Getting started
How to start investing, one decision at a time
Check your finances, understand the risks, compare providers and work through your first investment checklist.
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A clearer understanding of investing. Practical guides, company stories and the questions worth asking.
Start here / Getting started
How to start investing, one decision at a time.
From checking your finances to making your first purchase. Begin with what matters, without feeling you need to learn everything at once.
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32 articles
Themes and sectors
Investing in AI: a beginner’s guide to the theme
What investing in artificial intelligence actually means, which kinds of companies are involved, how to get exposure through shares or funds, and the risks of following a popular theme.
Read articleThemes and sectors
Stock market sectors explained for beginners
The main stock market sectors in plain English, from technology and healthcare to energy and banks, how they behave in different economies, and why spreading across sectors matters.
Read articleInvesting by region
European stocks for beginners: what to know
An introduction to investing in European companies: the main stock exchanges and indices, well-known European businesses, how currencies affect returns and how to get broad exposure.
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UK stocks and the FTSE 100, explained for beginners
What the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 are, the kinds of companies listed in London, why UK shares are known for dividends, and how beginners can get exposure.
Read articleChoosing investments
How to choose investments as a beginner
A plain-English way to decide what to invest in: start from your goal, understand the business, check quality, growth, value, sentiment and risk, and avoid common red flags.
Read articleManaging your portfolio
How to understand and manage your investments
Learn how to review a portfolio as a beginner: diversification, concentration, risk, costs and when to rebalance, explained in plain English with simple examples.
Read articleInvesting by region
How to start investing in Ireland
A plain-English guide to starting investing in Ireland: what to check with a broker, the Central Bank register, costs, Irish tax responsibilities and where to get official help.
Read articleInvesting by region
How to start investing in Europe
A plain-English guide to investing from anywhere in the EU: choosing a regulated broker, UCITS ETFs, currency costs, investor protection and checking your own country's tax rules.
Read articleInvesting by region
How to start investing in the UK
A plain-English guide to starting investing in the UK: checking the FCA register, Stocks and Shares ISAs, fees, FSCS protection and where to find official help.
Read articleGetting started
Investing basics: the ideas every beginner needs
Investing basics in plain English: what investing is, shares, funds and ETFs, risk and return, compounding, diversification and fees, before you put money in.
Read articleChoosing investments
How to invest in index funds as a beginner
What index funds and ETFs are, how to compare them by index, cost and structure, how to buy one through an authorised broker, and the tax points to check in Ireland and Europe.
Read articleGetting started
How much money do you need to start investing?
You can often start investing with a small amount. Learn what to sort out first, how fees affect small amounts, and how regular investing helps beginners build up over time.
Read articleGlossary
Investing terms, in plain English
Shares, ETFs, dividends, diversification and more: understand the words you meet as you learn.
Read articleCompany explainers
Apple stock, explained for beginners
Apple designs the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods, and runs services such as the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music and Apple Pay.
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Microsoft stock, explained for beginners
Microsoft makes Windows and Microsoft 365, runs the Azure cloud platform, owns LinkedIn and GitHub, and makes Xbox.
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NVIDIA stock, explained for beginners
NVIDIA designs graphics processors (GPUs) and the software around them, used for gaming, data centres and training artificial-intelligence models.
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Amazon stock, explained for beginners
Amazon runs a global online shop and marketplace, the AWS cloud platform, Prime subscriptions, advertising and devices such as Kindle and Echo.
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Alphabet (Google) stock, explained for beginners
Alphabet is Google's parent company. It runs Google Search, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Google Cloud and other projects such as Waymo.
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Meta Platforms stock, explained for beginners
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, and develops virtual-reality headsets and AI models.
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Tesla stock, explained for beginners
Tesla makes electric cars, battery storage systems and solar products, and develops driver-assistance software.
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Coca-Cola stock, explained for beginners
Coca-Cola owns drinks brands such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Costa Coffee and smartwater, sold in almost every country.
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Ryanair stock, explained for beginners
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline group flying across Europe, including Ryanair, Buzz, Lauda and Malta Air.
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CRH stock, explained for beginners
CRH, founded in Ireland, supplies building materials such as cement, aggregates, asphalt and concrete products, mainly in North America and Europe.
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ASML stock, explained for beginners
ASML, based in the Netherlands, builds the lithography machines that chipmakers use to print circuits onto silicon wafers.
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Novo Nordisk stock, explained for beginners
Novo Nordisk, based in Denmark, develops medicines for diabetes and obesity, as well as treatments for rare diseases.
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Visa stock, explained for beginners
Visa runs a global card payments network that connects shoppers, shops and banks. It does not lend money to cardholders itself.
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Johnson & Johnson stock, explained for beginners
Johnson & Johnson develops prescription medicines and makes medical devices used in surgery, heart care and eye care.
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SAP stock, explained for beginners
SAP makes software that large organisations use to run finance, purchasing, supply chains, HR and other core operations, increasingly delivered as cloud subscriptions.
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LVMH stock, explained for beginners
LVMH owns luxury brands across fashion and leather goods, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewellery, and selective retail.
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AstraZeneca stock, explained for beginners
AstraZeneca discovers, develops and sells prescription medicines, with a large focus on cancer, cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory and rare diseases.
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Nestlé stock, explained for beginners
Nestlé makes and sells food and drink worldwide, including coffee, pet food, infant and medical nutrition, confectionery and bottled water.
Read articleOur articles are educational, not personal financial, tax or investment advice. Investing involves risk and you can lose money. Check current provider terms and local rules before acting.