As a Dutch freelancer, I will avoid collective pension funds like the plague. I'm quite certain that once I reach the age of my retirement (70?), there will be very little money, if any, left in the collective funds.
The biggest issue with the Dutch pension system is that one doesn't safe for himself / herself, but instead pays for the current elderly people. With more and more elderly people and less and less workers, eventually this system won't be sustainable anymore.
I'm also a NL resident freelancer. I've just started putting money into index trackers as I have very little to speak of with respect to normal pensions.
I've only started freelancing since the start of 2014, so I'm still trying to figure things out. Some of my plans are:
- Buying an expensive house at a nice location, which hopefully will sell for a nice price when I'm older and also will reduce the income tax I have to pay.
- There are certain savings options that are only taxed once you make use of said savings. I.e.: these kinds of savings may be reduced from your income, which will reduce income taxes you have to pay.
- I will probably buy some stock.
The house is highest priority for me at the moment though.
Find a competent tax guy that understands both US and NL tax law. I can recommend someone that I used and liked. Msg me if interested.
The Belastingdienst doesn't recognize Roth IRA's as retirement accounts, but one trick is to own an REIT ETF in it which they'll count as foreign real estate which is non-taxable. There are many tricks, find a competent guy who can help you. Don't try and do it yourself.
The biggest issue with the Dutch pension system is that one doesn't safe for himself / herself, but instead pays for the current elderly people. With more and more elderly people and less and less workers, eventually this system won't be sustainable anymore.
Dutch people should watch this informative movie: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/6576741/e81f2c3e/beste_pensi...