I was with a notary this week who told me that he had lost two team members to the tax authorities. An accountant accompanying us added that his children, who had studied tax law, had also joined the tax department. And considering the workload compared to what he himself had gone through in his career, he gave them great credit. I wondered aloud how they thought they would build wealth then.
For many employees, May is a celebration month: holiday pay is coming! A bonus, often good for 8% of the gross annual salary. A good time to start dreaming about a week in Spain, a new barbecue or just some extra buffer in the savings account. But beware: what you get net in your account does not only depend on the amount you accrue in gross holiday pay.
For investors who care about sustainability, investing in green funds for years offered not only a social benefit, but also a tax advantage. However, that tax incentive is being phased out, with major consequences.
The non-compete clause was always such a handy clause to prevent an employee from joining a competitor after leaving, or at least to be able to negotiate about it. But, the rules are about to change considerably. And that could have major consequences for the validity of your employment contracts.
Solar panels are a smart and sustainable investment, but also carry risks. To manage these risks and reduce damage, there is the SCIOS Scope 12 certification scheme.
• Growth forecast 2025 1.9% • German economy: growth forecast 2025 0% • Energy prices fall • Unemployment April 2025 3.8%
For 15 years, politicians have been trying to reform the pension system. So there must be something wrong with the current system. Fixing what is wrong is apparently very complex. I heard the chairman of the pension funds' umbrella organisation say that we have the best pension system in the world. So why should it be different? In my memory, the criticism of the system once came from the left and had everything to do with the fact that the young were co-paying for the old.
You know the drill: you open your investment app and see red numbers. Another drop. Your stomach turns and you wonder: should I act now? This reaction is quite normal - our brain is simply programmed to react to danger. But just as you shouldn't panic when you see the value of your home temporarily drop, it is important to keep a cool head when investing.