Ilse Ballast on working in the pension fund industry: 'There must be opportunities for development'
This interview was originally written in Dutch. This is an English translation.
Unemployment in the Netherlands has been exceptionally low for some time. CBS figures show that there are more than 106 vacancies open for every 100 unemployed, making for a persistently ‘tight’ labour market. And this will not get any better in the coming years due to an ageing population. DNB therefore labelled labour shortages in 2024 as the ‘new normal’. What does this situation mean for the pension sector? How do employers manage to attract and retain young talent? Financial Investigator sat down with young professional Ilse Ballast, Client Management at MN.
What makes working in the asset management/pension sector appealing to you?
'Our fiduciary service model is based on a close and trusted collaboration with our clients, with investment advice that reinforces their identity as a fund. In my role as client manager, I make sure - together with my colleagues - that our largest client PMT is continuously informed of all developments that are important for the management of their portfolio. We advise the pension fund on the strategic investment portfolio and other investment-related issues. Together with the pension fund, we always try to come up with innovative and sustainable solutions. In that context, the route to the new pension system is very important and challenging because it involves new material on which a lot depends and therefore attracts a lot of interest. Because of my responsibilities, I also have many internal contacts. This puts me right at the centre of the dynamics of asset management for one of the largest pension funds in the Netherlands. After more than eight years at MN, this still fascinates me every day. It is especially the variety of issues, from responsible investment to advice on specific investment categories, that makes my work so interesting.'
How can an employer be/remain attractive to young talent?
'New generations of professionals want a work environment that reflects the spirit of the times. There must be opportunities for growth, people must be able to continue learning, have their own responsibilities and autonomy. Employers must move with the times, for example by utilising AI and other new technologies.
A contemporary employment conditions policy, a diverse and inclusive culture, room for growth and development, and good secondary facilities such as a flexible work-from-home arrangement: that is the standard today.'
