Universal Investment (UI) Group has partnered with Baader Bank and Smartbroker to connect its clients to private retirement investment accounts for their funds and actively managed ETF solutions.

The reform of German state-subsidised retirement investment accounts will create new opportunities for capital market-backed retirement solutions from 2027, UI Group stated.

These accounts will enable investments in mutual funds and actively managed ETFs, creating a new market segment whereby fund initiators and asset managers can offer their investment solutions.

The partnership will see the three organisations offer fund initiators and asset managers an integrated solution, from fund structuring to custody and settlement to digital access for end consumers.

UI Group will not itself offer retirement investment account contracts, but will connect fund initiators and asset managers with the relevant distribution and platform partners.

Baader Bank will assume all the core functions relating to the administration of accounts, custody accounts and contracts within the model, including the maintenance of accounts and custody accounts, trade processing and settlement, as well as brokerage services.

It will also have responsibility for regulatory and legal compliance, administration of the government subsidy framework, and the required reporting and government notification processes.

Smartbroker will provide digital access to retail investors, with fund initiators and asset managers able to connect their offerings to its platform.

“The retirement investment account opens up new opportunities for fund initiators and asset managers in private retirement provision,” commented UI Germany CEO, Mathias Heiß.

“We support our clients in implementing suitable funds and actively managed ETF solutions and, together with Baader Bank and Smartbroker, bring together complementary areas of expertise for this purpose.

“This provides our clients with an end-to-end service offering. Building on this model, we will also collaborate with additional partners in the future to provide our clients with a broad range of relevant solutions in this area.”

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