I have been professionally involved in the financial markets for around 15 years. Yet, my passion for economics and finance started much earlier in the primary school. I remember the moment when I first came across a book on economics in a public library. Most likely, it was the only book on economics in that library. I was puzzled and curious to read about the relation between inflation and unemployment. I learned how the authorities can use fiscal and monetary policy to steer their country’s economies. It felt like I just found a magic tool to change people’s lives. I was very naive to believe things are so simple. Yet, it sparked my desire to understand those processes better and be involved in making decisions that matter.
Two decades later, I manage fixed income portfolios investing in global emerging markets. I have worked in Amsterdam, Warsaw and London. When I remind myself of that initial fascination of a young boy, I am very grateful I could fulfil my ambitions. I could observe how the history of many emerging countries unfold and interacts with the world of finance. I could watch how economic theories work in practise and how policymakers have to make difficult choices. What is more, I follow how those decisions influence markets and, to some extent, people living in the countries we invest in.
A few things I have learnt over these years… Contrary to what I thought as a boy reading my first book on economics, there are no clear-cut and simple recipes for success. Economics is a social science that, above everything else, tries to explain group behaviours of people. Financial markets are usually disguised in very complex and abstract structures. Eventually, however, its nothing else than a group of people making decisions based on some set of information and their perceptions. You can crunch the numbers and come up with some valuation measure of almost every asset. Yet, the more you understand it the more you see that investors are guided by their beliefs and emotions. The final outcome is both driven by expertise as well as randomness.
There are no experts who know the future. I’m no exception. My purpose is to make the financial world a little bit less complicated and more exciting. I am sharing what I have learnt and what inspires me about the markets, decision-making, leadership and self-development.
I hope you will find the information here interesting and help you make better decisions yourself.
You can contact me by fintasteblog@gmail.com