Guides
Learn the basics, skip the jargon
Short, honest guides written for small investors outside the United States.
BeginnerBuild an emergency fund before you invest: how much and where to keep itWhy a cash buffer comes before your first share, how many months of expenses to save, and where to keep it so it earns something without being at risk.BeginnerCompound interest explained: why starting early beats starting bigHow compounding turns small, regular investments into large sums over time, the rule of 72, and why time in the market matters more than the amount you start with.BeginnerDiversification: why owning more companies lowers your riskWhat diversification really means, how many holdings you need, the hidden concentration in popular indexes, and how to build a diversified portfolio with one or two ETFs.BeginnerFractional shares: investing with small amounts in expensive stocksHow fractional shares let you buy part of a share or ETF unit, what you actually own, the limitations, and why they make small monthly investing easier.BeginnerHow to read a stock or ETF quote: bid, ask, volume, market cap and P/EA plain-English guide to the numbers on a stock or ETF page in your broker app: ticker, ISIN, bid and ask, volume, market cap, P/E ratio, dividend yield and TER.BeginnerHow to start investing with $500 when you don't live in the USA step-by-step plan for your first investment outside the US: emergency fund, choosing a broker, picking a simple ETF and avoiding the costly beginner mistakes.BeginnerInvesting a fixed amount every month: how dollar-cost averaging worksWhy investing the same amount regularly is the easiest habit for small investors, how it compares to investing a lump sum, and how to automate it cheaply.BeginnerMarket orders vs limit orders: how to buy without overpayingThe order types every beginner needs: market, limit and stop orders, when to use each, and how to avoid paying a bad price in fast or thin markets.BeginnerStocks vs bonds: what's the difference and how much of each?Shares make you an owner, bonds make you a lender. How each one makes money, how risky they are, and how to choose a mix that fits your timeline.BeginnerWhat is an ETF? The simplest way to own hundreds of companiesETFs explained for beginners: how exchange-traded funds work, why they're cheap, what an index is, and how to tell good ETFs from bad ones.ETFsAccumulating vs distributing ETFs: which one should you buy?Acc or Dist? How accumulating and distributing ETFs handle dividends, how taxes in your country change the answer, and a simple way to decide.ETFsIndex funds vs active funds: why most investors choose the indexActive funds try to beat the market; index funds simply match it. Why most active funds fall behind after fees, and when an active fund might still make sense.CostsInvesting fees explained: the five costs that eat small portfoliosCommissions, FX fees, spreads, custody fees and fund costs (TER): what each one is, how much it really costs, and how to keep them low as a small investor.BrokersHow to choose a broker as an international investor: 7 checksSeven things to check before opening a brokerage account outside the US: regulation, investor protection, fees, FX costs, market access, tax reporting and how your assets are held.BrokersReal shares vs CFDs: what you're actually buying on trading appsMany apps sell both real shares and CFDs. Learn the difference, why most retail CFD accounts lose money, and how to make sure you own the real thing.BrokersWhat happens to your shares if your broker goes bankrupt?Client asset segregation, investor compensation schemes in the EU, UK and US, and the checks that tell you how safe your money is with a broker.EU / EEAUCITS vs US ETFs: why Europeans can't buy many US funds (and what to buy instead)Why EU and EEA brokers block US-domiciled ETFs for retail investors, what UCITS ETFs are, and how to pick between accumulating and distributing versions.TaxesDividends from abroad: withholding tax and the W-8BEN form explainedWhy you receive less than the advertised dividend on US and foreign shares, how withholding tax and tax treaties work, and how the W-8BEN form can cut US tax in half.GlobalCurrency risk: what happens when you invest in dollars but live in lei, złoty or wonHow exchange rates affect your returns on foreign investments, why the ETF's trading currency doesn't change your risk, and when currency-hedged funds make sense.GlobalHome bias: should you invest in your own country's stock market?Why investors everywhere overweight their home market, the risks of keeping everything local, and how to decide how much of your portfolio should stay at home.MindsetHow to survive a market crash without wrecking your returnsCrashes are normal. What history shows about market falls, the mistakes that turn temporary losses into permanent ones, and a simple plan to stay calm.StoryGameStop and the power of retail investors: what really happened and what it meansHow small investors coordinated online and moved a stock in January 2021, why trading was restricted, and the lessons for retail investors everywhere.