​Interview with Mr. Thomas Vivian Montet, Founder of Anh Thomas Investment and The Montet Group

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Interviewer: Your company has delivered truly exceptional returns—an average annual return of nearly 20% since 2011. Many would consider that as extraordinary. What is your secret?

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Mr. Montet: Thank you. Yes, our performance has been outstanding, but I want to add some nuance to that statement. While we have achieved nearly 20% annualized returns over the long term, investing with us isn’t for everyone. The biggest portfolio we manage is still ours — my wife and I. We’ve been investing our own money in global stock markets since we graduated from university in the U.S. in 2009. Over the years, we’ve built a diverse portfolio that also includes real estate investments but we made our fortune through stocks.

We apply the same disciplined approach to our clients' investments, ensuring that they benefit from the same strategies that have made us successful. That said, it’s important to understand that while the long-term results are excellent, there are always ups and downs. For example, in 2022, our reference portfolio was down nearly 25%. But in 2021, it was up almost 60%. That’s the nature of investing—there will always be volatility. Of course, when stocks go down by 25% or more even though it is temporary, clients are unhappy but what matters is the long-term trajectory, and that’s where we excel.

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Interviewer: Who are your typical clients? Do you work with individuals or institutions?

 

Mr. Montet: We exclusively serve individual clients. No institutions, no corporations—just families and private investors. When we first started, we accepted even very small portfolios, sometimes as low as $5 000. Now that we’ve grown, it no longer makes sense for us to manage such small accounts, given our fee structure. In other words when the portfolio are that small and given the work it still requires we are actually losing money. However, we still accept small investors on a case-by-case basis—mainly young professionals or families with strong financial potential.

One key reason we still accept small portfolios is that trust is a major hurdle in this industry. We understand that new clients may hesitate to invest a large amount upfront, and that’s why we allow them to start small. Many of our clients later increase their investments once they see the results. In fact, a significant portion of our growth comes from existing clients reinvesting their profits. And I should mention that our client retention rate is currently 100%—no one has left us because they are unhappy with the service. Something we are so proud about!

At the same time, we also manage large portfolios. We now have multiple clients with portfolios exceeding $ 1 million. This is exciting because it gives us greater influence in the Vietnamese stock markets.

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Interviewer: You mentioned that your firm specializes in helping foreign investors enter the Vietnamese market. Why Vietnam?

 

Mr. Montet: Around 90% of our business involves helping foreign investors—mainly Europeans and other Westerners, but also some Asian and Indian clients—invest in Vietnam. Why? Because Vietnam offers incredible opportunities that are simply inaccessible to most retail investors.

When you invest with us, you open an account with a broker directly in Vietnam, giving you access to companies that foreign investors typically cannot buy into. But beyond that, what truly makes a difference is our expertise. Our strategies are not something you can replicate by investing in an index fund. Index funds are fine, but they will never deliver the kind of returns we achieve.

People come to us for our exceptional performance. We are not just passive investors—we actively manage portfolios based on deep market research, rigorous analysis, and years of experience. This is what sets us apart.

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Interviewer: Security is a big concern for investors. How do you ensure the safety of client funds?

 

Mr. Montet: This is one of our strongest selling points. We never have direct access to our clients' money. Clients open their own accounts with our recommended brokers, and they alone have control over their funds. We only provide investment advice.

This setup reassures our clients because it eliminates the risk of fraud or mismanagement. Your money stays in your account, under your control. Our role is simply to guide you toward making the best investment decisions.

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Interviewer: What would you say to a potential client who is hesitant to invest with you?

 

Mr. Montet: I understand that trust is a major factor when it comes to investing. Our track record speaks for itself—we have consistently delivered outstanding returns, we have a 100% client retention rate, and we apply the same investment strategies to our own money.

What I would emphasize is that there is no downside to trying us out. You are not handing over your money to us—you remain in full control of your funds. You can start with an amount you are comfortable with and increase your investment later if you’re satisfied with the results.

If you’re looking for passive, average returns, there are plenty of index funds out there. But if you want exceptional long-term growth, we are the right choice.

 

Interviewer: Thank you for your time.

 

Mr. Montet: My pleasure. Thank you.

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