Ginmon Review

Passive ETF investors in Germany

BaFin Deutsche Bundesbank

Founded 2014 · Germany

Why investors choose this broker

All-inclusive fee of 0.75% p.a. covers custody and transactions
No deposit, withdrawal, or performance fees
BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank regulated
Proprietary Apeiron active risk management adjusts allocations automatically

Review summary

Ginmon is a German robo advisor that builds and manages automated ETF portfolios using factor-investing principles, supervised by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank.

Pros

All-inclusive fee of 0.75% p.a. covers custody and transactions
No deposit, withdrawal, or performance fees
BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank regulated
Proprietary Apeiron active risk management adjusts allocations automatically
Factor-investing strategy based on Fama-French research
Low minimum investment: EUR 1,000 with a EUR 50/month savings plan (EUR 5,000 without one)
Multiple product types including Invest, VL, Junior, and TopZins
Available in English, which is uncommon among German robo advisors

Cons

Only available to investors in Germany
No self-directed trading - all portfolio decisions are fully automated
Green strategies have historically shown lower returns than global strategies
No demo or trial account available
No joint accounts offered
0.75% management fee is higher than the cheapest passive ETF brokers
Limited asset class exposure - no direct access to individual stocks, forex, or crypto

Company background

Ginmon is a Frankfurt-based digital wealth manager founded in 2014 by Lars Reiner and Ulrich Bauer. The company offers automated ETF portfolio management targeting private investors who want a low-cost, hands-off approach to wealth building. Ginmon reached profitability in the second half of 2024 and manages approximately EUR 400 million in assets under management. The platform is built around a proprietary technology called Apeiron, which continuously monitors and rebalances client portfolios. The company employs a factor-investing philosophy inspired by the Fama-French three-factor model, overweighting small-cap and value companies within diversified ETF portfolios.

Fees and pricing

Ginmon charges an all-inclusive service fee of 0.75% per annum for its Invest, Junior, VL, and Motive products, covering portfolio management, custody, and all transactions. For portfolios of EUR 1 million or more, the fee is reduced to 0.60% p.a. The TopZins savings product carries a service fee of 0.30% p.a. There are no deposit fees, no withdrawal fees, no transaction costs, no performance fees, and no lock-up periods. Investors also pay the underlying ETF costs (TER) from fund providers, starting from 0.13% p.a. for Invest and Junior portfolios. Total costs are below 1% p.a. across most products.

Regulation and safety

Ginmon is a regulated securities institution licensed by BaFin and supervised by both BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank under German law. Client securities are held in segregated accounts through custodian partners - DAB BNP Paribas Bank, ABN AMRO, Clearstream Deutsche Borse, and Upvest - meaning assets are not part of Ginmon balance sheet and remain protected in the event of insolvency. Cash deposits at partner banks are covered by EU deposit protection rules. Withdrawals are routed exclusively to the client named reference account.

Platform experience

Ginmon offers a web application and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The Apeiron risk management system monitors portfolio allocations continuously and reallocates toward lower-risk asset classes when volatility rises. Clients complete an eight-question questionnaire at registration to determine a risk profile. Account opening takes approximately three minutes with video identity verification. The platform supports savings plans, one-off SEPA deposits, and flexible withdrawals. The mobile app shows portfolio composition, goal progress, and savings rate adjustments. Support is available by phone, email, chat, and WhatsApp.

Pros and cons

Ginmon main advantages include its transparent all-inclusive fee, BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank oversight, automated portfolio management with active risk controls, and products covering general investing, VL contributions, Junior accounts, and business accounts. The minimum investment of EUR 1,000 (with a EUR 50/month savings plan) is accessible. Main drawbacks are geographic restriction to Germany, no self-directed trading, no demo account, and a management fee higher than basic self-directed ETF platforms for cost-focused investors.

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Trading fees & commissions

Ginmon charges an all-inclusive service fee of 0.75% p.a. for most products, reduced to 0.60% p.a. for portfolios of EUR 1 million or more, plus underlying ETF costs (TER) which start from 0.13% p.a. There are no deposit, withdrawal, transaction, or performance fees.

