Banque de Luxembourg has developed a comprehensive offering in philanthropy services – from advice on philanthropy to working with promoters of impact investing funds and managing the assets of charitable foundations. Philippe Depoorter, Head of Philanthropy Services, was interviewed about the asset management dimension in the Fondation de Luxembourg's September Newsletter.
A comprehensive offering in philanthropy services
Banque de Luxembourg's approach is particularly suited to the management of charitable foundations. There are two main reasons for this. First, the careful attention that the Bank's advisers pay to understanding what their clients want and need. Secondly, a responsible investment strategy which has always focused on capital protection for the long term by prioritising the quality of investments over fashionable investment trends. More than a hundred foundations, sheltered funds and Luxembourg not-for-profit associations have already entrusted the management of their assets to Banque de Luxembourg.
As many potential investment routes as foundations
In the Fondation de Luxembourg's latest newsletter, Philippe Depoorter, Head of Philanthropy Services at Banque de Luxembourg, discussed how Foundations can tailor their investment strategy to the current context:
"Foundations are faced with a double challenge: their charitable missions are increasing while traditional investment strategies, historically deemed prudent, no longer offer the same yields as in the past. Although investing in equities would currently seem to be the only option to generate the necessary returns, it is impossible to give a one-size-fits-all investment recommendation. In a universe that extends from mission-related investment to active and opportunistic strategies, there are as many potential investment routes as foundations. This is why at Banque de Luxembourg we insist on analysing the investor's profile and the financing requirements. We always spend the necessary time with each management committee to clarify the following aspects: objectives in terms of yield, understanding and knowledge of financial products, the portfolios' sensitivity to risk and the investment horizon in light of the foundation's missions."