DEVK unveils two subsidised retirement products ahead of 2027 pension reform

The Cologne‑based insurer DEVK is preparing two new state‑subsidised private‑pension offerings that will become available on 1 January 2027. The first is a low‑cost, ETF‑based standard depot without a capital guarantee, targeting all customer groups and promising higher return potential while keeping fees well below the government‑set ceiling of 1 % per year. The second, launching in the second quarter of 2027, is an individually tailored product built on DEVK‑Rente ZukunftPlus, featuring selectable guarantee options, flexible contribution pauses and the choice of a lifelong annuity or payout plan that runs at least to age 85. DEVK says the lifelong pension differentiates it from banks and neobrokers, and it will provide an online comparison tool for its roughly 120 000 Riester policyholders to assess the impact of the upcoming pension reform.

The forthcoming “Altersvorsorgedepot” promises up to €540 of annual state subsidy, tax‑free growth, and the ability to invest fully in equity ETFs such as the MSCI World. However, it offers no capital protection; fees can reach 1 % per year, and withdrawals are fully taxable. DEVK warns that the simultaneous opening of hundreds of thousands of accounts could strain identity‑verification systems, leading to delays that would forfeit subsidy benefits.