Illusion: Retirement provision with Amazon

German citizens are increasingly relying on Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) for their retirement savings, a trend that predominantly channels investments into Silicon Valley's dominant tech corporations. This widespread adoption of ETFs, which track market indices and offer broad diversification, has led to significant exposure to US tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft within popular investment vehicles such as the iShares Core MSCI World ETF. The composition of these funds means that a substantial portion of German retirement wealth is indirectly supporting the growth and profitability of these global technology players. The reliance on these US-based technology firms for personal financial security raises questions about digital sovereignty and the ethical implications of profiting from the success of companies that also dominate the digital landscape. While ETFs offer a relatively low-risk method for ordinary citizens to build wealth in a landscape where traditional pensions are faltering, the concentration of investment in a few powerful tech entities could have broader economic and societal ramifications. This investment strategy highlights a significant dependency on foreign-held technology infrastructure and platforms for a critical aspect of citizens' financial future. The limited alternatives available to German savers underscore the challenges in fostering domestic digital champions or creating equally accessible investment vehicles. With low interest rates on state bonds and traditional savings accounts, and the complexities and costs associated with individual stock trading or actively managed funds, ETFs remain a compelling option. However, this situation points to a broader need for policy discussions around promoting European technological alternatives and ensuring that retirement savings can contribute to a more diversified and potentially European-centric digital economy.