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Investing: Ten things I've learned about ETFs as a beginner

From the Handelsblatt archive: Our author deals with ETFs for the first time in his life - and finds that retirement planning is simpler in theory than in practice.

Translated from German Read in German

Investing: Ten things I've learned about ETFs as a beginner

A German author recounts their experience with private retirement planning. They initially invested in a stock-based pension insurance policy in 2008, which after 15 years and over 20,000 euros in contributions, yielded only 1,000 euros in profit. The author attributes this to high fees and switches to an ETF savings plan in August 2025, seeking a greener and more secure investment.

They researched and combined various green, medium-green, and slightly green ETFs, prioritizing both conscience and security. The author expresses skepticism about online financial influencers, noting they often profit more from advertising than their investment portfolios.

Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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