Swiss Life Group

Investment strategy for the general account and third-party mandates is set by Swiss Life Asset Managers, the group's dedicated asset management division. The division operates with its own management committee under the oversight of Group CEO Matthias Aellig. Portfolio managers in Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, and London execute transactions across real estate, infrastructure, credit, and equity mandates.

Swiss Life Asset Managers sources the majority of its core European property through a network of in-country offices and co-investment joint ventures. Partnerships with LaSalle Investment Management for logistics and True North Management for UK co-living extend its reach beyond the on-balance-sheet pipeline. The firm's long-dated liability profile allows it to underwrite assets that require extended holding periods, often competing directly with sovereign wealth funds for stabilized, income-producing property.

Swiss Life Asset Managers manages both the group's general-account insurance assets and third-party institutional capital. The third-party book has grown steadily as European pension funds and smaller insurers seek to co-invest alongside Swiss Life's own balance sheet, particularly in illiquid real estate and infrastructure strategies.

Swiss Life has publicly committed to climate-aligned investing through its IIGCC membership, which sets boundaries on thermal coal and uncapped carbon-intensive assets. The firm does not actively originate hedge fund allocations or operate a traditional private equity buyout platform, concentrating its alternatives effort on real estate, infrastructure, private credit, and selected venture-adjacent growth rounds.

The group's three foundations — the Anniversary Foundation for Public Health and Medical Research, Fondation Swiss Life, and the Swiss Life «Perspectives» Foundation — are legally independent entities funded by donations from Swiss Life. They are not investment vehicles, do not hold client assets, and have no claim on policyholder reserves, which keeps the charitable and fiduciary capital pools fully segregated.

Swiss Life Asset Managers actively seeks co-investment structures in real estate and infrastructure. The LaSalle logistics joint venture and the True North co-living partnership are examples where the firm anchors a vehicle with its own balance sheet, then invites third-party institutional investors to participate. This model provides fee-efficient access for partners while aligning Swiss Life's capital with external LPs.

Swiss Life's investment pool is primarily funded by insurance premiums paid by individuals and companies across Switzerland, Germany, and France for life, pension, and health policies. The liabilities are long-duration and relatively sticky, giving the asset management arm a predictable capital base that is largely insensitive to quarterly market volatility.