Anyone who has a Riester contract is faced with a decision. From 2027 there will be no more new Riester contracts. The successor is called a retirement provision portfolio – with three times the funding, a fraction of the costs and a full share quota. Existing contracts continue, but is it still worth it? Here are the facts.
Riester contract transferred and up to 540 € funding secure.
From 2027, your Riester balance can be transferred to a retirement savings account with our broker finanzen.net ZERO – all previous allowances remain intact. Register now so you can be ready on January 1st.
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What changes for you
The old system with a fixed 175 euro basic allowance and a mandatory contribution guarantee is history. In the new retirement savings account you get 50 cents for every euro you deposit up to 360 euros, then 25 cents up to 1,800 euros. Maximum basic allowance: 540 euros per year. The child allowance of 300 euros per child is granted in full from a monthly personal contribution of 25 euros. And for the first time, all self-employed people are also eligible for funding.
The most important differences at a glance:
- Financial support: Up to 540 euros instead of 175 euros basic allowance per year.
- Cost: 0.1 to 0.2 percent with your own chosen ETF instead of 2 to 3 percent with typical Riester products.
- Attachment: Up to 100 percent equity quota possible instead of compulsory investment in bonds thanks to the contribution guarantee.
- Payout: You can freely choose between a payout plan, annuity or a combination instead of mandatory retirement.
- Steer: Capital gains and reallocations during the savings phase are completely tax-free.
- Cost cap: Maximum 1 percent for standard products. A public provider also offers its own standard depot.
The funding only flows from the day on which money is deposited. Every month without a retirement provision costs additional fees – and every month that your Riester balance is still with the old provider costs fees. Anyone who registers now for free at finanzen.net ZEROcan open immediately on January 1, 2027 and trigger the Riester transfer directly.
👋 to the retirement savings account calculator
Your three options for the Riester contract
Existing contracts enjoy full grandfathering protection. Nobody is forced to change. From 2027 you have three options:
Transfer the balance to your retirement savings account. All previous allowances and tax advantages remain. Free after five contract years, before that a maximum of 150 euros. No consent from the old provider required. This is the best option for most savers – lower costs, higher funding, better return opportunities.
Terminate the contract. No new deposits, credit remains invested, previous allowances remain. This makes sense if the closing costs have already been paid off and you want to open a new account at the same time.
Keep contract. The old funding system continues. Only makes sense for low-income earners with several children who can save less than 25 euros per month – the fixed Riester child allowances remain advantageous for them.
Under no circumstances cancel. If you terminate your contract, all allowances and tax benefits must be paid back – this can quickly cost several thousand euros.
Riester contract transferred and up to 540 € funding secure.
From 2027, your Riester balance can be transferred to a retirement savings account with our broker finanzen.net ZERO – all previous allowances remain intact. Register now so you can be ready on January 1st.
Your registration could not be saved.
Your registration was successful! We’ll get in touch with you.
🔒 No spam · Can be unsubscribed at any time · Your data is safe
What you should do now
The retirement savings account starts on January 1, 2027. If you want to be there from day one, you should prepare now instead of waiting. Check Riester contract data: How high are the running costs? Which allowances are paid? Pre-select providers for the retirement savings account. Prepare documents. If you’re ready to start on January 1st, you won’t miss a month of funding.
