How much are you willing to invest monthly?

€30 per month: +€30 — Over 10 years at an average annual return of 7%, a €3,600 deposit could grow to about €5,200. Returns are not guaranteed. €100 per month: +€100 — Over 10 years at an average annual return of 7%, a €12,000 deposit could grow to about €17,300. Returns are not guaranteed. €300 per month: +€300 — Over 10 years at an average annual return of 7%, a €36,000 deposit could grow to about €52,000. Returns are not guaranteed.

Which type of investment interests you as a first step?

ETF — a fund tracking the whole market: €0 — Low annual fees (typically 0.07–0.20% p.a.), automatic diversification, suitable for a long-term investor. It is not a deposit — the value fluctuates. Term deposit / bank savings: €0 — Safe, guaranteed. Current rates on the market are below 3% p.a. — with inflation at 3–4%, real value stagnates or falls. Individual shares of specific companies: €0 — Higher profit potential, but also higher risk and a need for more knowledge. For beginners, an ETF is a safer starting point.

How long do you plan to invest?

Up to 3 years: €0 — Short horizon — market swings can hit at a bad moment. For a shorter horizon, consider a term deposit or government bonds instead. 5–10 years: €0 — Medium horizon — suitable for a mixed portfolio (ETF + bonds). There is enough time to recover from swings. 10+ years: €0 — A long horizon is best for equity ETFs. Historically every 10-year period of global markets ended in the green — but past performance does not guarantee future results.

How to start investing? A practical guide for beginners

This overview is for people who have not invested yet but want to start. It shows what the options are, how they differ, and what different decisions do to your money.

This text was created or edited with the help of artificial intelligence and passed human editorial review before publication. Always verify figures, prices and terms against the current conditions of the specific provider.

What to weigh up

Most approaches put an emergency reserve before investing — roughly 3 times your monthly expenses. What would you live on if your income stopped tomorrow?
Without a reserve you risk having to sell at the worst possible moment — in a downturn. How likely is a large unexpected expense for you in the next few years?
The choice is between individual shares, actively managed funds, and ETFs tracking the whole market. They differ in fees and in how much deciding is left to you. How much time do you want to spend on it?
You can invest regularly in smaller amounts (say €50–100 a month) or a larger sum at once. Regular investing removes the timing decision; a lump sum can catch a better entry — or a worse one. Which of those two risks sits better with you?

Step 1 of 5

How much do you currently have in savings as an emergency fund?

What to work out before you decide

1.The state of your emergency reserve. If it is not there yet, most approaches put it before the first investment.
2.Total annual costs at 2–3 platforms — TER plus transaction fees, not the headline rate. Tenths of a percent compound noticeably over twenty years.
3.Whether you want to decide on timing yourself or leave it to a standing order. This matters more than the choice of a particular fund.

You can live through this decision

In the “First Job” track you reach the same choice — and see where it takes you a few years on.

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This is not financial advice. Numbers are illustrative and for educational purposes only. Always verify current conditions with your provider before making any financial decision.

How to start investing? A practical guide for beginners

What to weigh up

Try it yourself

How much do you currently have in savings as an emergency fund?

What to work out before you decide