The article was originally published in the printed issue of the Budapest Business Journal’s Top 50 Financial Executives in Hungary 2024 on 29th November.

Bio and Company Philosophy

András Sebestyén started his career as a financial consultant and later became a sales manager. In 2014, he co-founded Grantis, an ethical financial advisory company, with his friend Ferenc István Deák. Since 2017, it has operated as a private company limited by shares. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the firm’s founding, and it has since grown into a group of companies.

Sebestyén is a board member of the Association of Independent Insurance Brokers in Hungary. He recharges in nature, liking hiking, sailing, and snowboarding. Meditation, reading, and music also play important roles in his life.

“Honesty, professionalism, and independence are the firm’s core values. We only give advice that we would give to our mother.”


Business Name 		Grantis Hungary Zrt.
Top Executive András Sebestyén
Description of Business or Services Financial consulting
Year Founded in Hungary 2014
Total Turnover in 2023 (HUF mln) 1,270 
HQ in Hungary 1061 Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 65.

What is the number one challenge facing the Financial Sector in Hungary today?

The insurance broking sector faces dramatic changes, and only the larger, financially strong companies can survive. I would highlight three key challenges. Firstly, compliance with legal
regulations; the number of rules and reports only increases and requires more resources. A complete legal team supports us.

IT infrastructure is also increasingly costly, but these developments are justified due to the intense competition. However, 80-90% of the more than 300 brokerage firms in the market have missed these opportunities. We have already walked this path. Digitalization has been crucial for us from the beginning, and we want to remain a pioneer in this field.

We have worked for years with online product calculators, tariffing softwares, automated offer-sending and digital contract management systems. These are just a few examples of at least 15 of our consulting support developments.

It is also a challenge for insurance broker firms that, in many cases, succession is not solved. For those who cannot make these improvements, we offer a solution in the context of fusion so that they can preserve their brand and integrity and continue to operate, and we also take the burden of generational change off their shoulders.

“Everyone at Grantis has a mission”

Financial advisory as a profession

What is the greater problem, finding suitably qualified staff in the first place or retaining them once hired?

The amendment to the Kata tax law in fall 2022 was a heavy blow for independent intermediaries, as previously, a significant proportion of the approximately 40,000 professionals working as insurance or financial intermediaries in the country were taxed under it. Last year, this made recruitment significantly more difficult.

The insurance brokers community is aging, there is a lack of young people in the profession, and we aim to change this trend. Our team of experts has grown to nearly 100 this year. We provide perspectives and attractive conditions for experienced colleagues and talented career starters.

We have a cohesive team and are proud that many of our colleagues have been with us since the company was founded. We are working with motivated professionals whose primary goal is to help people make sound financial decisions. We view financial advisory as a lifelong vocation!

Training, community building, and mentoring

What balance do you strike between attendance in the workplace and remote working?

Financial advisory work can be done through flexible working hours and without territorial restrictions. Our consultants can organize meetings in the office, an external location, or online, according to their schedule and the needs of their clients. We also have several colleagues
who live abroad and work remotely. Thanks to modern technologies like form-generating apps, all the conditions are now in place for completely paperless advice, and online contracting is also possible.

There are occasions when everyone participates in person. For example, we organize monthly professional days to discuss results and goals together. We also put great emphasis on training and team building. We regularly organize hiking trips, family days, board game nights, a book club, yoga classes, and pizza baking on the roof, which has also become a tradition. Common programs have a cohesive force.

Do you have to adapt career paths (and perhaps even job functions) to better attract Gen Z canditates?

Every year, we welcome more young people to our team of consultants and employees. We now also have the capacity to mentor career starters in our complex onboarding program. For us, people are the most important value in the company.

Our corporate philosophy is that we don’t build companies; we build people. For young professionals, we offer predictable, long-term career paths. Everyone at Grantis has a mission to work together to help develop financial literacy in Hungary, thereby improving people’s lives.