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Austria

Explore stories and insights from Austria.

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Exposing OVB: Red Flags and Questions to Ask in a Suspect Financial Consultation
AustriaWeek's Pick

Exposing OVB: Red Flags and Questions to Ask in a Suspect Financial Consultation

A practical guide for Austrian residents to identify and challenge predatory financial advisory practices, based on real experiences with OVB and similar firms.

Selling vs. Renting: Why Your Paid-Off Tirol Apartment Is a Tax Trap
AustriaWeek's Pick

Selling vs. Renting: Why Your Paid-Off Tirol Apartment Is a Tax Trap

High earners in Austria face a brutal math problem with rental properties. That ‘passive income’ might be costing you money, and the tax man is waiting when you sell.

Is McDonald’s Still Worth It? The Fast-Food Cost Comparison Shock
AustriaWeek's Pick

Is McDonald’s Still Worth It? The Fast-Food Cost Comparison Shock

A brutal cost breakdown reveals when McDonald’s makes sense and when it’s financial self-sabotage for Austrian consumers

Card Complete’s Illegal Fees: How Austrian Consumers Are Getting Their Money Back After Years of Overcharging
AustriaWeek's Pick

Card Complete’s Illegal Fees: How Austrian Consumers Are Getting Their Money Back After Years of Overcharging

Card Complete charged illegal double fees on foreign currency transactions for years. Thanks to an Arbeiterkammer lawsuit, affected customers can now claim refunds until August 2026, even for closed accounts.

What Austrians Are Really Saving For: A Portfolio Autopsy
AustriaWeek's Pick

What Austrians Are Really Saving For: A Portfolio Autopsy

Austrian investors are abandoning property dreams and embracing ETF portfolios, but the real goal isn’t wealth, it’s damage control. An analysis of real portfolios reveals a nation preparing for economic winter.

Exposing OVB: Red Flags and Questions to Ask in a Suspect Financial Consultation
Austria

Exposing OVB: Red Flags and Questions to Ask in a Suspect Financial Consultation

A practical guide for Austrian residents to identify and challenge predatory financial advisory practices, based on real experiences with OVB and similar firms.

Read Article →
Selling vs. Renting: Why Your Paid-Off Tirol Apartment Is a Tax Trap
Austria

Selling vs. Renting: Why Your Paid-Off Tirol Apartment Is a Tax Trap

High earners in Austria face a brutal math problem with rental properties. That ‘passive income’ might be costing you money, and the tax man is waiting when you sell.

Read Article →
Is McDonald’s Still Worth It? The Fast-Food Cost Comparison Shock
Austria

Is McDonald’s Still Worth It? The Fast-Food Cost Comparison Shock

A brutal cost breakdown reveals when McDonald’s makes sense and when it’s financial self-sabotage for Austrian consumers

Read Article →
Card Complete’s Illegal Fees: How Austrian Consumers Are Getting Their Money Back After Years of Overcharging
Austria

Card Complete’s Illegal Fees: How Austrian Consumers Are Getting Their Money Back After Years of Overcharging

Card Complete charged illegal double fees on foreign currency transactions for years. Thanks to an Arbeiterkammer lawsuit, affected customers can now claim refunds until August 2026, even for closed accounts.

Read Article →
What Austrians Are Really Saving For: A Portfolio Autopsy
Austria

What Austrians Are Really Saving For: A Portfolio Autopsy

Austrian investors are abandoning property dreams and embracing ETF portfolios, but the real goal isn’t wealth, it’s damage control. An analysis of real portfolios reveals a nation preparing for economic winter.

Read Article →
Living the ‘Privatier Light’ Life in Austria: Tax, Insurance, and Withdrawal Strategies
Austria

Living the ‘Privatier Light’ Life in Austria: Tax, Insurance, and Withdrawal Strategies

Exploring the feasibility of semi-retirement in Austria with a seven-figure portfolio, focusing on self-insurance via ÖGK, tax-efficient withdrawal using the 3% rule or dividend income, and potential deductions for insurance costs under progressive capital taxation.

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Are US Investments Still Safe for European Investors Under a New Trump Administration?
Austria

Are US Investments Still Safe for European Investors Under a New Trump Administration?

European ETF investors face growing uncertainty about US market access and potential punitive measures under Trump’s second term. Here’s what the data actually shows.

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Why Austrian Parents Are Wasting Money on the Bundesschatz
Austria

Why Austrian Parents Are Wasting Money on the Bundesschatz

That ‘safe’ federal bond for your kid’s savings? It’s costing you hundreds in lost returns and hidden taxes. Here’s what the data actually shows about smarter alternatives in Austria.

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The Silent Pay Cut: How Austria’s 2026 Social Insurance Ceiling Increase Quietly Drains €1,200 from High Earners
Austria

The Silent Pay Cut: How Austria’s 2026 Social Insurance Ceiling Increase Quietly Drains €1,200 from High Earners

Austria’s maximum contribution base jumps to €6,930 in 2026, triggering higher social insurance deductions that shrink net income, even when your salary stays flat. Here’s the real math and what finance professionals can do about it.

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Post AG Dividend Stock: Safe Haven or Austrian Value Trap?
Austria

Post AG Dividend Stock: Safe Haven or Austrian Value Trap?

A deep dive into Post AG’s 5.9% dividend yield and stagnant capital appreciation. Is this Austrian blue-chip a reliable income generator or a classic value trap for investors?

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Flatex Premium ETFs 2026: The Silent Expansion and the ETFs Still Locked Out
Austria

Flatex Premium ETFs 2026: The Silent Expansion and the ETFs Still Locked Out

Flatex quietly expanded its fee-free ETF savings plan list to 780 funds in 2026, but popular picks like A2PKXG remain excluded. Here’s what changed, what’s missing, and how Austrian investors should navigate the fine print.

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The €4,000 Familienbonus Trap: Why That Austrian Tax Credit Isn’t What It Seems
Austria

The €4,000 Familienbonus Trap: Why That Austrian Tax Credit Isn’t What It Seems

Austrian families expecting a €4,000 Familienbonus are discovering their actual refund is hundreds of euros less, and the reason exposes a fundamental misunderstanding about how this tax credit actually works.

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Can Your Employer Pay for Your Klimaticket? The Tax Traps and Termination Clauses They Won’t Mention
Austria

Can Your Employer Pay for Your Klimaticket? The Tax Traps and Termination Clauses They Won’t Mention

Employer-sponsored Klimaticket sounds like a perfect perk, until you read the fine print about taxes, termination paybacks, and how it nukes your Pendlerpauschale. Here’s what actually happens when your boss foots the bill for Austria’s climate ticket.

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Why Your Austrian Federal State Suddenly Changes Your Net Salary: The Wohnbauförderung Trap
Austria

Why Your Austrian Federal State Suddenly Changes Your Net Salary: The Wohnbauförderung Trap

Austrians discovered their federal state now impacts net income calculations. The culprit? A regional housing fund contribution that turns your payslip into a geography quiz.

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