KSW Vermogensverwaltung

What KSW Vermogensverwaltung does

KSW Vermögensverwaltung AG is a bank-independent (bankenunabhängiger) wealth manager founded in 1997 and headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. The firm delivers discretionary financial portfolio management (Finanzportfolioverwaltung) under a BaFin Wertpapierinstitut (WpIG) license, supplemented by life and financial planning, family wealth and succession planning, and real estate/financing advisory. It serves four named client segments — affluent private individuals (vermögende Privatkunden), entrepreneurs and business owners, charitable foundations and endowments, and institutional investors — through direct, relationship-driven advisory engagements rather than digital-only onboarding. The company holds itself out as the market leader in Franconia and one of the larger German financial portfolio managers, with six consecutive years of Elite Report "summa cum laude" recognition.

Revenue is generated through a fee-based AUM model: a fixed percentage of managed assets plus a variable performance-based fee that activates only when portfolio returns exceed a contractual minimum threshold (after loss carry-forward). Custody and transaction costs are billed separately by the client's chosen custodian. Execution and custody are outsourced to a curated partner-bank network — V-Bank, UBS, and LGT Bank AG — which provides the underlying securities account infrastructure while KSW retains discretionary investment authority under power of attorney. The firm does not build proprietary technology; instead, it integrates third-party digital client platforms (Wealthpilot for consolidated wealth views, Guidants/KSW Börsenportal for market data, XPS Privatfinanz/KSW Privatfinanz for financial planning) and distributes thought leadership through its quarterly KSW Perspektiven magazine, press commentary, and TV/media appearances by named portfolio managers.

Operationally, KSW is a privately held Aktiengesellschaft (AG) with no disclosed external parent, private equity, or venture capital ownership. The Vorstand was expanded to three members effective 1 January 2025 (Birkmann, Wagner, Betke) under the existing Aufsichtsrat chaired by Jens Hagemann. The firm is a member of the Verband unabhängiger Vermögensverwalter Deutschland (VuV), the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region business association, and the Ludwig-Erhard-Initiativkreis Fürth, and is subject to BaFin oversight and the EdW statutory compensation scheme.

Name

KSW Vermogensverwaltung

Legal name

KSW Vermögensverwaltung AG

Website

https://ksw-vermoegen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KSW Vermögensverwaltung AG is a bank-independent German wealth manager (founded 1997, Nuremberg) offering discretionary portfolio management and holistic financial, estate, and retirement planning to affluent private clients, entrepreneurs, foundations, and institutional investors via a fee-based AUM model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management (FSABADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD), Fee-Based Advisory (FSAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial portfolio management
• Estate planning services
• Foundation asset management
• Independent investment advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Financial Portfolio Management Fees: KSW earns a fee based on the volume of assets under management (AUM). This is the primary revenue stream. The fee structure includes a fixed (fixe) component as a percentage of managed assets and potentially a variable performance-based component that kicks in when the portfolio exceeds a pre-agreed minimum return threshold. Losses from prior periods must be offset before the variable fee applies. Custody account fees charged by the partner banks and transaction costs are billed separately by the banks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KSW Vermögensverwaltung AG is a bank-independent (bankenunabhängiger) financial portfolio manager that has provided discretionary portfolio management (Finanzportfolioverwaltung) since 1997 for affluent private clients, entrepreneurs, charitable foundations, and institutional investors in Germany. The core offering is fee-based asset management under power of attorney, executed on client custody accounts held at independent partner banks (V-Bank, UBS, LGT Bank AG), supplemented by holistic financial planning, estate and succession planning, and real estate/financing advisory. The company operates on a fee-only AUM model with a fixed component plus a variable performance fee above an agreed minimum return threshold.

Product overview

KSW Vermögensverwaltung AG operates as a bank-independent wealth manager since 1997, offering Finanzportfolioverwaltung (discretionary portfolio management) as its core product alongside complementary modules. The service portfolio spans three client segments: Private Individuals (Vermögensverwaltung, Lebensplanung/Finanzplanung, Familienvermögen/Erbfolge, Immobilien/Kredite), Entrepreneurs (Privatvermögen, Betriebsvermögen, Ruhestandsplanung, Nachfolge), and Foundations (Vermögensverwaltung, Nachhaltigkeit, Risikomanagement). Digital access is provided via Wealthpilot, KSW Börsenportal (Guidants), and KSW Privatfinanz platforms. The company publishes KSW Perspektiven, a quarterly magazine. Services are executed through custodian banks V-Bank, UBS, and LGT Bank AG.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Finanzportfolioverwaltung (Discretionary Portfolio Management) Discretionary financial portfolio management service where KSW makes autonomous investment decisions on behalf of clients, managing securities portfolios held at independent custodian banks. The core service since 1997, serving high-net-worth private individuals, entrepreneurs, charitable institutions, and institutional investors on a fee-only AUM basis.
• Lebensplanung / Finanzplanung (Life & Financial Planning)

