In this episode of Cards Against Complexity, Jan is joined by Dr. Axel Haus, Senior Executive at Vanguard, focusing on strategic accounts in Germany. Together, they explore how financial services are evolving through AI, digital platforms, and strategic partnerships. The episode opens with a timely conversation about current market volatility, where Axel shares how long-term investment goals and disciplined behavior remain key—even during downturns.

Key Takeaways:

• From Steam Engine to AI: Understanding Real Transformation:
Axel draws a compelling analogy between historic industrial revolutions and today’s AI wave. Like the steam engine or electricity, AI’s transformative power lies not in the technology alone—but in how it is embedded into processes over time to drive productivity and change.

• The Three Layers of Building a Broker Business:
For those building or scaling in financial services, Axel breaks down a clear value chain: 1) a client-facing digital platform, 2) licensed infrastructure or service providers, and 3) quality financial products. Understanding this structure is critical for delivering value and monetizing effectively.

• Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage:
In today’s fast-moving financial landscape, in-house development isn’t always practical. Axel highlights that collaboration—across fintechs, infrastructure providers, and asset managers—is essential for building scalable, customer-first solutions that keep pace with change.

This episode is essential for anyone in financial services working at the intersection of product, technology, and strategy—especially those looking to make sense of transformation through a long-term lens.