German women lose purchasing power with so‑called safe savings products

Financial experts warn that many German women rely on products such as the Riester pension, capital‑life insurance and Tagesgeld accounts because they feel secure, yet inflation erodes their real value. Over a 20‑year period a €50,000 deposit in a Tagesgeld account earning 2.5 % nominal interest would grow to about €82,000 nominally, but with average inflation of 2.5 % the buying power remains roughly €50,000 – no real gain. Capital‑life insurance policies, popular since the 1980s‑90s, now offer guaranteed rates as low as 0.25 % while charging high fees, resulting in returns below inflation. “Sicher fühlt sich nicht immer sicher an,” says Margarethe Honisch of Fortunalista, urging consumers to check guarantee rates and ongoing costs.

The analysis highlights the silent, long‑term loss of purchasing power for savers who choose nominally safe products that do not keep pace with price growth.