Quantifiable outcome

• Among the 45 best wealth managers out of ~400 tested institutions in the German-speaking region (Elite Report 'summa cum laude' 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• V-BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSW partners with V-Bank for the custody and administration of client securities accounts. As a bank-independent wealth manager, KSW executes portfolio management decisions on client accounts held at V-Bank. V-Bank is described as representing highest quality and stability.
• UBScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSW partners with UBS for custody services of client portfolios. UBS is one of the selected custodian banks providing the highest quality and stability for client securities administration.
• LGT Bank AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSW partners with LGT Bank AG for custody services of client portfolios. LGT Bank AG represents one of the established custodian banks selected for their highest quality and stability.
• Verband unabhängiger Vermögensverwalter Deutschland e.V. (VuV)coreOthersKSW is a member of the Verband unabhängiger Vermögensverwalter Deutschland e.V. (VuV), the German association of independent wealth managers. Membership is a core element of the company's positioning as an independent wealth manager and provides access to the VuV ombudsman scheme for dispute resolution.
• Wirtschaft für die Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg e.V.minorOthersKSW is a member of the 'Wirtschaft für die Europäische Metropolregion Nürnberg e.V.' (support association for the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region).
• Ludwig-Erhard-Initiativkreis Fürth e.V.minorOthersKSW is a member of the Ludwig-Erhard-Initiativkreis Fürth e.V., a civic/policy association named after Ludwig Erhard.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Donner & Reuschel: Independent German private bank (formerly part of the HSH Nordbank group) offering discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to private clients, foundations, and institutional investors. Comparable to KSW in its independent mandate-based wealth management approach and Stiftungsverwaltung offering.
• Flossbach von Storch: One of Germany's largest independent (bankenunabhängig) wealth managers with multi-decade track record, fee-only AUM model, and broad HNW/UHNW mandate offering. Direct competitor for affluent private clients seeking independent advisory, with comparable fee structure and similar Elite Report recognition profile.
• Quirin Privatbank AG: Independent German private bank offering fee-based Vermögensverwaltung and financial planning to private clients and foundations. Direct comparable for KSW's bank-independent positioning, fee-only model, and focus on HNW advisory with a holistic planning overlay.
• DJE Kapital AG: Independent German asset and wealth manager founded by Dr. Jens Ehrhardt, offering discretionary portfolio management to private and institutional clients. Comparable as a bank-independent, founder-led German wealth manager with similar client mix and Elite Report standing.
• Hauck & Aufhäuser Privatbankiers: German private bank providing asset management, wealth advisory, and fund services for private and institutional clients. Comparable as an independent private bank competing in the same bank-independent HNW segment with similar Elite Report standing.
• Bethmann Bank (ABN AMRO): Wealth management arm of ABN AMRO in Germany focused on HNW/UHNW private clients with holistic advisory and estate planning. Direct competitor in the discretionary Vermögensverwaltung market for entrepreneurs and private wealth segments.
• Merck Finck Privatbankiers: German private bank offering wealth management, financial planning, and family office services to HNW clients. Comparable to KSW in its private banking scope covering portfolio management, succession planning, and real estate advisory.

Broad incumbents

• V-Bank AG: Germany's leading custodian bank for independent wealth managers. KSW is both a partner (V-Bank holds custody for client portfolios) and competes indirectly via V-Bank's broader distribution model and partner network serving independent advisors.
• Berenberg Bank: Long-established Hamburg private bank offering wealth and asset management to private and institutional clients. Competes with KSW in the German HNW segment and is regularly ranked alongside independent managers in Elite Report assessments.

Emerging players

• LIQID Investments: Digital-first German wealth manager targeting affluent clients with discretionary portfolio management at lower fee points via online onboarding. Emerging competitor to traditional high-touch managers like KSW, especially for next-generation HNW clients comfortable with digital advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ksw-verm%C3%B6gensverwaltung-ag/about/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KSW Vermogensverwaltung