Connecting knowledge, creating transparency: payoff starts a new chapter

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  Dieter Haas
  Redaktor

Mr. Lucht, the merger of payoff with the LPA Group follows a clear logic in terms of content. What is the core connection between the two companies?

Stefan Lucht: At our core, we are united by the desire to make knowledge accessible and to connect market participants with each other. LPA has always pursued the goal of improving processes in the market for structured products and creating transparency, while payoff ideally complements this approach with journalistic classification, diversity of opinion and editorial depth. Together, they create an ecosystem that brings together information, data and context in a meaningful way. The aim of LPA was and is to make derivatives and structured products transparent, understandable and efficiently accessible – as sensible and consciously used instruments in the portfolios of professional and private investors.

“At our core, we are united by the desire to make knowledge accessible and to network market participants.”

Stefan Lucht, founder and CEO at LPA

Ms. Niederhöfer, you yourself play a central role in this new chapter. How would you describe your personal aspirations for payoff?

Susan Niederhöfer: My aim is to maintain the existing quality and credibility of payoff while at the same time carefully developing it further. The past few months have impressively shown me how much commitment, expertise and passion are behind this magazine. I would like to build on this. For me, a clear focus on the target group, clean journalistic work and a continuous exchange with readers and partners are crucial.

Transparency and knowledge transfer play a central role here. Why is this so important in this market segment in particular?

Stefan Lucht: Structured products are highly customizable, precise, but also in need of explanation. A lack of understanding quickly leads to reservations or wrong decisions. Our aim is therefore not only to depict these products, but also to classify, explain and critically accompany them. Transparency and well-founded information are the basis for enabling investors – especially professional investors – to use structured products consciously and responsibly.

With payoff, market and product data is systematically linked with journalistic content. What added value does this offer?

Stefan Lucht: Data provides facts, journalism provides orientation. Only the combination creates real added value. Readers not only receive figures and ratios, but also a classification in the current market and regulatory context. This enables well-founded, data-based decisions and promotes a deeper understanding of correlations and developments.

You say that not everything will stay the same. What goals have you setyourself for payoff?

Susan Niederhöfer: As interim editor-in-chief, I am particularly keen to build on the strength of payoff ‘s content and at the same time set new priorities. This includes greater market penetration in Switzerland, increasing international embedding and the expansion of technological solutions. We also want to appeal to new reader groups and show that structured products are timelessly relevant – precisely because of their flexibility and precision.

“My aim is to maintain the existing quality and credibility of payoff while at the same time carefully developing it further.”

Susan Niederhöfer, CCO at LPA

How can the balancing act between local roots and an international context be achieved?

Stefan Lucht: Switzerland remains a central market with its own dynamics, regulatory peculiarities and high innovative strength. At the same time, financial markets are globally networked.
Our approach is to retain local expertise and at the same time give topics a more international focus. In this way, we create relevance both for the domestic market and for an international specialist audience. You can therefore look forward to a year of in-depth analyses, established formats and targeted further developments. The tried and tested will remain, new things will be added – with a sense of proportion and clear quality standards. Our aim is as simple as it is ambitious: to do well, develop further and consistently implement realistic goals.

You emphasize the importance of dialogue and teamwork. What role does the exchange with the community play?

Susan Niederhöfer: A very big one. Editorial quality is not created in a vacuum. The exchange with readers, partners and market players provides impetus, criticism and new perspectives. Events, feedback and personal discussions are therefore a central part of our work and help us to remain relevant and close to our target group. We therefore cordially invite the payoff community to play an active role in shaping payoff – be it by suggesting topics, providing feedback or exchanging ideas at events such as the Swiss Derivatives Award. Together with the editorial team, we look forward to this new chapter with confidence and look forward to continuing the dialog with our readers.

What can readers expect from payoff in the coming year?

Stefan Lucht: You can look forward to well-founded analyses, proven formats and targeted further developments. The tried and tested remains, new things are added – with a sense of proportion and clear quality standards. Our mission is as simple as it is ambitious: to make content good, develop it sensibly and consistently implement realistic goals.

Thank you very much for the interview and the valuable insights, Mr. Stefan Lucht and Ms. Susan Niederhöfer!

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Stefan Lucht
Founder and Chief Executive Officer at LPA

For over 26 years, Stefan Lucht has led the continuously growing company Lucht Probst Associates (LPA), which today has around 270 employees in more than ten international locations. He began his career as a FIC sales trader for exotic derivatives, recognizing early on the lasting impact that technology, automation and networking have on the growth, scalability and market penetration of structured products.
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Susan Niederhöfer
Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Board at LPA

Susan Niederhöfer is responsible for the global marketing and implementation of the software solutions and services offered by LPA.
Before joining LPA,
she gained extensive experience in FX and Rates
Sales & Structuring teams at international banks and played a key role in setting up and managing a fintech platform. In addition to traditional sales and customer
issues, she is also responsible for marketing and communications at the LPA Group and is driving the company’s ongoing international expansion.

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Lucht Probst Associates (LPA ) is a leading international provider of technologies and services for capital markets and for the issuance and distribution of structured products. LPA’s services focus on the areas of data, analytics and document and process automation.