Germán, how are you? How did you get started with Finances al Sur?
Look, I got interested in finance because of my old man at first. He was a pharmacist and he always heard him complain about the difficulties he faced in managing the business (delays in collections, inflation, tax burden, etc.)
As I progressed through college (I studied Business Administration at Blas Pascal) I began to better understand what these problems were about, and I learned how to help the family business in the real world.
In the last year of my degree I chose the specialization in corporate finance to obtain a deeper knowledge of all the analytical tools. It was at that time that I enrolled in a stock market dissemination program in college and also began to learn about the part of the capital markets that interested me a lot.
And so Finance al Sur began, seeking to bring all that knowledge to help companies and people know and take advantage of the opportunities that the market offers.
That is to say, you saw in the businessman and in people in general a lack of financial education and an opportunity to help them.
Of course, although many people and companies access financial products through the banking system, there is a universe of opportunities that banks do not present (because they are dedicated to another part of the system). This means that economic agents do not operate with the level of efficiency that they could.
How long ago was this? And how did Finances al Sur mutate from its beginnings to today?
This began at the end of 2019 and deepened in 2020. Finanzas al Sur began with the idea of disseminating financial education, focusing on different products and opportunities. Starting in 2021 I became an independent financial advisor
What are the formats you use to disseminate financial education?
Mainly through Instagram because after a short time I switched to actively advising and then in person.
And is the financial advice format personal and individual?
Yes, the advice is completely personalized and adapted to the conditions and needs of each person.
It varies greatly depending on the level of knowledge/experience of the person in question and the profile they have (company or individual).
What do they ask you about most or what is the problem they approach you about?
Mainly capital protection, that is, coverage against inflation and devaluation. Later, with time and experience, there is more interest in other strategies focused on generating capital and what I like to call “smart savings”, always taking into account the profile of the person in question.
Have the problems of companies changed much today compared to when you saw the difficulties of your pharmacist father in your beginnings?
The reality is that no. Uncertainty, high nominal value, late payments, etc., are still present in the daily life of any Argentine businessman, merchant, entrepreneur or worker. It is a constant race. I don’t know if it sounds trite, but the other day I read a phrase on the internet that seemed curious to me: in a country like Argentina, if you go away for 20 days everything changes, but if you go away for 20 years, everything stays the same.
What could have changed and become more sophisticated are the tools that people have to face the difficulties posed by the Argentine economy, right?
Yes, definitely. With the appearance of FinTech, many doors were opened for companies and people that, perhaps in the past due to cost or simply because of distance, were not available. Whether it is transactional, such as making transfers from your cell phone; the ability to operate from anywhere with an internet connection; or even new and better financing alternatives for companies, such as the eCheq (electronic check) discount in the capital market. Technology brought many benefits and simplified market access for people.
The possibility of having an advisor on the matter was also simplified. How can those interested in delving deeper into these topics contact you?
Totally, technology allows us to be closer to the customer than ever before. Thanks to that I can afford to work with clients from different parts of the country.
At @finanzasalsur on Twitter and Instagram I am active publishing news, analysis and investment ideas. For those who wish to communicate through other channels, you can do so through Whatsapp +5492944306260 or via email at [email protected]
Thank you very much Germán, until next time.
by CEDOC
