About the industry

Key Facts about the asset management sector

The asset management sector is now considered the third pillar of the financial sector alongside banks and insurance companies.

Why investment funds are important for the economy and society

A total of around 700 fund companies are active in the German market, ranging from independent fund boutique banking to subsidiaries of insurance companies. BVI's 115 members manage assets with a volume of some EUR 4 trillion and thus cover over 95 percent of the German market.

4000

billions of euros are managed by BVI members as trustees for their investors.

50000000

private and institutional investors invest directly or indirectly in funds

300000

jobs benefit from the fund industry

Role of the Fund Industry

FINANCING THE REAL ECONOMY

Investment funds are intermediaries. They bring together money provided by millions of savers and professionell investors, and match it to the demand for capital of business and countries. They therefore enable growth and innovation.

Held by the European investment fund sector:

HelloFresh

27%

Siemens

17%

SAP

18%

As of February 2021
Sources: Morningstar, own calculations. Amounts rounded.

BACKBONE OF PENSION PLANNING

Investment funds play a central role in pension planning: although people save for their retirement through insurance companies, pension schemes and employers, the money invested is mainly managed in investment funds. In addition, Germans save for retirement directly in funds (e.g. 'Riester'-pension).

Investments by insurance companies*: EUR 2,632 billion

34%

share of investment funds

Institutions providing for retirement: EUR 687 billion

65%

share of investment funds

*Including property insurance and reinsurance companies, but not institutions for retirement provision.

Situation as at 30 September 2021
Source: Bundesbank

SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE

Investment funds enable individual investors to participate in the capital and the property market at the terms offered to professionals. They offer widely diversified investment of their savings across different asset classes, regions and new industries.

Anyone can invest in funds from as little as EUR 25 per month.

This is approximately 1.4%

of the average net monthly income per capita (around EUR 1,806)

Source: German Federal Statistical Office, data for 2020

Sustainability

Fund industry plays a key role

The fund industry, as an important financial intermediary, plays a key role on the road to greater sustainability. Find out how dynamically interest in sustainable funds is growing in our quarterly market overview.

mehr

fund market

Germany: The largest fund market in the EU

Germany is the largest fund market in the EU. The German market is also well ahead in terms of growth.

Research

Our studies on funds

You are interested in our studies on funds? Our research highlights current aspects in detail.

BVI's members self-regulation

mission statement

In this document, BVI's members define their tasks, values and goals. The mission statement also describes what distinguishes the fund companies from other financial service providers and what is special about their activities.

Rules of conduct

BVI's members have committed themselves to voluntary standards of conduct since 2003. Thereby, they take special account of their trusteeship and their obligations towards investors.

Responsible investing

Asset manager see it as part of their fiduciary duty to consider ecological and social criteria as well as criteria for good corporate governance (ESG criteria) in their investment processes.