Danaé Preslier from Degroof Petercam Asset Management is our Sales Manager of the Month

Danaé joined ABN AMRO in 2012 as client’s servicing, and became Sales Wholesales 3 years after. She moved to DPAM – Degroof Petercam Asset Management as Senior Sales Wholesales in 2020.

How did you join the finance industry ?

After High school, my first choice was sport’s university. At that point I had a fifteen years intense history with Classical Dance, which had been my passion since I was a child.

After a year I decided to move to management school to widen my career perspectives, and potentially specialize in sport via some internships/experiences. But at the end of the license I decided to join a master degree specializing in finance.

During my first internship in the industry, I met some great mentors who nurtured my sales’ skills, and soon enough it was self-evident.

Could you tell me the most difficult aspects of your job and also the most positive ones?

Maybe the most difficult one : accept that you can’t control everything in the decision. Even if you understand all the pixels of the global picture and despite tremendous efforts, sometimes you have to accept that your offer isn’t the one expected at a specific time for the client's needs.

Great aspect of my job is definitely the people. I have the chance to meet people on a daily basis, and succeeded in building strong relationships and interactions with them. These business relationships being so different in terms of people, ages, background and mindset constitute a true gift allowing me to understand better their needs and drivers.

In your opinion, what are the key drivers for successful fund distribution?

Once you have the chance to capitalize on an interesting and diversified product range, relationship with clients is the key. In-depth Knowledge and proximity are key components to be able to offer the appropriate products and services at the right timing.

Understanding the value chain in a project regarding needs and impact is also key; always make sure to know Why, how, When, with who and how much. 

To achieve that it requires to be open minded, highly responsive but above all to be a team player within your group.

To finish with some philosophy, the quote of Marc Aurèle in French  : 

“Donnez-moi la sérénité d'accepter les choses que je ne peux pas changer, le courage de changer celles que je peux changer et la sagesse de distinguer les premières des secondes. »*

*"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to distinguish between the two."

What is your advice to investors, how should they position themselves with the current environment?

It’s always a challenge to assist an investor in any given market environment, but understanding their needs in the first place is a good starting point. If we can offer genuine support, according to the gaps in their strategy, is for us the main goal, but I believe we can definitely add value in a number of areas.
The relationship manager who is able to give advice, which is absolutely guaranteed, in terms of what you should do as we enter 2024, will be the salesperson of the century! Nobody has a crystal ball though!

The last five years has been a unique environment, with multiple different challenges – geopolitics, energy crises, rising rates, inflation and not to forget the environmental challenges we all face! How should you position yourself? Markets have been volatile during this time – and you can see this in the behaviour of many of our peers – but that undoubtedly creates opportunities. Having the flexibility within any individual investment approach, by being active, and constantly wary of how to adapt to the market environment is a critical skill to have these days. I believe this is where we can play a role.

For the relationship manager, one of the most important aspects is to try to understand the overall asset allocation of a client’s portfolio, and to see which segment of the market we can complement their existing  expertise – that is the real strength we can bring to them, and to enable them to face the challenges that could arise in the year ahead. The goal is not to show him or her a shopping list of funds, but to propose two or three ideas that could help them to better prepare for the months and years ahead, that they don’t already have in their tool-box!

What is your favorite thing to do when you disconnect from the markets?

As often as I can, definitely: sport! 

I stopped classical dance, but I diversified regarding my sport practicing panel, I do boxing... Maybe a tangible proof of my openness! 

Also, nothing but a good moment with my friends and my husband and of course, above all: spending quality time with my two kids!

What do you like the most about your city, Paris ? 

The diversity of the city ! Every neighborhood has its own DNA, and in 15 minutes on foot, we can completely change the environment and atmosphere. 

The cultural wealth, and restaurants !  

With the Bois de Boulogne just next door, or the western forests, allowing a walk in the countryside.

But to be perfectly honest, if Paris could be near the sea or a ski resort, I would sign up immediately!