Investing Archives

PRIIPs regulation printed on the side of a ring folder

How to Buy US ETFs as a European with PRIIPs Regulation

Most European retail investors trading on their own already noticed early in 2018. As a European, it’s not possible to buy US-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) anymore. Funds such as SPY, IVV, QQQ, VT, and many others are unavailable. The major culprit? PRIIPs, which stands for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products. So what can we do? Well, let us have a closer look.

DEGIRO Vs Lynx: popular quality brokers for retail investors

When investing you can’t get around brokers. I’m no different. I have multiple brokers for various reasons and means. Lynx for my main portfolio and BeoBank for an active funds portfolio. I also plan to get a shared account with my wife, i.e., with two titular holders.

Women choosing from a cafeteria menu. An indicative image to clarify where the employee benefits plan got it's name from.

Cafeteria plan: improving wants & needs for your convencience

A cafeteria plan is an excellent way to streamline fringe benefits, also called employee benefits. An employee uses a part of his pre-tax income to choose from a predefined list of benefits. For an employer, it’s an excellent way to improve the take-home salary of its (potential) employees and keep them happy by letting them chose their own benefits.

A thrilling transfer to my actively managed portfolio

A cold breeze is passing through and Halloween is right around the corner. Yep, it’s October. So it’s time I do something frighting. Why don’t I deposit an additional 10,000 EUR to my actively managed portfolio?

Active funds aren’t popular in the FIRE community or with anyone looking into investing themselves and who know of ETFs.
There is a reluctance to use these funds and with good reason given their entry and management fees. Even Warren Buffett is dismissive about them.

There is a disturbance in the market

October is shaping up to be one for the bears. This month seems to resemble August 2015 in terms of market movement. The beginning of August was even the start of market turbulence that lasted until the end of 2015.
What both periods have in common? China. A few years ago, the bearish sentiment held the global markets in its claws in wake of a slowing Chinese market and the devaluation of the Chinese RMB. This time China also plays a role, but there are more worries: