Professional financial advisory and asset management services can be classified into two categories: According to the so-called financial investment broker license (licensing according to § 34f German Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung, GewO)) or according to the license as asset manager:in (according to § 32 German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz, KWG)). Whereas financial advisors (§34 GewO) are only authorized to provide investment recommendations, asset managers/brokers are allowed to make direct changes to their clients portfolio.
Put simply, in asset advisory and management services under Section 32 of the German Banking Act (KWG), clients give a mandate to licensed financial services providers (e.g., a family office, bank or private bank) authorizing them to invest and manage their assets on their behalf within the scope of pre-agreed parameters, limits and savings targets. In return, the investment advisors/managers usually receive a management fee and in some cases also a performance fee, a distribution fee, a custodian fee, as well as (in the case of a fund) an issuing premium.
In contrast to this, financial advisors who have obtained the § 34d/f/h license from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) solely provide an advisory service: they draw up investment strategies and make investment recommendations; however, at the end of the day, customers only have to decide (and sign) whether to buy a financial product (e.g. a savings plan, a fund or an insurance policy). If a contract is concluded, the advisor usually receives a commission or fee.
