From Stock Expert to Impact Investor: Why Niels Koerts Chooses Lendahand

"If you want returns and impact, Lendahand is where you need to be."

Niels started investing at fourteen, in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, with €300 in savings. Today, he's the founder of Stockwatch.nl, a well-known Dutch investment platform. We spoke with him about his views on impact investing, how he thinks about risk, and why Lendahand holds a permanent place in his portfolio.

From €300 in Savings to Becoming a Professional Investor

Niels Koerts' investing career began at a remarkable moment: November 2008, just after the outbreak of the global financial crisis. Lehman Brothers had just collapsed, markets were plunging, and fourteen-year-old Niels saw an opportunity. "What goes down hard can also go up hard," he thought. With his entire savings of €300, he bought bank stocks.

"In hindsight, it was actually a terrible decision that happened to work out," he laughs. "But I was just fascinated by those prices. The numbers, everything going up and down — I wanted in."

Through business economics and management studies, and eventually a minor in journalism, he made his way into the financial sector. He interned at IEX, became an analyst, and became a familiar face in the Dutch investment world through podcasts, webinars, and television appearances. "My outspokenness resonated with people."

A Platform for the Individual Investor

After a disagreement about the future direction of investment platforms, Niels took matters into his own hands. In July 2024, he launched Stockwatch.nl — an investment platform geared toward individuals and entrepreneurs. "I always say: if you claim you can do better, you'd better do it yourself. So that's what we did."

Stockwatch.nl now counts a few thousand paying members and a growing number of partners, including Lendahand. The focus is on equities, but for Niels, investing is broader than that. "Bonds, real estate — it's all part of the mix. But our expertise really lies mostly in stocks."

Why Impact Investing?

Lendahand and Stockwatch have been collaborating since October 2024. The partnership came about organically. Niels was looking for partners who could offer his members something beyond the usual equity focus. Lendahand caught his eye with good reviews and a clear concept: impact investing in emerging markets through microfinance institutions.

Niels explains: "It serves a wonderful purpose. You support entrepreneurs in developing countries who have poor access to capital markets. And as an investor, you can earn returns along the way. That combination was worth sharing with our audience."

But impact alone isn't enough for Niels. The numbers need to add up. "If we don't see a favorable risk-reward ratio [at Stockwatch], we don't do it. It's not just because we think impact is important. There has to be compensation too. That's simply how the financial sector works."

Diversification and Stability in the Portfolio

One reason Niels finds impact investing through Lendahand valuable as a complement to his portfolio is its low correlation with the stock market.

"Say Trump says something again and markets tank hard, like in April last year… Your Lendahand investment just sits there. That has a dampening effect on your portfolio."

"Besides, the loans don't trade on an exchange, so daily fluctuations are less visible. People find that reassuring. It offers a little more certainty, especially in volatile markets."

Niels has personally reserved 5% of his investment portfolio for impact investing, entirely through Lendahand.

Returns at Lendahand: A Fair Deal

Returns matter to Niels, but he's willing to sacrifice a small portion if it means creating impact. "Historically, the stock market delivers roughly 9 to 10% gross annually. At Lendahand, my expected gross return is around 6 to 7%."

"I'm quite willing to accept a somewhat lower return if it means contributing to a better world. And at Lendahand, you get something in return: typically less volatility than on the stock market. I'm prepared to give up 1 to 2% for that, and many of our listeners feel the same way. Because 6 to 7% is not something you'll get in your savings account at the bank."*

He sees it as a logical choice. "It's simply a great package, and a genuine addition. As a stock investor, you don't normally get easy exposure to emerging markets. This is a nice way to diversify your portfolio geographically."

How Does He Select Projects?

As an experienced investor, Niels scrutinizes the projects he invests in carefully. He starts with the credit rating: personally, he invests in projects rated A. Next, he looks at the return. If multiple projects carry the same credit rating, he usually opts for the highest yield. "If one project offers 5.5% and another offers 7%, I'm going with the 7%."

At the same time, diversification plays an important role. Niels invests in projects across different regions, from Indonesia to Africa and South America. This prevents his portfolio from becoming overly dependent on a single country or region. "You don't want too much concentration in one area, because geopolitical risks can hit hard when they do."

Dollar-denominated projects also fit within his approach. "I invest in dollar projects too. The dollar is still the number-one currency. If I can earn 1% more interest that way, I'll take it. Sometimes the dollar weakens, sometimes it strengthens. Over the long run, currency risk evens itself out."

Beyond his own selection criteria, trust in Lendahand itself also weighs in. "I know that every project you offer creates impact. That gives me confidence. I'm now invested in nearly all the projects Lendahand offers."

Investing in Financial Institutions

Directly investing in companies in developing countries isn't something Niels would readily do. "That's genuinely high risk." What appeals to him about Lendahand's model is the focus on thoroughly vetted financial institutions.

"You have solid relationships with these financial institutions and investigate whether they're reliable parties. That lowers the risk and gives us the confidence to invest. And it shows in the numbers: just 0.37% written off over thirteen years. That's a remarkably low percentage, and it builds trust."

His Tips for Lendahand

Niels is satisfied, but also constructively critical. If he could name one improvement for the Lendahand platform, it would be more insight into his own portfolio — think year-to-date returns in percentages, a comparison with a benchmark, and an overview of the geographic distribution within his own portfolio.

"I can see which projects I've invested in, but I also want to know: what percentage is in Indonesia, what percentage in Africa? That exposure breakdown in percentages would be a great addition."

His Message to Other Investors

Niels sees Lendahand primarily as a logical complement for investors who value impact alongside returns. "If you want returns and impact, Lendahand is where you need to be."

That confidence extends beyond his own portfolio. Even his mother, who has never invested before, is considering opening an account. "She finds the mission behind Lendahand very compelling. And if I recommend it to my mother, I truly mean it."

"I've even encouraged my mother to invest through Lendahand."

The Bigger Picture Counts

For Niels Koerts, impact investing through Lendahand is no idealistic gesture, it's a deliberate, rational choice.

"Relatively low write-offs, stable returns, geographic diversification, and a dampening effect on an equity portfolio — for me, all of that goes hand in hand with a concrete social purpose: giving entrepreneurs in emerging markets access to capital."

As Niels puts it: "Investing through Lendahand is a beautiful combination: solid projects, attractive returns, and for me, low risk."

About Niels Koerts

Niels is an equity analyst and the founder of Stockwatch.nl and the podcast Het BeursCafé.

This article is part of a paid partnership with Niels Koerts and Stockwatch.nl. The experiences, choices, and statements in this interview are Niels' own. Niels' personal experiences do not constitute investment advice. Past results are no guarantee of future performance.

*Niels compares investing through Lendahand with saving at a bank. These are two fundamentally different financial products. Investing involves risk. More information available here.