Toward in the press
View below the latest articles or columns about or from Toward in the press.
Investment Officer - How the world's largest family offices invest in 2026
29/07/26 - Despite a significant allocation to US large-cap stocks, several family offices are diversifying regionally, particularly in Asia and emerging markets. What also stands out to me is their strong and even increasing preference for private markets despite the recent negative headlines.
Investment Officer - The biggest mistake investors can make today
06/07/26 - A static, strategic asset allocation for the long term and tactical adjustments and rebalancing in the short term. This is no longer sufficient in the new world. Even with cost-efficient index building blocks like ETFs, investors will miss opportunities due to passivity.
Investment Officer - The illusion of safety: be careful with buffer ETFs
08/06/26 - Investors are constantly searching for the holy grail: they want the profits of the stock market without the accompanying losses. Providers of 'buffer ETFs' cleverly capitalize on this. Although this concept sounds appealing during times of market volatility, there is often a bitter financial reality behind the marketing-friendly facade.
Investment Officer - Have smallcaps lost their strategic risk premium?
08/05/26 - The traditional small-cap premium in the stock market has not completely disappeared, but it has become smaller and more complex. A significant portion is being absorbed by private equity. For investors with access to private markets, that premium is increasingly found there.
Investment Officer - Private equity 2.0: why selection is more important than ever
13/04/26 - After three years of declining transaction activity, we noted at the beginning of 2025 that the global private equity sector was 'emerging from the fog.' That fog has finally lifted, and the landscape looks more technical and demanding.
Investment Officer - Private credit: wake-up call
11/03/26 - Despite the recent negative headlines and articles about private credit, I do not see a systemic crisis, but rather a 'more normal' credit environment that will offer opportunities for rational investors. The asset class is clearly at a turning point.
Investment Officer - Emerging markets: gradually more of a strategic than a tactical allocation
13/02/26 - 2025 was a great year for investors in emerging markets. Still, it feels like a wise precaution to be systematically underweight in stocks from emerging markets. Is that caution justified?
Investment Officer - The sense and nonsense of hedging exchange rate risk
21/01/26 - The one expert says: never hedge, it only costs money! The other says: always hedge, you live in euros – so your return in euros matters. Who is right?
De Tijd - 15 ETFs that fit into a diversified investment portfolio
15/11/25 - Many beginner investors limit their portfolio to a single global equity ETF. There's nothing wrong with that, but for those who want to take a step further, there are also ways to diversify the portfolio more and add their own emphasis.
Trends - These former BlackRock executives are setting up their own investment firm in Belgium
28/10/25 - They left BlackRock to launch their own wealth management and insurance company. With a dual license that offers many advantages. Meet Julien Daco and Yoni Jennes from Toward Wealth & Insurance.
Investment Officer - Former BlackRock colleagues join Desplancke
24/10/25 - Earlier this month, Stephan Desplancke announced that he would be strengthening his asset management firm with two former Blackrock colleagues and expanding his offering to include insurance. Toward Wealth & Insurance is one of the few asset managers in Belgium that works with Aladdin technology.
De Tijd - Three former BlackRock Belgians join forces in wealth management firm
16/10/25 - Three former employees of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, are launching Toward Wealth & Insurance, a wealth and insurance specialist focused on independent advice.
Investment Officer - How to combine index and active investing in a portfolio?
24/04/23 - Active or index? Neither, active and index! You can combine both investment approaches. After all, every investment decision is an active decision.
Investment Officer - Toward wants to create financial well-being
20/01/23 - After a long career at BlackRock, Stephan Desplancke is launching a new initiative, Toward, which aims to provide advice and consultancy to institutional and retail investors. “After fifteen years at BlackRock, I want to put my knowledge at the service of others and create financial well-being.”