(de-news.net) – The Union is advocating for enhanced private retirement savings through the establishment of stock portfolios for children. Chancellor candidate Merz said that initiating savings with modest amounts early on could yield a substantial financial cushion in later years. The CDU-CSU’s election program pledges to contribute ten euros monthly to such a portfolio for every child aged six to 18. Merz projects that this could accumulate to 36,000 euros by retirement, assuming an annual return of six percent. Presently, the return on statutory pension insurance ranges between three and four percent. The CDU leader estimates the cost of state support at approximately seven million euros per month for each age group, emphasizing that this would still be more economical than the escalating federal subsidies for pension insurance.