Kai Hattwich is Lead Portfolio Manager at Quirin Privatbank and at quirion. This proven ETF expert is committed to better investing and to greater sustainability. How Hattwich found his way into his profession, what he does for quirion, and what drives him.
If you take a look at Kai Hattwich's LinkedIn profile, you may pause for a moment. Beneath his name, in his self-description, are three keywords: asset manager, ETF expert, and minimalist. At first glance, the combination is rather unusual. Few people, at any rate, would associate a wealth manager with any particular modesty. The expensive watch on the wrist, the fast car in the garage: according to a common cliché, status symbols are part of the image of an investment professional. Not so for our Lead Portfolio Manager Hattwich: "When it comes to consumption, I'm a self-confessed minimalist. I always ask myself what I really need and whether something makes my life better."
Focusing on the essentials: on closer inspection, his minimalist stance is very much connected to his convictions in asset management. He has a particular fondness for ETFs, for example, which he combines for quirion in a way that mirrors the specific investment strategy as precisely as possible. "Only with ETFs can I capture the performance of a market segment truly efficiently and cheaply," Hattwich notes.
The path to quirion
The 39-year-old knows what he's talking about. He completed an apprenticeship as a bank clerk and studied international financial management at Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Economics and Environment. Even during his studies, he did an internship at the Stuttgart branch of Quirin Privatbank, and afterwards joined the Berlin headquarters as a working student. In 2010, he became a portfolio manager there.
Why did he choose this particular career path? "Quirin isn't your typical bank," Hattwich explains. "I can get involved much more here, I have more freedom, and I can be more creative than at many other banks." His responsibilities included contributing to the investment strategies from an early stage. He played a key role in constructing the global portfolio and led the way in shaping the sustainable portfolio. Today he is responsible, among other things, for implementing and further developing the strategies within the portfolios. He is also a sought-after point of contact on the topic of sustainability.
Making investing better
Whether it's investing to build wealth or sustainability: the motive of making life better drives Hattwich on these topics too. "Germans have a high savings rate, but they often achieve a weak real return," the wealth manager laments. He wants to help change that. In his commitment to greater sustainability, it's important to him to include social aspects that go beyond environmental protection. And, when it comes to sustainable investing, not to forget about risk diversification. Only in this way do sustainability and wealth-building truly go together.
The fact that quirion's investment strategy is based on scientific findings suits Hattwich very well. "Science may not proclaim eternal truths, but it is still the most sensible basis for making decisions. It provides the most accurate picture of reality available." That's why it annoys him that so much abbreviated information is spread in the modern media world. Around investing in the stock market, for example: "The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has been a successful investor for a long time. Whenever it has to take a setback, comments immediately spread that fundamentally call into question equity investment for retirement provision." He also views the spread of dubious return promises on social media with concern. "In this lightly regulated field, untenable promises are frequently made." This lures inexperienced people in particular into high-risk investments. "That leads to financial losses that in some cases threaten people's livelihoods."
That's why Hattwich is especially pleased that demand for reputable offerings such as ETF savings plans has been on the rise for years. "Younger people in particular are more open to investing in the stock market today." What's more, he says, sustainability in financial investing is no longer just a niche topic for the committed, but is reaching the heart of society. "We really need that," Hattwich believes. "It will do its part to make our lives better."
