What is investing?

Step 1

Investing means putting money into investment assets for the future, i.e. at least 5 years. You might want to build up capital for your pension or your house, for instance. Your investments go through the stock market, where you can invest in products like ETFs and funds, or buy shares and bonds. Do bear in mind that your investments can go down in value temporarily or permanently. Investing involves risk. You could lose all or part of your initial investment.

Back to the overview

Step 2. Is investing right for me?

Why would I get into investing?

Investing can be a nice additional way to build up capital. Putting your capital in investment products for the long term and being patient will boost your chances of reaping positive returns. This is why when you invest you have to be in it for the long haul. Before you get started, it’s important to work out whether investing is right for you. Do you have enough money to spare, alongside your savings buffer? Our choice guide will help you decide whether investing really is for you.

What do I need to know about investing?

Invest only money you can spare
Make sure you always have a savings buffer to fall back on in case of unforeseen expenses
Saving and investing are compatible
You can get into investing from just € 20

What knowledge do I need to have?

You don’t have to be an expert to start investing. There’s news about the stock markets every day, but you don’t need to follow it all. What you do need to know is your investment goal, how long you want to invest for, and how much you can and want to invest. Knowledge of the basics of investing will help you make smart choices. Following these 7 steps is a good start.

When is the right time to start investing?

No one can predict whether investment assets will go up or down over any given period, making it impossible to find the perfect moment to enter the market. Instead of waiting, you could invest at different times by investing a small amount every month or year, for example. This is what we call periodic investing, and it means you are spreading the risk over time, so your returns will be more resistant to stock market volatility. You’ll learn more about this in step 3.

How long do I have to keep my investment?

When you invest, time is on your side. The MSCI Europe Index graph (in euros, dividends reinvested) clearly shows that the stock exchange has until now always recovered from price drops. Over the first few years, your returns may not be what you hoped for, but in the long run you are more likely to see an increase than a drop in the value of your investment. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. By getting into investing at the earliest stage possible, you keep the risk down.

Share price development from 01/01/2002 to 30/04/2024 MSCI Europe Net Total Return Index (in euros, dividends reinvested). Source: ABN AMRO Investment Centre

What can I invest in?

When it comes to investing, most people think of shares, i.e. investing directly in a company. But there are lots more products that you could invest in, including , and . Investing in ETFs involves tracking an index; you invest in a basket containing multiple shares and/or bonds. You then receive the average returns on all products in the basket. Spreading your investments across different sectors, regions and branches makes it easier to absorb price drops.

On to the next step

You’ve taken the first step! When you start investing, it’s important to take a look at yourself. In step 2, we’ll ask you some questions to find out what type of investor you are.

Investing involves risks

Investing involves risks. You could lose (some of) the money you invested. If you are going to invest, it is important that you are aware of this. Invest with money you can spare. Read more about the risks associated with investments.

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