Rodolfo De Benedetti Explains Why Trust Remains the Core Currency in Banking

In an era of rapid financial innovation, Rodolfo De Benedetti, Italian-Swiss entrepreneur and co-founder of Decalia Asset Management, reminds the industry of an old truth: trust takes time.
After a decade of building Decalia into one of Geneva’s leading independent asset managers, De Benedetti says sustainable success depends on discipline, transparency, and a clear investment philosophy—not speed.

The Long Road to Building Credibility

Founded in 2014, Decalia emerged as an alternative to large institutions weighed down by bureaucracy. From its beginnings, the firm focused on thematic investments, private markets, and portfolio diversification—areas that demanded both patience and deep expertise.

De Benedetti emphasizes that in finance, credibility isn’t achieved through marketing but through consistent performance and risk management. “You can’t build trust in a hurry,” he told finews.com. “Clients entrust us with their savings; that’s a responsibility we earn day by day.”

This philosophy is especially relevant as digital banking, AI-driven credit analysis, and robo-advisory platforms reshape wealth management. While technology accelerates operations, trust remains a slow-moving asset—built through human judgment and reliability.

The Challenge of Scale in Modern Finance

Interestingly, De Benedetti warns that “size can become a handicap.”
As asset managers grow, bureaucracy often slows decision-making, and innovation declines. For Decalia, maintaining agility and a personal touch is part of its competitive edge.

Smaller firms can act faster in private equity, structured credit, and sustainable investing, giving them flexibility that global giants may lack. Still, scaling responsibly—without losing cultural cohesion—remains one of the biggest challenges in the wealth management industry.

Trust as the Cornerstone of the Future

Decalia’s success story underlines a larger trend: a shift from product-driven to relationship-driven finance.
Investors today want more than returns—they want transparency, responsible governance, and long-term alignment of interests.

Insight: In a financial world increasingly shaped by algorithms and instant transactions, trust is the one value that cannot be automated. The future of wealth management will belong to firms that balance digital innovation with genuine human integrity.