1) The right order (before you invest)
If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to “know the stock market”. You need to get the order right so you’re never forced to sell at the worst possible time.
- High‑interest debt: if you have credit card/consumer debt at 10–20%, the best “return” is usually paying that off first.
- Emergency fund: 3–6 months of expenses (6–9 if your income varies). That money is not for investing—it’s for sleeping well.
- Goal + timeline: you don’t invest the same way for a home deposit in 2 years as you do for 15 years.
Money you need in <3 years usually asks for safety. Over 7–10 years, you can take more volatility—if you commit to the plan.
2) Goal + timeline: your compass
Before choosing any product, define three things:
- What the money is for (home, independence, retirement, a trip…)
- When you’ll need it
- How much you can contribute per month without suffering
A simple trick: think in “buckets”.
- Short‑term bucket: near goals \u2192 liquidity and low risk.
- Long‑term bucket: far goals \u2192 you can invest and ride out bumps.
3) Risk: the question almost nobody asks
The key question isn’t “what return do I want?”, it’s:
If a -20% drop would make you sell out of fear, your portfolio is too aggressive. Adjust it so you can stick to the plan on bad days.
Even clearer: imagine investing €10,000 and, three months later, seeing €8,000. Would you panic—or could you keep contributing? Your answer is your real risk profile.
4) A simple portfolio: diversification + costs
When you’re starting, simple usually wins:
- Diversification: don’t bet on a single company/sector/country.
- Low costs: high fees quietly eat returns over time.
- Automation: monthly contribution + calm review (not daily).
If you want the simplest version: a mix of a global index (equities) and fixed income can be enough. The split depends on your timeline and your ability to stay invested.
The classic trap
“I’ll wait for it to drop before I invest” often turns into never investing. Better: start small, automate, and increase later once you’re comfortable.
5) A 30‑day plan (without overwhelm)
- Week 1: calculate your monthly spending and define the size of your emergency fund.
- Week 2: decide goal + timeline + a realistic monthly contribution.
- Week 3: choose a diversified, low‑cost approach.
- Week 4: automate contributions and write one rule: “I don’t sell in panic; I review once a month.”
If you want to see the numbers, message me and we’ll run a simple calculation together.
If you want me to tailor this to you (goals \u2192 portfolio \u2192 execution), message me here.
