Investment Research Training for Belgian Market
We've spent the last seven years helping finance professionals sharpen their research skills. Our program focuses on practical analysis methods that work in real European markets.
Most investment education gets too theoretical. You end up with frameworks that look great on paper but fall apart when actual market conditions shift. We take a different route—building skills through case studies from Belgian and European companies, using the same tools and datasets you'll encounter in your career.
The program runs over eight months, starting October 2025. That timeline isn't arbitrary. Research skills develop through repeated practice with feedback, not weekend bootcamps. You'll analyze quarterly reports, model cash flows, and present findings to peers who'll challenge your assumptions.
Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings at our Brugge location. We keep cohorts small—twelve participants maximum—because quality feedback matters more than scale. Applications open in June 2025.
What You'll Actually Learn
We built this curriculum after conversations with dozens of portfolio managers and analysts about what new hires struggle with most. These six modules address those gaps.
Financial Statement Analysis
Reading balance sheets is one thing. Understanding what management isn't telling you requires deeper digging. We focus on red flags, quality of earnings, and the adjustments that separate surface-level from substantive analysis.
Valuation Methods
DCF models are useful when built properly and dangerous when not. You'll learn when different valuation approaches make sense, how to stress-test assumptions, and why comparable company analysis often misleads more than it helps.
Industry Research
Context shapes everything in investment research. We teach you how to map competitive dynamics, identify structural advantages, and recognize when industry trends will override company-specific factors.
Risk Assessment
Most research reports underweight downside scenarios. We spend significant time on what can go wrong—regulatory changes, competitive threats, balance sheet vulnerabilities, and the cognitive biases that cause analysts to miss warning signs.
Research Communication
Your analysis only matters if decision-makers understand it. You'll practice writing concise investment memos, creating clear presentations, and defending recommendations under questioning—skills that separate competent from excellent analysts.
Portfolio Thinking
Individual stock research exists within portfolio context. We cover position sizing, correlation effects, and how research priorities shift based on mandate constraints and market environments.
Program Structure: October 2025 - May 2026
Foundation Phase
Oct-Nov 2025: Core analysis skills and financial modeling fundamentals
Application Phase
Dec 2025-Feb 2026: Industry deep dives and company case studies
Integration Phase
Mar-May 2026: Portfolio projects and presentation practice
Linus Vermeulen
Lead InstructorFifteen years analyzing European equities at KBC and Degroof Petercam. Linus teaches the valuation and risk modules, bringing practical experience from both buy-side and sell-side perspectives.
Saskia Declercq
Financial AnalysisFormer CFO turned educator. Saskia handles the financial statement modules and knows exactly where analysts miss important details in corporate reporting.
Tinne Bauwens
Communication SkillsSpent a decade as senior analyst at AG Insurance before focusing on research quality. Tinne teaches the communication module and provides feedback on all written work.
How We Approach Learning
Theory without application doesn't stick. Every session combines conceptual frameworks with hands-on work using real company data and current market situations.
Real Company Analysis
You'll build complete research reports on Belgian and European companies. No hypothetical examples—actual firms with publicly available data and active trading markets.
Peer Review Process
Professional research improves through critique. Each participant presents findings monthly to the group, defending methodology and conclusions. This mirrors how research teams actually function.
Industry Guest Sessions
We bring in working portfolio managers and senior analysts quarterly. They share current challenges, review your work, and provide perspective on how research priorities evolve with market conditions.
Ongoing Feedback
Learning research skills requires iteration. Instructors review your models and reports before group sessions, providing detailed written feedback on methodology, assumptions, and presentation clarity.