Beginner's guide

Your money
can work for you.

Investing isn't just for experts. Learn the essentials and start with confidence.

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The magic of compound interest

Move the sliders to see how a regular amount can grow at an average 7% yearly return. Illustration only — returns are never guaranteed.

Estimated value after 20 years

€104,185

You put in

€48,000

Growth from returns

€56,185

Six steps to get started

01

Emergency fund

Before investing, set aside 3 to 6 months of expenses in an accessible account.

02

Set your goals

Retirement, a home, travel? Your time horizon defines how much risk you can take.

03

Know your profile

Conservative, moderate or aggressive — be honest about how you react to losses.

04

Diversify

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Index funds (ETFs) are a great start.

05

Invest regularly

Fixed monthly amounts reduce the impact of volatility.

06

Think long term

Time in the market beats trying to time the market.

Types of investments

Low risk

Savings & Deposits

Safe, but with modest returns.

Low to medium risk

Bonds

Loans to governments or companies at a fixed rate.

Medium risk

ETFs

Baskets of hundreds of stocks with low fees.

High risk

Stocks

Ownership in companies, with higher potential and volatility.

Personalized

Get your learning plan

Tell us where you are and where you want to go. AI will build a 4-week plan for you and answer your questions.

One-time payment. Your plan appears right after purchase. 30-day money-back guarantee — see Terms and Refunds.

Sample from a real plan · Week 1

Build your safety base before you invest

For: "Complete beginner, wants to save for a home in 5 years"

Lesson

Money you need within 5 years should not depend on the stock market. Split your savings into safety money and growth money first.

Exercise

Add up your essential monthly costs. If they are €1,200, your 3-month reserve is €3,600 — keep it in an easy-access savings account.

Numbers that matter

On €10,000, a 1% yearly fee costs €100; a 0.2% fee costs €20. Over decades, that gap compounds.

Weeks 2–4 cover what you actually own (ETFs, bonds, shares), risk and diversification, and your first investing routine.

What you get for €10.99

  • ✓A 4-week course written around your goals, experience and questions
  • ✓Investment essentials workbook: emergency reserve, fees and losses in real numbers
  • ✓Your own decision rules to follow when markets fall
  • ✓Saved to your email — sign in any time, edit it, keep it

Education only, never financial advice. One-time payment with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

About this guide

Learn to Invest is created by Rafael Rocha Pardal as an independent, plain-language introduction to investing. It is not affiliated with any bank or broker, earns no commissions from products, and does not recommend specific investments. The goal is simple: help beginners understand the basics well enough to make their own informed decisions.