What are the pillars of business success and what are the key components of happiness? What life principles lead to success and what are the most valuable assets in the 21st century? Many would probably like to find out the answers to these questions according to someone who rose to the top himself — someone who managed to create a business, gain respect as an investment expert and manager, raise children and grandchildren, and become a well-known philanthropist. Those are some of the main achievements in the biography of Oleg Belaj, CEO of the independent investment group TRINFICO. This man has managed to build a well-balanced success story.
Read on to find out what the businessman, investor and philanthropist thinks about the most valuable assets in business and the most important things in life.
Family Influence
The CEO of TRINFICO Oleg Belaj was born into a family that could not offer him money to start a business or provide him with any useful connections to do so. Belaj’s parents were simple people who worked in tech. They raised three children, Oleg being the oldest of them. However, when speaking about his parents, the businessman gratefully emphasizes that “many values come from the family.” In his case, these included a passion for learning, commitment to hard work, determination, and fascination with new things.
The top manager says that he was raised with love and care and learned the importance of many human values as a child. He has great memories of his school years. This was when he started a long-lasting friendship with his future business partner Valery Sotnikov; the boys lived in the same apartment building for five years and attended the same school in Zelenograd, Moscow Oblast. In the 8th grade, Oleg transferred to another school, but the friends stayed in touch.
In 1987, after finishing school, it was time to choose a profession. Belaj liked both the exact sciences and humanities and was a smart and well-rounded kid. However, he had a particular inclination towards physics, mathematics, and programming. He decided to enroll in MIET (Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology) to study microelectronics.
The same scientific mindset and interest in numbers and patterns would eventually bring Belaj into the world of finance. However, in 1987, the young man was not interested in economics. He did not want to become an accountant or Sberbank employee (these being the only options for economics graduates in the Soviet era). However, everything changed dramatically at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s.
Young Russia, Young Business, Young Investors
Entrepreneur Oleg Belaj came into Russian business during an unusual period when the country was undergoing major political and economic changes. The USSR disappeared from the world map, making way for fifteen new countries that emerged from former Soviet republics. One of the new states was the Russian Federation. The Iron Curtain fell, and the country began to actively interact with the rest of the world, exchanging both resources and information. The planned Soviet economy gave way to capitalism.
And that was the moment Belaj realized that he was actually very interested in finance! He discovered the world of stock trading, investing, and global economic processes. His childhood friend, Valery Sotnikov, also viewed the changes positively. The young people discussed different ideas, experimented with them, and even spent some time reporting financial news. And in 1992, together with two other friends, they started trading in vouchers.
The stock market in Russia at the time was not simply young — it had just been born. Novice Russian traders essentially created it by their activity. They had to learn everything through practice.
The first years in business taught Belaj a lot. He learned to boldly step into the unknown, make serious decisions, find information, and transform mistakes into experience. And, of course, he learned to never give up.
When Oleg Belaj and his partners opened TRINFICO in 1993, he became its chief financial officer. He was only 21 at the time. However, as the businessman says, in those turbulent times, age did not matter much. The young men, inspired by the great opportunities, plunged into business with all their enthusiasm and in just a couple of years accumulated considerable experience.
Business Philosophy of Moving in the Flow
When the young entrepreneurs started TRINFICO, they were, of course, full of youthful ambition. After all, the partners were just over twenty. Oleg Viktorovich Belaj recalls that they wanted to get ahead of the competition and make TRINFICO “the number one company in the business”. However, this slightly “reckless” and somewhat vain youthful approach was gradually replaced by a different — balanced and serious — mindset.
As the company grew, the young traders realized how important it was to carefully calculate risks, even more important than chasing profits. They also came to the realization that instead of battling competitors, it is better to focus on strengthening reputation. It became clear that there was no point in wasting resources trying to get ahead — all they needed to do was to gradually move forward “in the flow” of leaders.
The CEO of TRINFICO refers to this business philosophy as “moving in the flow.” There is no place for vanity, pride, or recklessness in this mentality. Instead, it creates conditions for building a stable and reliable business.
“Real success is being able to do as much as possible,” says the head of TRINFICO. Philosophy enthusiasts will likely notice that this principle echoes the famous phrase “do what you must.” As the thirty-year history of the investment group shows, this philosophy allows it to stand firmly on its feet and confidently move forward.
