Access to equity market data is essential for “retail” investors to make informed investment decisions. However, new research by BETTER FINANCE found that online equity market data published by the four largest EU equity markets in 2019 are de facto not or just partially accessible to non-professional users. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

Robo-advisors are online platforms that use artificial intelligence or algorithms to process information on clients’ investment preferences, risk tolerance and loss-absorption capacity, to determine an investor profile and make a personalised and often product-specific investment recommendation. This research shows the wide range of benefits that come with Robo-advice, such as considerably lower fees, increased accessibility

This study is part of the BETTER FINANCE #FundResearch project, a research activity aimed at providing qualitative and quantitative assessments of the EU market for “retail” investment funds, focusing on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). This paper looks into the market for European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFs)

The annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) is the cornerstone for sound corporate governance. It is through the shareholders’ vote at the AGM that board members’ actions get legitimacy and validity. However, it is not only voting that takes place at an AGM. The shareholders’ meeting is the only place where directors must report to

The Real Return 2019 – Austria The Real Return 2019 – Belgium The Real Return 2019 – Bulgaria The Real Return 2019 – Croatia The Real Return 2019 – Denmark The Real Return 2019 – Estonia The Real Return 2019 – France The Real Return 2019 – Germany The Real Return 2019 – Italy The

BETTER FINANCE published the eighth edition of its “The Real Return – Long-term and Pension Savings – 2020 Edition”. Download the report in English for free here. Should you like to order a physical copy please contacts us at info@betterfinance.eu. This year there is also a simplified booklet of the Pensions Report with the main

For the fourth year in a row BETTER FINANCE took a closer look at the emerging robo-advisory business from the perspective of individual investors and savers. This year 16 platforms found their way into the study: 11 platforms from EU countries and 5 from North America. In addition, we compared the results obtained from this

Besides addressing crucial environmental and social issues, the concept of sustainable finance should translate into investment products that are exemplary in complying with EU investor protection, governance and conduct of business rules. An investment can be as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ as you like, individual investors as long-term and pension savers will not entrust their lifetime