How to invest in ETFs: where does a European beginner actually start?

Continuing our ETF series: how a first ETF purchase actually happens, step by step.

Investing in ETFs comes down to five steps: set a starting amount, choose self-directed or managed, pick the fund or portfolio, open an account and place the order, then automate contributions. The mechanics take less time than opening a bank account. The real thinking happens before the purchase.

1. Set a starting amount. The amount matters less than the habit. One rule applies at any size: only invest money that can stay invested for the medium to long term. ETF values fluctuate, and needing the cash back within months could force you to sell at a loss.

2. Pick your route. Self-directed means you select the funds and rebalance yourself. Managed means the platform builds and rebalances a portfolio matched to your risk level. Neither is inherently better. Plenty of investors start managed and switch as confidence grows, or run both.

3. Choose the fund (or let the portfolio do it). Going self-directed? With thousands of ETFs available in Europe, four checks narrow the field: start broad rather than betting on a narrow sector, compare the total expense ratio (often below 0.25% per year for broad index ETFs, and it compounds), decide accumulating vs distributing, and look at what's actually inside. Holdings are public, so you can verify a fund delivers what its name suggests.

4. Open an account and place the order. Identity verification and a suitability questionnaire are standard under EU investor-protection rules. Deposit, search, confirm. Most regulated platforms support fractional trading, so you don't need the full share price.

5. Automate, then leave it mostly alone. A fixed monthly contribution removes the temptation to time the market, though it doesn't guarantee a profit or protect against loss in falling markets. Reviewing quarterly is enough for most long-term investors. Over-monitoring tends to become over-trading, which adds cost.

For context, on Mintos you can pick individual ETFs from €1 (over 1,000 from providers like iShares, Vanguard, Amundi, and Xtrackers) or use the Core ETFs portfolio from €50, with €0 Mintos fees to buy, hold, or sell. Each ETF carries its own annual fee (TER) from the provider, built into the price.

The full walkthrough is here: How to invest in ETFs: a step-by-step guide for beginners.

Already hold ETFs? What did your first purchase look like, and would you make the same pick today? Let us know in the comments.

Marketing communication. Not investment advice. The value of investments can go up as well as down, and you may get back less than you invest. Capital at risk. A Key Information Document (KID) is available for each ETF on the Mintos platform and should be read before investing.