Before You Start Investing

Investing opens up many opportunities for you, but also brings challenges. Every decision you make offers chances, but also harbours a certain amount of risk. That's why it's important that you have your goals clearly in mind and are well informed and prepared. George Invest provides you with the key resources you need to make informed decisions.

Before you invest in securities, you should fulfil a few basic requirements. Firstly, it is advisable to have a financial buffer in the form of a nest egg of at least three months' salary in a savings account to cover unexpected expenses. In addition, it is advantageous to regularly set aside a portion of your income for investments in order to continuously build up assets. 

"Advice-free" means that you make your own investment decisions without having to take individual advice from the bank. With George Invest, you have access to comprehensive information and tools that help you to inform yourself independently and make well-founded decisions. You take responsibility for your investment decisions and can access easy-to-understand resources and information at any time. This gives you maximum flexibility and independence to make your own investments and organise them at your own pace.

• Understand the opportunities and risks: Educate yourself on the basic aspects of investing and the various risks that are possible.
• Ways to inform yourself in advance: Use the information and sources available to help you prepare for investing.

There are various options available to you when investing in securities. By buying shares, you purchase parts of companies and can benefit from their growth, although there is also the risk of price losses. Bonds allow you to lend money to governments or companies and receive interest in return. However, creditworthiness is crucial here and whether the company or state can repay the bond. Investment funds and ETFs offer the opportunity to invest in broadly diversified portfolios of shares, bonds or other asset classes, which spreads the risk but is also subject to price fluctuations.

When investing in securities, you can decide for yourself how long and how much you want to invest. Some investments require longer terms, but often offer more attractive potential returns. At the same time, early sales can lead to capital losses. You can also start investing with small amounts. This makes securities trading also suitable for newcomers who want to build up assets step by step. It is important to familiarise yourself with the desired product, the market and all associated risks and not to act too hastily.

To help you invest, you will find a wide range of additional content in the Help Center to support you in the world of investments, such as the glossary, where all relevant investment terms are briefly explained. Use all the resources to find comprehensive information and enter the world of investments with confidence. Or take advantage of the personal support provided by experts.

Author: Tamara Berger-Feichter