Knowledge Is Power… and Money
Bacon’s statement equating knowledge with power has become one of the immortal maxims, an undisputed axiom. Meanwhile, TRINFICO’s practice shows that knowledge can also be effectively converted into money — just like lead could be turned into gold in the dreams of alchemists. But while medieval alchemists failed to make gold, modern financiers do make money using their intelligence, knowledge, analytical skills, extensive competencies, and meta skills.
The competencies of the employees are confirmed by professional certificates. Belaj himself, who learned about the mechanisms of financial markets mainly in practice, later studied to become a certified mutual fund specialist as well. The businessman says that he has never refused the opportunity to expand his knowledge and acquire new skills — and he always encourages other people to do the same.
• The pursuit of knowledge and continuous self-improvement are some of the values that underlie TRINFICO’s corporate strategy.
• Among other important aspects are team cohesiveness, mutual respect, and trust.
• The third group of corporate values includes a responsible attitude towards job duties and willingness to assume accountability.
All three of these components form the company’s main asset — a professional team that develops expert-level investment strategies. The CEO of the investment group believes that the most valuable resources are not money or other material assets but reputation, experience, and professionalism. Belaj emphasizes that TRINFICO is wealthy in ways that many other companies can only dream of.
The Meaning of ESG Rating
TRINFICO was the first Russian asset management company to get an ESG score. This event not only reflected the AMC’s consistency with a promising global trend but also defined its corporate values.
ESG principles require companies to conduct business in a way that does not harm the environment and makes it possible to contribute to society. In other words, it implies a responsible approach to business with consideration for the present and the future of humanity. And since this concept speaks to the values of Oleg Belaj himself, the CEO of TRINFICO decided to integrate ESG principles into the business practices of his company. In doing so, he managed to outpace other Russian asset management companies in these matters.
Having received an ESG rating, Belaj’s team continues to do business in line with this achievement. In 2024, the National Rating Agency once again confirmed TRINFICO’s rating based on all ESG components: E (concern for the environment), S (social responsibility), G (corporate governance practices). The experts point out that the company’s managers make conscious decisions in line with ESG standards. These include reduced energy consumption, effective occupational safety practices, strict risk management rules, and much more.
The focus on “green investing” is also reflected in the business decisions of the company. A large proportion of assets in the AMC’s portfolios meet ESG investing standards. Moreover, the company’s mutual funds include the ESG product TRINFICO ECOFINANCE which consists mainly of environmentally friendly assets.
Interestingly, this approach also proved to be economically feasible. “Green investing” has exploded over the course of five years and demonstrated overwhelming growth on a global level. This fact once again confirms Belaj’s ability to recognize promising opportunities even before they become mainstream.
The Most Important Things in Life
Oleg Belaj is a passionate person. He is one of those people who burn with enthusiasm for their business. However, there is room in his life for other sources of positive emotions as well. They are his family and hobbies (sports and travel).
The businessman cares a lot about his family and friends. He speaks warmly about his parents and respects his friends and business partners. Together with his wife, Oleg raised two children, and today, they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. The couple has been together since their youth.
In his free time, the top manager goes hiking and trekking; he loves to explore new places and enjoys motorcycling. Belaj prefers active recreation, but he never boasts about his achievements “to get likes.” His hobbies are for his personal satisfaction, not for social media.
Charity Projects
The top manager uses his free time not only to rest. Another important part of his life is charity. A few years ago, the philanthropist started the Vmeste Smozhem foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty. This idea came to him during the coronavirus pandemic. Belaj had been involved in charity long before that, but in 2020-2021, he noticed how much social problems had worsened during the COVID period. The entrepreneur decided to create a foundation aimed at supporting the most vulnerable social groups.
Another interesting detail is that Vmeste Smozhem also runs projects that help people get back on their feet and then move towards success on their own. They help the beneficiaries master new professions, acquire useful skills, and discover their talents. As a result, many people manage to escape the poverty trap and achieve financial independence. Such support is especially valuable, as it opens paths to self-fulfillment.
As a person who started from ground zero and achieved a lot in his life, Oleg Belaj believes in the importance of helping others. After all, times change, waves and trends come and go but, as the businessman himself says, “you must always remain human.”