Fees

Item	Fee
Account	Free
Deposit	Free
Etf Costs	From 0.13% p.a. TER for Invest/Junior; from 0.22% p.a. for VL (Global); from 0.10% p.a. for TopZins
Inactivity	Free
Management	0.75% p.a. (standard); 0.60% p.a. for portfolios >= EUR 1,000,000; TopZins: 0.30% p.a.
Withdrawal	Free
Performance	No performance fee
Strategy Change	Free

Trading platform & features

Platforms

Ginmon Web App
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

Ginmon is a regulated securities institution licensed and supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank under German law. Client securities are held in segregated accounts through custodian partners including DAB BNP Paribas Bank, ABN AMRO, Clearstream Deutsche Borse, and Upvest.

Broker FAQs

Is Ginmon safe?

Ginmon is a regulated securities institution licensed and supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. Client securities are held in segregated accounts through custodian partners and are not part of Ginmon's balance sheet.

Is Ginmon a scam?

No. Ginmon is a licensed and regulated securities institution supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank, operating under German financial services law since 2014.

Is Ginmon regulated and by whom?

Yes. Ginmon is regulated by BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) and supervised by the Deutsche Bundesbank under German law.

Does Ginmon keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. Client securities are held in segregated accounts through custodian partners including DAB BNP Paribas Bank, ABN AMRO, Clearstream Deutsche Borse, and Upvest. Withdrawals are processed only to the client's own named reference account.

What happens to my money if Ginmon goes bankrupt?

Client securities are held as segregated assets through custodian partners and are not part of Ginmon's balance sheet. Ginmon states that client investments remain 100% protected even if Ginmon or the partner bank becomes insolvent. Cash held at partner banks is covered by EU deposit protection rules.

What products does Ginmon offer?

Ginmon offers Ginmon Invest (automated ETF portfolios), Ginmon TopZins (variable-rate money market savings linked to the Euro Short-Term Rate), Ginmon VL (capital-forming benefits invested in ETFs), Ginmon Junior (children's savings via ETFs), Ginmon Motive (thematic investing), and Ginmon Company (business asset management).

Does Ginmon offer ETFs?

Yes. All Ginmon portfolios are built from low-cost ETFs. Ginmon selects ETFs independently and does not receive commissions from fund providers.

Does Ginmon offer stocks or crypto?

No. Ginmon is a robo advisor offering managed ETF portfolios only. It does not provide direct access to individual stocks, forex, CFDs, or crypto.

Can I choose my own investments on Ginmon?

No. Ginmon manages all investment decisions automatically using its Apeiron technology. Clients select a risk profile but do not choose individual securities.

What does Ginmon charge for its service?

Ginmon charges an all-inclusive service fee of 0.75% p.a. for Invest, Junior, VL, and Motive products, reduced to 0.60% p.a. for portfolios of EUR 1 million or more. The TopZins product carries a fee of 0.30% p.a. Underlying ETF costs (TER) start from 0.13% p.a.

Is there a withdrawal fee at Ginmon?

No. Ginmon does not charge withdrawal fees, and there are no lock-up periods. Withdrawals can be made at any time.

Does Ginmon charge an inactivity fee?

No. Ginmon does not charge an inactivity fee.

Does Ginmon charge a performance fee?

No. Ginmon does not charge performance fees on its portfolios.

What is the minimum investment at Ginmon?

Ginmon requires a minimum investment of EUR 1,000 when combined with a EUR 50/month savings plan. Without a savings plan, the minimum lump sum is EUR 5,000.

Does Ginmon have a demo account?

Ginmon does not advertise a demo or trial account. Account opening requires identity verification before accessing the live platform.

Does Ginmon have a mobile app?

Yes. Ginmon provides apps for iOS and Android. The app shows portfolio composition, goal progress, and allows savings rate adjustments and withdrawals.

Is Ginmon good for beginners?

Ginmon is suitable for beginners who want a fully automated, low-cost ETF portfolio without needing to select or manage individual investments. Registration takes approximately three minutes and requires answering eight questions to determine a risk profile.

Is Ginmon good for long-term investing?

Ginmon is designed for long-term wealth building using passive ETF portfolios with factor-investing principles. Its automated rebalancing and tax optimization features support a buy-and-hold approach over the long term.

Bottom line

Ginmon suits users who want a fully automated, BaFin-regulated ETF portfolio managed at a transparent all-inclusive fee, particularly investors based in Germany who prefer a hands-off approach to long-term wealth building. It may not suit users who want to trade individual stocks, access crypto or forex, invest outside Germany, or who prefer a lower-cost self-directed ETF platform.

Ginmon

Passive ETF investors in Germany

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.