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Investor Education Resources

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BETTER FINANCE is committed to enhancing financial literacy and empowering individual investors across Europe.

This page serves as a central repository for our investor education resources, designed to provide clear, accessible, and independent information on key financial topics.
Here, you will find infographics, videos and other educational resources aimed at improving financial decision-making. Through these materials, we also strive to foster a deeper understanding of investment products, regulatory frameworks, and consumer rights within the EU’s capital markets through these resources.

Capital Markets

The Broken Investor Journey: What BETTER FINANCE Wants ESMA to Fix

For everyday Europeans, the “journey” into the capital markets is far from being straightforward. Instead of a clear and empowering path, investors face a maze of fragmented rules, opaque products, and inconsistent safeguards.

This leads to a crossroad with two outcomes:

⛔Discouraging citizens from investing in capital markets

⛔Locking them into low-yield savings accounts or costly, underperforming products.

As the independent voice of individual investors and financial services users, BETTER FINANCE welcomed ESMA’s interest in understanding how citizens engage with capital markets and what prevents them from doing so.

In our consultation response to ESMA, we draw on insights from our national members and independent research to show how the current investor journey is failing citizens, and what must be done to rebuild confidence.

To understand the key challenges that European individual investors face and the key recommendations that BETTER FINANCE submitted to ESMA,  read the article or check the infographic.

Can a savings and investment union transform savings into growth?

Forming a unified Capital Markets Union has long been the goal of EU policymakers. However, for the EU, the challenge is not just the unification of the market, but ensuring that Europe’s vast household savings are channelled into productive, long‑term investments.

A Savings & Investment Union has the potential to unlock a huge, untapped resource of domestic capital, while also creating a more integrated, stable, and competitive financial market.

Tapping into this capital is essential for financing the EU’s ambitious climate and digital transformation goals and, as such, ensures Europe remains competitive and sustainable in the global economy.

What every European individual investor should know before trusting a financial adviser?

Investing in capital markets has been proven to deliver substantial gains in the long term compared to less direct investment products. Yet, Europeans’ money sits mostly in bank deposits (which come with minor returns).

One of the main reasons behind this is the Europeans’ low trust in capital markets. Specifically, 45% of Europeans are not confident that financial advice is in their best interest.

In the EU, retail investors – individuals who invest in securities for personal use- are dependent on advised services and retail investment products which are mainly distributed through a commission-based model. This creates a climate in which retail investors end up with packaged products laden with fees yielding worse results compared to direct equity investments.

The European Commission aims to address this issue through the Retail Investment Strategy (RIS). Believing in the impartiality of the advisors in their selection of products and the capacity to cater to clients’ needs is crucial to increasing retail investors’ participation!

For more information on the value of independent advice, please check our educational post: “Don’t Be Misled The Value of Independent Financial Advice”

Long-Term Savings & Pensions

How does the pension system work in Europe?

Pensions are a cornerstone of financial security in retirement. However, many Europeans struggle to understand how pension systems function and whether they provide adequate support.
The European pension system is based on a three-pillar structure, but is it effectively meeting the needs of all workers?

Check the infographic to explore the structure of Europe’s pension systems and the pressing challenges they face.

How does the pension system work in Europe - Infographic

Can European rely on their pensions?

With the pension adequacy gap widening across Europe, many retirees may not have sufficient income to maintain their standard of living. Inflation and high fees are eroding pension savings, while the shift from Defined Benefit (DB) to Defined Contribution (DC) schemes puts more financial risk on individuals.

So the question lies, can Europeans rely on their pensions?

Check the infographic to explore the key challenges that European pensions face, and the policy recommendation that BETTER FINANCE supports.

Can Europeans rely on their pensions

Why understanding pension fees is crucial for your retirement?

Costs and charges within our pension plans play a crucial role in determining savings returns and understanding them is essential for achieving a comfortable retirement.

Pension charges encompass management fees, administrative costs, and other expenses related to managing and investing pension savings.

