Questions about money – answers from Helma Sick.
by Helma Sick
Investment
In kind as interest?
I have heard that there are investments where the interest is paid in kind. Is that correct?
More and more people are interested in this type of investment, especially city dwellers. You participate in wineries, cheese dairies, farm shops or harvest cooperatives. Or use their money to support beekeepers, a potato combine or farmers who breed old types of fruit or dying breeds of cattle.
Those who want to participate borrow money, for example a one-off sum of 500 to several thousand euros. Instead of interest, there is cheese, fresh vegetables or wine from our own production.
Pension insurance
Pay voluntary contributions during parental leave?
I am 40 years old, self-employed and voluntarily paid 200 euros a month into the statutory pension insurance during parental leave. Now the Deutsche Rentenversicherung has refunded the money to me because that obviously doesn't work. I do not understand that.
I received the following information from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund: During the first three years of life, more precisely from the month following the birth, the parent is entitled to child-rearing periods in the statutory pension insurance.
Child-rearing periods are periods with compulsory contributions, around one earnings point is credited to the parenting person's insurance account per year of child-rearing. If there are also periods of voluntary contributions, these were illegally paid retrospectively and must be reimbursed to the insured person. An existing compulsory insurance rules out the parallel payment of voluntary contributions.
Entertains
How long to pay for the children's studies?
My son is 30 years old and is still studying. How long do I have to pay for my studies?
Our lawyer says: The parents have to pay for the studies (if the son has not already completed another training) in any case until the end of the average study period. This can also be longer than the standard period of study; you can research this for individual subjects.
If this duration is exceeded by more than a semester, it depends on what it is. If he has failed an exam and therefore takes longer, you have to continue paying. If he's just dawdling or failed several times, then don't. If it is not his first degree, i.e. he has studied something else beforehand, you only have to continue paying if he soon (after two semesters) abandoned it and switched. But if he studies one subject for seven semesters, then drops out and switches to another, you don't have to finance the studies.
Household insurance
Raise after an inheritance?
My great aunt died and left me with some beautiful antiques that are now in my apartment. My insurance agent advised me to increase my home insurance. I'm a little suspicious and think that he just wants to make money again. Or is he right?
Household contents policies should be checked regularly with regard to the sum insured and the so-called valuables share. If the home contents insurance is not adjusted, the insurance cover may not be sufficient. In the event of damage, only part of the damage would then be compensated. Tip: Always keep the invoices for new purchases!
retirement provision
How best to improve your pension with equity?
I'm going to retire soon. I have been saving since I was young, received good advice and have now also inherited. That is why I have a larger sum available, from which I would now like to take a fixed sum every month in order to top up my pension. Whats the best way to do this? I am not very willing to take risks.
I suggest investing a larger part of your capital in private pension insurance. It is secure, paid for life and has favorable tax effects. The best thing to do is to have a financial advisor work out how much of your capital you need to invest in order to reach the monthly amount you want.
You should invest the rest of your assets in defensive and more aggressive mixed funds. These are funds that invest in bonds and stocks in different ways, they do not fluctuate as much as pure equity funds and offer a decent return. Money that you want to have at short notice should be deposited in a call money account, even if it hardly brings any interest.
BRIGITTE WOMAN financial expert Helma Sick runs the company with Renate Fritz "Woman and money" in Munich and is a successful book author.
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