ac25 or \u20ac50 a month in a global ETF savings plan leverages compound interest over decades \u2013 meaning investing works even with little money. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe order of priority to start: pay off overdrafts, put emergency funds into instant access deposits, then set up an ETF savings plan and let it run. Beginners can safely skip hot stock tips, crypto hypes, and complicated certificates. Incidentally, due to longer life expectancy and more frequent career breaks, women should consider investing more rather than less in stocks \u2013 the products themselves are the same.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<h3>Investments for children and grandchildren<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tChildren have the longest investment horizon of all \u2013 the best investment for children, despite all fluctuations, is therefore a broadly diversified global equity ETF via savings plan. Grandparents can also provide for grandchildren or godchildren this way. Two points need to be clarified: \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ul>\r\n\t\t<li>If the account runs in the child&#8217;s name, the money irrevocably belongs to the child, but their own tax allowances can be used (saver&#8217;s allowance plus basic tax-free allowance \u2013 combined, five-figure annual capital gains remain tax-free).<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>If it runs in your name, you retain control, but pay taxes yourself. For larger sums, gifted or inherited real estate also displays its special tax status. All details can be found in the article <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/investing-money-for-children\/\">Investing money for children<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ul>\r\n\t<h3>Best investment for retirees and seniors<\/h3>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIn retirement, the goal shifts from wealth accumulation to wealth preservation with predictable withdrawals \u2013 but beware of the reflex to go &#8220;only savings accounts in old age&#8221;: someone investing at age 70 statistically has 15 or more years ahead of them in which inflation will erode capital. A layered model makes sense:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tComponent\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tShare (Guideline)\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSuitable Products\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPurpose\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Liquidity reserve<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>approx. 10\u201320 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access deposit<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Ongoing expenses, emergencies, daily available<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Predictable withdrawals<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>approx. 30\u201350 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Fixed deposit ladder, high-rating bonds<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Safe payouts for the next 5\u201310 years<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Return component<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>approx. 20\u201340 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Global equity ETF, possibly rented real estate<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Inflation protection for capital in later years<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Optional<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>up to approx. 10 %<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Gold<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Crisis buffer<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tThe specific allocation depends on health, pension, inheritance plans, and risk appetite: at age 75 or 80, the security share moves further into focus; conversely, if the main intent is to pass on an inheritance, the stock share can remain high \u2013 the heirs&#8217; investment horizon counts as well. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tParticularly important for seniors: avoid non-cancelable products with long terms and high entry costs, which brokers often like to sell to older clients.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Investments at Sparkasse, Volksbank, Allianz &amp; Co.<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tMany investors specifically seek the best investment at their primary bank \u2013 Sparkasse, Volksbank, or institutions like Commerzbank, ING, DKB, Targobank, or Postbank \u2013 or at insurers like Allianz, Debeka, and Ergo, which offer fixed-deposit-like products and treasury bonds with terms of 1 to 12 years. Generally, nothing speaks against these providers, but you should keep three things in mind:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<ol>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\tBranch banks often pay less on instant access and savings accounts than specialized direct banks \u2013 the price for maintaining a branch network. Whether your local Sparkasse\u2019s interest rates are competitive is shown by comparing them with the continuously updated interest rate comparisons linked above.\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\tBank advisors are salespeople: in-house funds and commission-bearing insurance products are preferred choices. Always ask for all costs per year \u2013 and compare with a simple ETF.\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\tInsurance investment products often link investments to long commitment periods. Interest rate guarantees may seem attractive; but do the math on what remains after costs, and check whether a simple fixed deposit with statutory deposit protection achieves the same thing more cheaply.\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ol>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tIn short: what constitutes the best investment at Sparkasse is not decided by Sparkasse, but by comparison with the overall market.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Taxes: What remains of your investment return<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tInterest, dividends, and realized capital gains are subject to a flat-rate withholding tax (Abgeltungsteuer) of 25 percent plus solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax (\u00a7 20 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/estg\/__20.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">EStG<\/a>). \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tCapital gains remain tax-free up to the saver&#8217;s allowance of \u20ac1,000 per person per year (\u20ac2,000 for joint assessment) \u2013 provided an exemption order (Freistellungsauftrag) has been submitted to the bank. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tA completely tax-free investment for larger assets does not exist, but tax-optimized investing is very well possible: use tax allowances for all family members, employ accumulating ETFs for tax deferral \u2013 and with real estate, strategically plan depreciation as well as tax-free sales after a 10-year holding period (<a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/saving-taxes-with-real-estate\/\">Saving taxes with real estate<\/a>).\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section>\r\n\t<h2>Best investment in 2026: our recommendation by investor type<\/h2>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhat investors in Germany prefer for wealth building is surveyed annually by the Savings Banks Association in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dsgv.de\/positionen\/vermoegensbarometer.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Wealth Barometer<\/a>: stocks, funds, and rented real estate have ranked high near the top for years \u2013 while the traditional savings passbook continuously loses approval. This aligns with our assessment. Here is how to find your personal best investment in 2026:\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<div class=\"mri-table-overflow\">\r\n\t\t<table>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tYour Situation\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t\t<th>\r\n\t\t\t\t\tRecommendation\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/th>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Money is needed within 1\u20133 years<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Instant access and fixed deposit \u2013 currently back above 2 % interest<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Wealth building over 10+ years, small budget<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Savings plan on a global equity ETF, starting at \u20ac25 monthly<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Good income and\/or equity available<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Rented real estate with debt leverage, supplemented by ETFs<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Retirement, focus on withdrawals<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Layered model of instant access, fixed deposit ladder, and ETF portion<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Safety-oriented, no risk of loss desired<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<td>Fixed deposit with banks boasting strong deposit protection \u2013 with conscious waiver of real returns<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tReal estate and ETFs are not competitors, but partners: ETFs provide flexibility and low entry barriers, while real estate provides leverage, stable rental income, tax advantages, and the security of the land register \u2013 while creating living space on the side. \r\n\t<\/p>\r\n\t<p>\r\n\t\tWhether an investment property fits your situation is something we are happy to clarify in a <a href=\"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/en\/contact\/\">non-binding consultation<\/a>. This is not about real estate funds, REITs, or other financial products, but about your own apartment with land register entry, notary, and everything that goes with it.\r\n\t<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The best investment right now depends on your investment horizon: For long-term investments, we consider rented real estate and broadly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/?p=3581","footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"post_folder":[153],"class_list":["post-6098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-investment","en-US"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6098"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12310,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6098\/revisions\/12310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6098"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meine-renditeimmobilie.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=6098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}