Fees and commissions are often complex, opaque, and presented in various formats. This lack of transparency prevents savers from obtaining essential information to evaluate and compare the performance of pension products.

Awareness of the fees linked to pension savings can make a substantial difference in securing a comfortable retirement. So, make sure you:

  • Compare fees across different pension products
  • Opt for low-fee options whenever feasible
  • Ask your pension provider about the charges associated with your pension plan

Besides high fees, inflation, taxes, and misguided asset allocation all negatively affect the returns of your pension savings.

For more information on pension charges, please check our infographic.

How does inflation affect pension savings?

For the past 3 years, all of us have been aware of the impact inflation has on our purchasing power (the web searches for the word “inflation” almost doubled in the last 2 years).

While we experience the effects of inflation in the present, most of us are unaware of how it impacts our future financial stability.

Check our educational post to explore how inflation affects our pension savings, and, most importantly, what the way forward is for the government and us —EU citizens — to safeguard our retirement savings from inflation.

Shareholders Rights, Investor Redress, Protections

Do you know your rights as an European shareholder?

Your shares represent more than just financial assets—they provide you with a voice in the companies you invest in.

The Shareholders’ Rights Directive II (SRD II) empowers minority shareholders to actively participate in corporate governance, ensuring their rights are safeguarded and their voices heard.

Under SRD II, you have the right to:

  • Receive timely notices for general meetings and essential information
  • Participate in voting processes without restrictions
  • Use proxy voting and stewardship

However, many shareholders continue to face challenges. A study conducted by BETTER FINANCE & DSW in 2022 revealed that less than half of shareholders were able to vote at AGMs, and nearly two-thirds had to actively seek out AGM information.

If you want to learn more about your rights and roles as an European shareholder, check our educational post.

Digital Finance

Are neobrokers too good to be true for European investors?

What do platforms like TradeRepublic, Revolut, DEGIRO, BitPanda, and eToro have in common? They are neobrokers or offer digital brokerage services, making investing more accessible and affordable for retail investors across the EU.

However, they can differ significantly in their operations and product offerings. Some provide riskier financial products, while their business models and pricing structures can affect execution quality, influence retail investor behaviour, and impact investment outcomes.

As a technology innovation in retail investing, neobrokers provide accessible and cost-effective entry points into financial markets. Yet, , despite their benefits, neobrokers present certain challenges for retail investors and the broader market. Slide through the carousel to explore the main challenges faced by EU investors using neobrokers.

Read our in-depth article on neobrokers, or check our educational post for a concise wrap-up.

Sustainable Finance

What are the main sustainable investing strategies for a better planet?

Climate change affects public finance systems around the globe, and retail investors are increasingly concerned about making their investment work for both their financial future and the well-being of the planet.

In BETTER FINANCE’s recent educational and advocacy campaign, 86% of retail investors across Europe aim to grow their capital in ways that combat climate change or benefit the environment.

As more retail investors take an interest in sustainable investing practices, the question lies in how this can be materialised. In reality, there are several strategies you can utilise.

Check our educational post to learn how you can make a difference with your investment!

Curious about how your investments can support a greener future?

Check out the Green Corner, your gateway to responsible investing!

BETTER FINANCE’s Green Corner is a go-to hub for understanding sustainable investing and how it affects individual investors. There, you will find:

Explanations of key terms like ESG, including an extensive sustainability glossary;

Deep-dive on sustainable investing;

Essential tools for sustainable investing;

Key resources to enhance your sustainable investing journey.

Visit BETTER FINANCE’s Green Corner. 

Are You a Visual Learner?

Check our investor education videos. Here, you can find animated videos on various topics, deep dives on the basics of investing, as well as recordings of discussions and speeches from our conferences.

Explore investor education videos

Explore Investor Education Across Europe

Browse our interactive map in which you can find national initiatives throughout the EU aimed at improving financial literacy and empowering retail investors.

Discover the initiatives