Reinder chose to do not one but two financial masters at the same time, and even at different universities. “I wanted to prove to myself and the outer world that I was very motivated.” Reinder spent his days racing his bike through Amsterdam to attend all his classes, while also working a side-job at a bank. “At times it may have been a bit tough, but it was exciting and gave me so much energy". It’s not something he would recommend to new students though. “Unless you are a bit crazy, in that case, go for it!”
Reinder enjoyed every second of the SBE master Finance at VU Amsterdam. “I especially loved the interaction. There was a lot of personal contact with the professors. There were guest lectures from people all over the (real) world.” He was happy to find the same enthusiasm among other students of the master, what made the group work even more exciting. “The diversity among the students and the possibility to collaborate with so many different highly motivated people, on so many different levels, really gave me the energy I needed. And made it fun.”
The SBE master Finance at VU Amsterdam really distincts itself in finding the balance between theory and practice according to Reinder. Something he happily made use of during his master thesis on customer behavior in retail trading: “I could apply the theory using real data sets a bank provided for me”. The results were significant and were even picked up by a national newspaper. “There was a strong ostrich effect; after a negative week in the stock market people weren’t so keen on checking their brokerage accounts”. Interesting facts for investors who like to actively respond to recent developments. “Finance is not just data, it’s people. The behavior of people.”
At IBS Reinder is responsible for leading the investment team. The team is responsible for investments in stocks and bonds. The firm invests for charitable organizations, foundations, and high net worth individuals. “We look for sustainable companies with a durable competitive advantage. We will never invest in gambling or tobacco for example”.
Communications is also a big part of it “The world of finance is filled with jargon, but if you’re familiar with it, finance is easy. And so much fun!”
Tip
Reinder advices upcoming finance students to join a student investment club. He joined ‘Mutual Fund’, the largest investment club for students in Amsterdam. “It’s the perfect way to meet like-minded people, who are just as passionate. It’s very sociable and great fun but also great to build your financial network. It’s how I got my job and some of my best friends!”
