With more than three decades in the financial industry, from corporate banking to wealth management, Víctor Hugo Soto, Founder & CEO of Trust Beyond Family Office, built a proposal focused on Latin American high net worth clients in the US offshore segment, with a clear philosophy: understand risk, diversify, and always remain invested, identifying with the legacy of John Bogle, founder of Vanguard and inventor of index funds.
In an interview with Funds Society, he provides very concrete definitions: he does not believe in stock picking or market timing, considers that ETFs are today the most efficient tool for structuring diversified portfolios, maintains a cautious stance toward the rise of alternatives due to liquidity concerns, and warns that the main structural risk going forward is the high level of indebtedness of the United States and other developed economies, such as Europe, Japan, or China.
Even so, he maintains a constructive outlook for this year, with opportunities in fixed income, equities outside the U.S., emerging markets, and commodities, as well as a limited exposure to Bitcoin as a diversifying asset.
His career began 30 years ago at Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP), the main subsidiary of Credicorp, where he worked for two decades. There he worked in corporate banking, conducted equity research, worked in the trading area, and was involved in portfolio management. “I learned how a bank operates from the inside, particularly from the corporate banking side, understanding how loans are structured and granted and how relationships with companies from various sectors are managed. Then I moved into the world of investments, where I deepened my knowledge of company valuation, fixed income analysis and trading, as well as the construction and management of investment portfolios,” he summarized to Funds Society.
The shift of Víctor Hugo Soto toward wealth management was consolidated in 2009, when Credicorp created its Multi Family Office segment and he was appointed to lead it. Later, his time at the Mexican firm INVEX in the United States allowed him to participate in structuring the wealth management offering for Latin American clients. And in 2021, he decided to launch his own RIA in Florida, registered with the SEC, seeking greater strategic independence.
Along those lines, the mission of Trust Beyond focuses on the client and on holistically addressing all of their wealth-related needs, integrating investment strategy, financial planning, coordination with tax and legal advisors, and generational support under a long-term vision, he explained.
Discretionary Management and Client Focus
Trust Beyond primarily works with clients with more than 5 million dollars, mostly Latin Americans, primarily Peruvians and Uruguayans, although it also has some U.S. clients. The firm operates mainly under discretionary mandates, with monthly or quarterly meetings, depending on the client’s needs.
For Víctor Hugo Soto, the core of advisory services is empathy and the absolute centrality of the client in the relationship. “The client is the most important thing. That is why you have to enjoy teaching and explaining how the world of finance works, so that the client understands how investment markets operate and makes decisions with greater confidence. Their peace of mind and satisfaction are always the priority,” he stated.
His philosophy is based on three pillars:
- Clearly understand the client’s risk profile and needs.
- Build a diversified and efficient portfolio.
- Remain invested without attempting to anticipate market movements.
