Investing like Picasso

“These avant-garde painters? They’re hopeless. Just a bunch of geometric shapes and childish scribbles – I could do that too.”
Who hasn’t heard a statement like that before? Or maybe even thought it themselves?

Every art movement has had its share of mockery. The Cubists with their cubes, spheres, and pyramids. The Surrealists with their dreamscapes. And the Expressionists – well, lost in abstraction.

Anyone who reduces the work of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso to his later “scribbles” completely overlooks his artistic mastery. It’s almost hard to believe how skillfully and precisely he painted at the age of 15. * Realistic, detailed, and technically brilliant.

But that wasn’t enough for him. Picasso wanted more. He was in search of his own style – his own voice. Or maybe he just found the beaten path a bit too boring.

Investing with personality

To me, investing is a mix of science and art. That’s why a self-managed portfolio always reflects a bit of the person behind it. I love looking into other people’s portfolios – it tells me a lot at first glance. What’s not visible, though, is the “why.” And that’s something you can only uncover through conversation.

Personally, I don’t invest in indices. I prefer to buy shares in individual companies and stick with them – often for many years. Why I should invest in the ATX, DAX, or the ever-popular S&P 500 just doesn’t make sense to me. But that’s my choice, based on my own setup.

Still – my kids invest a small monthly sum in a globally diversified ETF. It’s an affordable and efficient way to get started. Maybe it’s a little like “painting by numbers” – but I’m totally fine with that.

Client-focused

At Gutmann Portfolio Management, our goal is simple: we want all our clients to reach their financial goals. The best way to get there? Avoid nasty surprises. And that works through diversification, discipline, a focus on quality – and deep expertise.

From the big picture down to each individual investment.

* This is how young Picasso painted: https://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net/work-11.php