Gyula Márk Pleschinger graduated from Corvinus University in 2003 earning a degree in the Investment Analysis and Risk Management faculty. He joined Morgan Stanley International Ltd in the same year, subsequently assuming various roles in the Fixed income and FX Research Department. Most notably he was responsible for currency analysis in Central-Eastern Europe and South Africa.
In 2010 Gyula returned to Hungary and started a new role as a senior equity salesperson in Raiffeisen Bank’s Treasury department. In 2015 he joined MKB Bank as head of Treasury sales, with the mandate to reorganise the team. In February 2019 Gyula assumed the role of MKB Private Banking director. In this capacity he is determined to increase his team’s footprint in wealth management and investment advisory with particular focus on sustainable solutions.
How did you start your professional journey and what is your current role?
My father has been a well-known and respected expert in the Hungarian financial market since the early nineties, so it is hardly a surprise that I soaked up the atmosphere of this profession already in my early teenage years. Looking back at the nearly two decades I have spent in this industry I feel lucky to have been able to master a number of skills necessary for investment analysis and advice. Research requires rigour and I believe I became quite meticulous during my years at Morgan Stanley. Moving to the sales side from research provided the all-important “real life experience” that fine-tuned some of my earlier beliefs about servicing clients. Finally, my current managerial role at MKB – especially with the level of freedom I enjoy – gives a wonderful opportunity to be part of the transformation of private banking business in Hungary.
What do you think about impact investing?
I see impact investment as the reference point of ethical practices in financial markets. We have witnessed a large number of attempts in the past decades to prove what one would describe as the goodwill of the banking sector but impact investments are second to none in terms of credibility in this respect. The beauty of this field is that how obvious it is to differentiate between truly responsible ventures and those, who still have some catching up to do – occasionally a complete turnaround – to qualify as credible contributors to a more sustainable and responsible future.
What are the main criterias you examine when analyzing an investment?
With background in capital markets I feel more qualified to answer this question with regards to financial investments. While investment decisions sometimes – well, most of the time – feel more like an art than science, there are a few rules of thumb that give us some help. First, always have at least three independent reasons why you pick a certain investment. OK, two reasons – provided they are solid – may suffice, but bear in mind that one dimensional impulsive decisions are more akin to gambling than investment, so practice self-control before jumping into conclusions too soon. Second, always analyse any investment’s so-called risk-reward profile very carefully. Consider what reasonable return you can expect and contrast it with the level of loss you are willing and capable of handling. Ideally this ratio is two-to-one – two units of return versus one unit of loss – so any opportunity with less favourable outlook should be treated with elevated level of caution.
Do you have any favourite projects?
Ever since the escalation of the 2008-09 financial crisis I believe the banking sector is obliged to come up with a message that is able to restore the industry’s credibility in the eyes of the general public. Having a decision making role in a private banking department I feel I have the means to make some – admittedly small – difference in this complex global challenge. Private banks were always an exclusive service for the richest. While it still does not make sense financially for everyone to sign up to this service, we carefully stay clear of any elitist approach. Instead of being a secretive organisation we are proud to introduce ourselves through conferences and the media and share our thoughts about markets and investments with anyone interested. And finally, with dropping the single minded focus of financial returns we are as open as possible to financial investments that serve the purpose of sustainability in the world.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to find a good investment opportunity?
From what I have seen in the markets in the past nearly two decades I am more convinced than ever about the truism captured by Benjamin Graham’s book, the Intelligent Investor, which was the main inspiration of a certain Warren Buffet’s career. Contrary to the general wisdom of assuming higher risk yields better return the truth is that more rigorous research, deep analysis and diligence is the key for success in any investment. We simply can not escape completing our homework thoroughly if we want to enjoy consistent positive results.
Join us for the 6th Hungarian Impact Day on the 14th October 2021, in Budapest at the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel – where Gyula Márk Pleschinger will be one of our speakers!
Our main aim with this year’s conference is for the participants to gain an insight into the world of ESG funds and impact investments, their relationship, their similarities and differences, and their impact and its possible measurement. True to our mission, with this conference, we strive to stimulate the impact ecosystem, increasing the number of social impact investments in Hungary and its region.
How does ESG differ from impact investment, how do they correlate, when do they go hand in hand and how do they help each other out? How can ESGs remain credible, how can we avoid impact/greenwashing? How can we reach out to more and more investors to reach impact investment? Are ESGs a tool? We strive to find answers to these questions and many more from actors of the financial world.
More info about the 6th Hungarian Impact Day: http://thbe.hu/konferencia/
Get your tickets here: https://impact-design.typeform.com/to/o6q6RZPd#ref=web
