“A doctor should focus on healing patients — and FinSuccess will take care of managing their investments.”
With nearly a decade of institutional investment experience, Nguyen Thanh Trung, CFA, MBA, saw a huge problem hiding in plain sight: while Vietnam’s stock market had grown to 11 million accounts, most investors — especially retail ones — were losing money.
Lack of financial literacy, limited access to professional portfolio services, and a culture that rarely trusted others to manage money created a gap too big to ignore. Trung launched FinSuccess to change that.
Now, with a young, high-performing team, a fundamentals-first investment philosophy, and a portfolio that has outperformed the VN-Index by nearly 100%, FinSuccess is helping a new generation of Vietnamese investors not only grow wealth — but gain peace of mind.
In this interview, Trung shares the mindset shift that came with founding FinSuccess, how he simplifies investing without dumbing it down, and where he sees the wealth management industry in Vietnam heading next.
Highlights
From Market Gap to Mission
Q: What inspired you to launch FinSuccess — and what gap in Vietnam’s investing landscape were you most determined to solve?
A: I’m Nguyen Thanh Trung, Founder of FinSuccess — a company specializing in portfolio management and investment advisory services in Vietnam.
Despite being a relatively young market, Vietnam now has over 11 million brokerage accounts. Yet, from my 10 years of experience, I estimate that 90–95% of retail investors lose money within their first two years. This often comes down to poor financial literacy, a lack of access to quality portfolio management, and limited exposure to collective investment vehicles. For instance, Vietnam has only around 300,000 mutual fund accounts — far behind regional averages.
Drawing from my institutional background and studies in the CFA program and MBA, I wanted to bring the structure and professionalism of developed markets to Vietnam’s retail investors. On a macro level, rising income per capita and strong economic reforms signaled the right timing. When a country passes USD 5,000 income per capita, investment behavior tends to shift rapidly.
Ultimately, FinSuccess was born to help individuals invest more wisely, and to give them access to expertise they’ve traditionally lacked — so they can focus on what they do best, and trust us to manage their portfolios.
Shifting from Institutions to Individuals
Q: As a portfolio manager and research head, you had a strong institutional background. What was the biggest mindset shift in becoming a founder serving retail investors?
A: In institutions, you’re serving one client. Their risk appetite and return expectations are clearly defined. But once I launched FinSuccess, I realized I wasn’t managing one portfolio anymore — I was managing hundreds. Each retail investor has unique needs, emotions, and financial goals.
That required a massive shift in mindset. I had to become more adaptive, proactive, and personal in our approach. Managing 200–500 investors’ demands far more customization, communication, and responsiveness.
Beyond that, being a founder means I now wear many hats. I meet with clients, work on marketing strategies, attend company visits, and oversee team operations — all while staying on top of the market. Time management and discipline have become just as critical as stock picking.
But the reward is far greater. Every effort we make contributes to building a company people trust to protect and grow their wealth.
Making Investment Simple — Without Losing Substance
Q: FinSuccess aims to help individuals invest successfully and reach financial peace of mind. What’s your approach to making complex financial concepts simple and actionable?
A: Our approach starts with a clear investment philosophy. We view each stock as a real business — with real management, cash flow, and long-term value. Our team evaluates companies through four core filters:
- Strong corporate governance
- Solid financials (growth, profit, healthy cash flow)
- Positive long-term business outlook
- Attractive valuations
This disciplined approach has helped us deliver strong performance. As of October 15, our cumulative portfolio return reached 164%, beating the VN-Index by nearly 100%.
But performance alone isn’t enough. We also focus on building trust and conviction. That’s why our slogan is “Conviction.” It reflects our promise: to help clients invest with clarity and confidence, so they can sleep well at night knowing their money is in capable hands.
Early-Stage Challenges and Breakthroughs
Q: What’s been your biggest challenge so far in building FinSuccess — product, trust, user education, or something else? How are you navigating it?
A: There have been a few major challenges.
First, financial resources. As a founder, you’re not just earning a salary anymore — you’re responsible for hiring, operations, and scaling. We were fortunate to attract an institutional investor early on, which helped not just financially but also with corporate governance.
Second, team credibility. Our team is young — and at first, that made some investors hesitant. But I’m proud to say we have one of the highest ratios of CFA charterholders in Vietnam’s investment sector. Our team is dynamic, collaborative, and deeply committed.
Third, brand credibility. Being a new firm, it takes time to build trust. We’ve tackled this by focusing on performance, transparency, and word-of-mouth. Our results and client experiences are our best marketing.
Finally, there’s a cultural challenge — many Vietnamese investors prefer DIY investing. That’s why we also focus heavily on investor education, helping clients understand that professional management isn’t just about returns — it’s about long-term safety, discipline, and peace of mind.
Building a Platform for Generational Growth
Q: Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for FinSuccess — and how do you see it evolving with the next generation of Vietnamese investors?
A: We’re aiming to manage VND 2,000 billion (~USD 80 million) by 2027, and VND 10,000 billion (~USD 400 million) by 2030. Currently, we manage nearly VND 600 billion (~USD 24 million), so we believe these goals are achievable.
But it’s not just about AUM growth. We want to become a comprehensive wealth management platform, eventually expanding into crypto, fixed income, real estate, and more — offering investors a broader, personalized range of solutions.
Vietnam’s wealth management market is still fragmented, and trust is limited. We want to be the firm people turn to — not just for performance, but for professionalism, clarity, and a long-term relationship.
The next generation of investors is more educated, digitally native, and curious. FinSuccess wants to meet them where they are — with tools, trust, and tailored advice.
Passion with a Purpose: Why FinSuccess Is a Name to Watch
Nguyen Thanh Trung isn’t just building a company — he’s modernizing Vietnam’s investment culture. With performance that outpaced the market, a high-caliber, CFA-powered team, and a plan to expand into multiple asset classes, FinSuccess is positioned to become one of Vietnam’s most trusted wealth management platforms.
Three things define Trung’s vision:
- A disciplined, fundamentals-based investment approach with 164% returns to date.
- A young, world-class team pushing the boundaries of professional finance in Vietnam.
- A long-term roadmap to manage billions in assets while expanding into crypto, fixed income, and real estate.
“Conviction isn’t just a word for us — it’s what we offer, what we teach, and what we help clients build.” And with that kind of clarity, conviction, and leadership, it’s clear that Nguyen Thanh Trung and FinSuccess are just getting started.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here.
