The Journey of a Visionary Entrepreneur | Paulo Coutinho

What was the defining moment that led you to decide to become an entrepreneur? 

"My life was shaped by a lot of effort, discipline, and resilience — I always saw these qualities as the key to success. I wasn’t handed anything; everything I’ve achieved so far came through the grace of God and my own hard work. I’m not talking about talent, but about study and dedication. I always considered myself the most determined person on every team I was part of, perhaps because of my background as an athlete, being competitive, and wanting to win.

In mid-2009, I was an executive at a brokerage firm of a major bank in Brazil, coordinating the capital markets area for individual clients. Our salary was good, but what really made a difference were the high bonuses — we were very well compensated.

Then I received an invitation to leave the bank and join an asset management and administration company. I got to know the business and was thrilled. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been entrepreneurial, creating things to sell and having that spirit. At that moment, I thought: “Why would I leave the bank to work for others? I already earn very well here, but the bonuses I receive are a fraction of the revenue I generate for the bank.” That’s when I decided: enough. It was time to stop enriching the bank and become the owner of my own business.

So, instead of working for someone else, I took the step: I left the bank and opened my own investment advisory firm. Many called me crazy, saying it wasn’t the right time, that we had just come out of the subprime crisis in the U.S., and that economies were still recovering. But an entrepreneur feels when it’s their time, hears that inner voice saying: “Now is the moment.”

I believe that the greatest opportunities are born in crises. My biggest inspiration was seeing how that large asset management company had grown to become a securities brokerage. I thought: “I’m going to do something different, focused on Private clients, and I’m going to make history in this segment.” At that time, I already had 10 years of experience in the financial market, having worked in bank treasury, directly with renowned vice-presidents and directors. I never doubted it would work out."

How do you deal with failure or mistakes made along the way? Is there a specific example where a failure became a valuable lesson?

An entrepreneur’s life is full of “no’s” and failures. The difference lies in how you react to them.

In the first year of my company, I almost went bankrupt. I was paying my personal bills through the company, had no notion of corporate financial management. I expanded too soon, rented a larger structure than I needed, bought equipment, got into debt, and owed taxes. But I managed to join a tax amnesty program and, little by little, reorganize.

I hired too many advisors, paid signing bonuses, made several mistakes. But I learned the formula I still use today: correct the course quickly.

Successful entrepreneurs make mistakes because they dare and take risks. But you need to act fast so the mistake doesn’t snowball. Since I always had a long-term vision, I managed to survive that period.

After that, I started doing mergers and acquisitions with other firms in the sector. We grew to become one of the largest investment advisory firms in Brazil. We received several awards, expanded to Europe and the U.S., which gave me great visibility and, ultimately, the coveted green card for extraordinary ability.

Today, as CEO of JP Legacy Investments, my mission is to help Brazilians bring more peace of mind to everything they’ve built, offering security, profitability, predictability, and, above all, freedom.

The Journey of Visionary Entrepreneur

Special Interview on Paulo Coutinho

About Paulo Coutinho

Paulo Coutinho is the founder of Agnus Investimentos and founder & CEO of JP Legacy Investments, with 25 years of experience in national and international financial markets and nearly US$1 billion under management. Recognized as one of Brazil’s leading experts in wealth internationalization, he is an award-winner in Brazil, London, and the United States and currently resides in the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area, where he holds a green card granted for extraordinary ability.

Throughout his career, he has hired over 1,000 professionals, spoken to more than 2,000 people, and given interviews to outlets such as RedeTV, UOL, and other relevant media. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked as an executive in major Brazilian banks, gaining experience in treasury, capital markets, and investment management.

Today, his mission is clear: to help entrepreneurs and investors protect and grow their wealth beyond the reach of inefficient governments, using high-level international structures focused on tax efficiency, estate protection, and legal security, through the world’s largest investment firms.

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What are the latest developments in your business right now, and what are the main projects for 2026?

"I come from the era of live trading at Bovespa, and I was always a bit resistant to the digital age. But there was no way around it: I dove in headfirst. In just a few months, I reached over 8 million views in 30 days with my content. But this is just the beginning: I apply the same discipline and resilience I’ve always had.

My upcoming projects have a strong social component. I help people achieve financial freedom, and now I want to help even more Brazilians and Latinos internationalize their wealth, considering Brazil’s political scenario.

My goal is to help Brazilians protect what took a lifetime to build, using the world’s most robust legislations to shield their assets. In our lives, we buy imported clothes, imported cars, and even Brazil keeps reserves in dollars — so why leave money exposed to the real, one of the weakest currencies in the world?

In 2026, I will dive even deeper into the educational area, with mentorships and the expansion of JP Legacy Investments to new continents, bringing the experience we already have in Europe and the U.S. to many more Brazilians."

If you could go back in time, what would you say to your novice entrepreneurial self? What key advice would you give to someone just starting out now?

"Think big, but start small. Don’t be afraid to dare and take risks. Cut costs always — they’re like nails, they need constant trimming. Made a mistake? Fix it quickly. Read, study, learn languages, have a long-term vision — that’s where the magic happens.

Stay obsessed with what you do. Love and care for your family, because the journey is long and needs to be enjoyed. And never stop praying, because God will always be with you.

Dream big. Always learn. Respect your parents. Love your family. Have a long-term vision, because that’s where results show up. And, above all, take risks."

https://bio.site/paulocoutinhoinvest

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