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Quirin Privatbank AG · Strategic Blueprint

From fee-based pioneer to The Retirement Bank — one platform for every wealth segment.

Three business lines exist today: D2C (quirion), Private Banking and Investment Banking. This blueprint shows, per business line, what the strategy adds — anchored by one overarching mission across D2C and Private Banking: retirement wealth for all client segments.

€10.5bnGroup AuM 2025 (+11% YoY)
117,000Group clients 2025 (+12% YoY)
2006 / 2013Founded: Bank / quirion (Germany's first robo-advisor)
Prime StandardListed, Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Business Line 1

D2C — quirion

Today a pure robo-advisor. The strategy turns it into a full D2C platform covering both delegated investing and self-directed brokerage, with in-house asset management products sold directly into the retail base.

Today

quirion — digital asset management

Launched 2013 as Germany's first robo-advisor. Scientifically grounded, ETF-based global portfolios; top-3 robo in Germany. Fully hybrid with the bank: clients move between digital and personal advice as their needs evolve.

AuM~€2.7bn
Clients~100,000
All-in cost (digital)~0.65–0.68% p.a.
ModelRobo + savings plans
Strategic Add 1

Combination with Smartbroker — self-directed brokerage

quirion × Smartbroker (SMARTBROKER+), structured as a minority or majority stake depending on the sell-side willingness of Smartbroker's owners. Adds the self-directed leg that quirion lacks: mass retail gets both robo and brokerage under one roof.

  • Smartbroker 2025: ~259,000 clients (up from 188,000), €14.7bn assets under custody, 6.7m trades, ~€69m revenue
  • Growth engine: ~100,000 new clients targeted 2026, ~130,000 p.a. from 2027; proprietary media reach (wallstreet-online, ariva, FinanzNachrichten, boersenNews) as low-CAC funnel
  • Full online-broker range at neobroker pricing; planned junior custody accounts and a retirement custody account (Altersvorsorgedepot) once legislation permits — directly on-strategy
  • Cross-sell path: brokerage client → savings plan → robo → advice
Strategic Add 2

Asset management products for the retail base

A new in-house asset management unit manufactures retirement products that the entire D2C base can buy directly — mass retail included, via robo or brokerage.

  • Target retirement funds (target-date glidepaths): one-fund retirement solution, purchasable as a savings plan on SMARTBROKER+ or inside quirion — no advice required
  • Advice-light layer for mass affluent: target retirement fund as core, satellite positions around it
  • Direct indexing for larger D2C portfolios as the upgrade path toward personalised management
  • Manufacturing margin retained in-group instead of paid to third-party fund providers
D2C segmentOffering after build-outDelivered by
Mass Retailentry-level & self-directed Robo portfolios, brokerage & savings plans — plus direct purchase of in-house asset management solutions (target retirement funds) without any advice layer. quirionSMARTBROKER+Asset Mgmt
Mass Affluentadvice-light Target retirement fund as core holding plus satellites, guided at scale. quirionAsset Mgmt
Business Line 2

Private Banking

Today a fee-only advisory bank for affluent and HNW clients. The strategy adds two dimensions: the bank's infrastructure becomes a B2B product, and the client offering is deepened with AI-based individual portfolios and generational coverage.

Today

Quirin Privatbank — fee-based private banking

Germany's pioneer of independent, fee-based advice (Honorarberatung) since 2006 — no commissions, no product conflicts. Discretionary management and advisory through a nationwide branch network; ~80% of client assets in discretionary mandates.

AuM (bank)~€7.8bn
Typical entryfrom ~€200k liquid assets
ModelFee-only, discretionary
CoverageBranches across Germany
Strategic Add 1

Liability umbrella — private banking as infrastructure

The bank's regulatory, compliance and custody stack is opened up to external independent asset managers as a liability umbrella (Haftungsdach) — a B2B2C growth channel alongside organic client acquisition.

  • External managers operate under Quirin's licence; the bank earns platform and custody economics on their assets
  • Scales the fixed regulatory cost base over third-party volume
Strategic Add 2

Acquisition of retiring IFA client books

Structured buy-out of client books from retiring independent advisers — a consolidation opportunity as the adviser generation ages out.

  • Targets: §34f GewO investment intermediaries and §32 KWG licensed asset managers
  • Acquired clients migrate onto Quirin's fee-based, discretionary platform with continuity of relationship
  • Natural feeder in combination with the liability umbrella: umbrella partners today, book sellers tomorrow
Strategic Add 3

Deepened client offering — AI portfolios & the next generation

The advisory proposition itself is upgraded, tying private banking into the group-wide retirement strategy.

  • Individual, AI-based portfolio construction — including direct indexing from the in-house asset management unit — as the bridge between standard mandates and fully bespoke management
  • Family coverage: children and heirs are onboarded early with fitting solutions across the group (robo, brokerage, target retirement funds) — retention across generations instead of asset attrition at inheritance
PB segmentOffering after build-outDelivered by
Affluent / HNWpersonal, fee-based Discretionary mandates plus AI-assisted individual portfolios (incl. direct indexing) and structured next-gen coverage. Quirin PrivatbankAsset Mgmt
B2B / Professionalexternal managers & IFAs Liability umbrella, custody & compliance infrastructure; acquisition of §34f / §32 KWG client books. Quirin Privatbank
Business Line 3

Investment Banking

The capital markets franchise remains part of the group. Its strategic role is deliberately left open — no dependency of the retirement strategy on this unit.

Today

Capital markets for SMEs

Capital markets advisory, equity/debt issuance, designated sponsoring, research and securities trading for small- and mid-cap corporates. A niche franchise with institutional relationships and full banking-licence infrastructure behind it.

FocusSME capital markets
ServicesECM · DCM · Research · Trading
Strategic statusUnder review
TBD

Strategic direction to be defined

What this unit does in detail and how it could be enhanced is not yet assessed. The decision can be taken on standalone merits at a later stage.

  • Options range from continued niche operation to partnership or divestment
  • Potential (unvalidated) touchpoints with the group strategy — e.g. product structuring for the asset management unit or capital markets access for platform partners — to be examined once the unit has been reviewed