Did you know that in 2027 you may be eligible for a compensation payout worth thousands of euros in your Dutch pension pot? And that you could forfeit every cent of it if you take a sabbatical, quit your job, or face a layoff at the wrong time? If you didn’t know this, then let’s dive in. And you can thank me later 😊 Quick recap: what is the Dutch pension law change all about? In short: all workplace pension providers in the Netherlands MUST change to a new pension s

Here’s a beautiful problem to have: a pile of cash sitting in your bank account, and you’re not sure what best to do with it. At least 70% of the individuals and couples Carlos and I work with ask us some version of this question: “what should I do with my cash?” It usually sounds like this: · Which savings account should I keep my cash in? · Or maybe I should invest it? · Perhaps pay ahead the mortgage? · Or use it as a down payment for a new

The past couple of months have been an absolute real estate whirlwind for Carlos and me. Together, we bought a new apartment, I sold my studio, and right now, we are in the middle of selling Carlos’s current apartment. To say that dealing with property in the Netherlands is overwhelming is an understatement. It’s easy to get stuck in analysis-paralysis, wondering which path will serve your future best. If you own a home or a rental property and have been struggling with t

Did you also get bombarded with ads about the upcoming IPO of SpaceX? Over the weekend I got several messages from platforms like DeGiro, Trade Republic and Trading 212 about the hot new thing: buying shares at the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of SpaceX. Normally I ignore most financial news, especially when it comes to stocks of individual companies. It’s distracting noise to me. But this one caught my attention... and I immediately felt uneasy. Why? Because it re

How often do you ask yourself “can I afford it” when buying something? And how do you answer it? Do you run the numbers? Or go by gut feeling? And if it’s a joint purchase to be made with your partner, do you discuss it and take the decision together? Or just do it, and deal with the consequences later? Lately this question of “can I afford it” has been on my mind a lot, both because I often hear it in coaching sessions with my clients, and because Carlos and I are in t