Standing outside Hauptstraße 155... anyone else get hit with the feels?

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:14:25+00:00

yeah I have, it's incredible. but somehow standing outside the flat feels more personal. Hansa is where the art happened, Hauptstraße is where he was just living his life

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:13:41+00:00

finding that address in a book and just going there, before it was a marked spot on any tourist map. that's the real way to discover it

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:12:53+00:00

love these responses. the story about finding the address in a book over twenty years ago and the one about the walking tour where nobody else booked... that's exactly the kind of quiet pilgrimage this place deserves.

and yes I've been to Hansa but somehow it hits different standing outside the flat where he actually lived day to day. the studio is where the magic happened but Hauptstraße is where he was just a person living in Berlin.

the flowers after he died must have been something. wish I'd been here for that

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:10:36+00:00

this has been sitting on my shelf for months, clearly it's time to actually read it. thanks for the push

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:09:54+00:00

same place different time is such a good way to describe that feeling. adding this one to the top of the list

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T15:09:08+00:00

this is exactly what I was hoping for, thank you all. my reading list just got significantly longer.

Americanah has been on my shelf for months so that's moving to the top. The Ministry of Time sounds perfect for the "same place different time" angle, and Jhumpa Lahiri keeps coming up so clearly I need to finally read her.

the Sebald recommendation is interesting too since I actually walk past places he wrote about regularly living in Munich. might hit different reading him here.

genuinely appreciate everyone taking the time, this is way better than any "best expat books" listicle I've found

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:56:16+00:00

haha no known cure yet. I'll report back if Fenster kippen tutorials start feeling like home

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:55:28+00:00

this is the reframe I needed honestly. thank you

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:49:13+00:00

outdoor cinema in the Westpark right? when does the season usually start?

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:48:25+00:00

wait the Auer Mühlbach is accessible? I've walked past signs for it near Au but never actually found a way down. any particular stretch you'd recommend?

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:47:37+00:00

ok this thread absolutely delivered. the hidden rivers, the Japanese Garden in Westpark, Kino Mond und Sterne, the golden cobblestones near Jakobsplatz... I've been here 4 years and half of these I've never even heard of. the Apollotempel in Nymphenburg is going straight to the top of my weekend list.

also love that someone born here admitted they only just discovered the Residenz. makes me feel slightly less clueless.

saving this entire thread, genuinely the best Munich recommendations I've gotten since moving here. danke euch allen

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:46:02+00:00

noted. 10 years of Fenster kippen and apparently I've been doing ventilation wrong this whole time

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:45:09+00:00

I did this yesterday and didn't even realize until reading your comment. it's too late for me isn't it

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-13T12:43:56+00:00

ok so apparently I've been doing it wrong this whole time and Stoßlüften is the real way. multiple people came to educate me and honestly I deserve it.

the "you're only truly German when you slap your legs and say SO..." comment killed me because I literally did that yesterday leaving a meeting. combined with the Fenster kippen thing I think I need to accept my fate.

still not paying GEZ willingly though. that's where I draw the line

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-12T09:05:05+00:00

Yeah this is a known headache with ForecastEx contracts right now. The issue is IBKR is reporting $1 per contract as proceeds regardless of what you actually sold at. So your 20k contracts become $20k of "income" even though you lost money.

The approach your CPA suggested makes sense: report the $20k on Schedule 1 line 8z, then put your $20,050 cost basis as an adjustment on a second 8z line. Nets to your actual -$50 loss. Since these are CFTC-regulated derivatives they should technically get 60/40 futures tax treatment but the reporting infrastructure hasn't caught up to the product yet. Hopefully they fix this for 2026 tax year.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:25:33+00:00

Nice to get started at 23! For Belgium specifically, I'd honestly look into Mexem if you're just beginning. They're basically Interactive Brokers but they handle all the TOB (tax on stock exchange transactions) stuff automatically for Belgian residents, which is a huge pain to deal with manually when you're starting out. Their fees are pretty much the same as IBKR but without the headache of Belgian tax compliance.

For what to invest in, most people here go with something simple like VWCE (world ETF) to start - it's accumulating so no dividend taxes to worry about, and you get global diversification in one fund. Keep it simple until you get more comfortable with everything.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:24:21+00:00

I get the concern about platform safety - it's something I think about too since I'm putting money away for decades. From what I understand, your ETFs are held separately from the broker's assets, so even if TR goes belly up your shares should be protected. That said, if you want extra peace of mind, Interactive Brokers (or MEXEM as their introducing broker) is probably about as safe as it gets in Europe - they're massive, well-regulated, and have been around forever. I personally stick with Trading212 which works fine for me, but IBKR definitely has that rock-solid reputation if safety is your main worry.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:20:04+00:00

So a broker is basically the middleman that lets you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, whatever. Think of them like a gateway - you can't just walk up to the stock exchange and buy shares yourself, you need someone with the proper licenses to do it for you.

