Lydia Linna

As real estate returns to favor as an asset class, sourcing investment opportunities is not necessarily the biggest challenge that wealthy families face. The real hurdle is conducting thorough due diligence—but this can be tackled by joining forces with other family offices.

As European regulators reassess what Ucits funds should be allowed to hold, Luxembourg’s fund industry is drawing a clear red line: do not compromise a global brand that already works. The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry cautioned that proposals to tighten eligibility rules could push the framework backwards rather than modernise it.

Despite a steady increase in the number of European long-term investment funds over the last two years, concerns around gold-plating continue to persist, with France attempting to exclude non-domestic Eltifs from French life insurance products. For Alfi CEO Serge Weyland, “this is against all the EU laws.”

Valuation sits at the heart of Luxembourg’s private markets ecosystem, yet supervisors remain unconvinced that current practices are consistently robust. Speaking at an event organised by Kroll and the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, the CSSF flagged shortcomings in the review and approval of valuation models at investment fund managers, underlining that governance, documentation and independent challenge still require closer attention as private assets continue to scale.

After studying politics, Jean-Paul Daragjati set his sights on finance through a hands-on master’s in wealth management at the University of Luxembourg. Now a private banker at Edmond de Rothschild, he says the secret to success is to never stop learning.

With the start of a new year, the professionals making the wheels of Luxembourg’s funds sector spin may be considering changing jobs. Recruitment experts share their perspectives on the state of the industry and the trends shaping it.

Luxembourg is full of opportunities to explore the world of private banking and make your mark, explain two young bankers at Citi. Despite the country’s dreary climate, they highlight the Grand Duchy as an appealing place for young people starting out in the industry.

As the world of private banking expands to the next generation of clients, non-traditional sectors are rising while the need for a personal touch remains the same, says 27-year-old Charles Desnos at Quintet Private Bank.

The global race to dominate artificial intelligence may feel a world away from Luxembourg, yet the Grand Duchy’s private banks and asset managers are watching the frenzy with growing interest.

European equities are getting more interesting, say asset management and private banking experts at Quintet, Pictet and Artemis Investment Management.