Spain Property Guide - January 2022 Issue 7

HUGO INVESTING
The next
evolution of
BinckBank
“The banking sector is diverging,” says Kaspar Huijsman,
director of Hugo Investing and the man who brought online
investment of this kind to expats in Spain. “On the one hand,
normal banks are cutting back their services and retreating
online because of both the current difficulties and as part of
an on-going technology-based trend, but at the same time
there is a growing demand for specialised financial services
accompanied by personal attention.” Hugo is an example of
such a firm, as it offers a very well-established and multifunctional
online investment platform managed by experienced
investment personnel that provide support, information and
help clients develop a sound strategy.
Back in the late nineties, Kaspar was part of a team that
developed one of the first online investment platforms in the
world, and brought it to Spain some years later. “We have over
twenty years’ of experience in this field,” says the financial
professional who has been involved with the stock markets
for more than 25 years now. “It remains a highly rewarding
asset class, but of course you have to know how to interpret
Hugo Investing is the next information and make decisions based on a predefined
evolution of BinckBank, the online strategy.
A good investor doesn’t base his or her decisions on the
investment platform supported by
present moment but looks ahead, and we help our clients
qualified personal service at the develop all these skills, providing all the information, tutoring
company’s welcoming investment and support they need along the way.”
centre on the Golden Mile in
Evolving into Hugo
Marbella. As such, it gives investors The firm first reached Marbella as the Alex Bank, which was
complete control over their money later rebranded to BinckBank, when Saxo Bank provided the
technical systems and Binck the expertise in financial service.
and their investments, without
The combination worked so well across Europe that Saxo Bank
hefty commissions but with full took over the company, and now Hugo Investing in Marbella has
personal support. become an independent entity closely aligned with the Danish
mother company. “We fit hand in glove and continue to provide
the same structure and service as before, with clients opening
an account through which to manage their investments.”
Structured this way, Hugo forms part of Europe’s largest and
fastest-growing online investment network, but provides local
support and a personalised service.
“People are used to insuring their cars, homes and even
holidays, but in reality should also take out insurance coverage
for their investment portfolio,” says Kaspar. “However, even
then it pays to know your market, and in this case many of
the countries and banks that underwrite investments may
be overleveraged themselves, so working with a Danish
investment bank such as Saxo Bank, which doesn’t carry the
risk of providing loans or mortgages, and which comes from a
country with a very solid balance sheet, provides extra security
and peace of mind.” This makes it possible to escape the gravity
of virtually 0% returns from banks to more direct personal
investment where you control where your money goes and your
advisors don’t sell or promote their own financial products.
Independent, bespoke financial support
“Unlike institutions such as banks, we don’t lose track of our
clients once they’ve invested, as we provide continuously
updated online information and tutorials, as well as regular
seminars and personal guidance in our offices on the Golden
Mile.” In fact, clients are welcome to visit Kaspar and his team
at the comfortable office on the Golden Mile whenever they
want, where they provide information, guidance and help them
create an effective investment strategy suited to their personal
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