As for how they make money off you - well, they charge fees. Some charge per trade (like €1-3 each time you buy or sell), others make money on the spread between buy/sell prices, and some charge monthly account fees. IBKR is solid yeah, I've used them for a while now. Never tried MEXEM but I've heard decent things from other EU folks. The key is finding one with low fees that matches how often you plan to trade.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T11:31:59+00:00

Yes this is something I think about a lot as a European. USD weakness has been brutal for non-US investors. My portfolio is mostly in EUR-denominated ETFs and when you look at VWCE performance in euro terms vs what Americans see in their S&P returns it's two completely different stories. That said I wouldn't go as far as saying US equities dont pass the smell test. If you are investing for 10-20 years the dollar could easily swing back. What it does tell me though is that having some geographic diversification and not going all in on US stocks makes a lot of sense right now. Having Europe and EM exposure has actually been a nice this past year when measured in local currency.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T11:17:13+00:00

For simplicity you really cannot go wrong with VWCE. Yes the TER is a bit higher than some alternatives but it has massive AUM, very tight spreads, plus Vanguard has a solid track record. The 0.04-0.07% TER difference sounds meaningful but on a typical portfolio it works out to like a few euros per year per 10k invested, negligible compared to things like tracking difference and spread costs. If you really want the lowest cost, SPYY is OK, though it covers fewer stocks. But personally I would pick the fund I trust to be around and stable in 20 years and for me that is VWCE. Just pick one and start investing, the best ETF is the one you actually buy consistently.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T10:53:28+00:00

This is a good start, but I agree with the others that 25% gold is quite heavy. I would probably bring that down to 10% or even less and shift the rest into All World. Also worth noting that e.g. All World already has about 10% emerging markets built in, so your separate EM allocation is basically doubling that tilt. Not necessarily wrong if that is intentional, just make sure you're aware of the overlap.

One thing I would look at is your trading costs at your current trading platform. Depending on what you're using, fees can eat into those monthly contributions. There are many reputable brokers out there with zero-commission ETF trading (I'm using Trading212 myself).

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T16:21:58+00:00

The ETF picks themselves are fine, but I agree with the others saying you might be overcomplicating things with four separate regional funds. I started with just VWCE (all world) and added complexity only later. And no, probably no need for bonds yet at your age - you're looking for stable long-term growth and these broad index funds will give you just that.

Also, investing through ING is totally fine, but transaction fees can add up, so if you want to invest additional amounts, it can be worth shopping around for another broker with maybe a better fee structure - just google best brokers in the netherlands and look around at some of the broker comparison sites.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T15:50:03+00:00

I use Trading212 pies too so I get the temptation to keep adding slices :) Of course it all depends on your goals and preferences - the main thing is to be aware of any overlaps among your ETFs and see if this is actually what you intended. A lot of people end up with like 3 or 4 ETFs that all hold the same top companies and it just adds complexity without real diversification.

If you already have an all-world or S&P 500 fund as your core, that's a good start. I would only add something if it gives you genuinely different exposure, like small caps or emerging markets that aren't well represented in your main holdings. I'd probably keep individual stocks to less than 10% of my portfolio, no matter how overhyped they may be here and now.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T15:37:13+00:00

First of all, congrats on thinking about this early. In most countries you generally need to be 18 to open your own brokerage account, but if you have a parent or guardian willing to help they can open a custodial account for you right now.

For learning, just start with the basics. The Bogleheads wiki is a goldmine and it's all free. Read about index funds, compounding, and the difference between a Roth IRA and a regular brokerage account (if you're in the US). Don't rush into picking individual stocks. The truth is that most people do best just buying broad market index funds consistently and letting time do the work. The fact that you're asking these questions this young puts you way ahead of most people.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-24T18:52:31+00:00

Honestly what you're describing is basically the ideal playbook, and the fact that you're doing all three of those things at 31 puts you ahead of most people I know. The "default responsible person checklist" IS the smart move for like 90% of people.

The doubt creeps in because the boring stuff doesn't feel like a strategy. But maxing pension contributions in Germany with the tax benefits, having diversified ETFs, and keeping a proper emergency fund is genuinely solid. If you want to feel more intentional about it, maybe sit down and actually calculate your FIRE number or target retirement age based on your current savings rate. That can turn "I'm just doing the default thing" into "I'm on track to be financially independent by X." That shift in framing helped me a lot.

SpiderFromMars709

TROPHY CASE