Investing is meant for the long term. There will be moments when the market value of your investments drops. Sometimes it simply takes time for those dips to recover.
It’s a shame if you need that money in the meantime and have to sell your investments at an unfavorable moment. That’s why you should only invest money you won’t need for a while. This allows you to wait out market dips and give your investments the chance to recover.
Never invest with borrowed money. If markets fall, you not only miss out on returns, you may also be left with debt.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"right","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/19462260-2145-4ac9-a5cf-1916ae94f86e/hamster","altTextEN":"Image of a hamster on a wheel","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4e6c5f48c82a2953/original/hamster.svg","extension":".svg"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"2. Spread your investments"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea — the same goes for investing. Spreading reduces risk. You can diversify across different types of investment instruments, such as stocks (Dutch only) and bonds, but also across sectors, countries, regions or themes.
Tip: Investing in ETFs or investment funds is an easy way to spread your risk across different assets, companies and regions.
Looking for a ready‑made solution for diversified investing? Try Easy invest. Prefer choosing from a wide selection of ETFs and funds yourself? Then Self Invest may be a better fit.
Timing the market is impossible. One way to avoid stressing about the “perfect moment to start” is by investing periodically instead of all at once.
By spreading your investments over several months (or even years), you automatically buy at both highs and lows. You can set up recurring investments manually or automate this within your investment account.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"right","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/a1751bbf-77cb-4d7e-9cac-90748465120e/calendarmonthnopadding","altTextEN":"A calendar month illustration","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/8b7cd5cb363c132/original/calendarmonthnopadding.svg","extension":"svg"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"4. Know what you’re investing in"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"It may sound obvious, but it’s important to understand what you’re investing in — even if it’s well-known companies or popular funds. Understanding your investments helps you make sense of price increases or decreases.
Does all of this feel overwhelming? Then Easy invest may be a good option. In your account you can clearly see which sectors, regions and instruments you’re invested in — without needing to analyze every detail yourself.
The costs of investment products
It’s also important to understand the costs of an investment. For example: Do you pay transaction fees when buying or selling? Are there fixed service or product fees? Costs influence your potential returns.
Note: Some investment products are complex and involve higher risks. This also means potential losses can be greater.
"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/particulier/beleggen/beleggen-bij-ing/risicos-van-beleggen-per-beleggingscategorie","text":"Read more about the risks per investment category (Dutch only)"}],"alignedImage":{"position":"left","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/ffd4179e-80c4-42c3-b51e-e38c1cd6263e/womanhappythumbok","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/3a06a39fa87972bb/original/womanhappythumbok.svg","extension":"svg"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Thinking about starting to invest?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"If you’re considering taking your first steps, we’re here to guide you. Our beginner’s roadmap explains what investing is, how to get started and which types of investing we offer.
"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/investing-for-beginners","text":"Everything about getting started with investing"}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Good to know"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Investing involves risks and costs. You may (partially) lose your investment amount. Read more about the risks of investing and how to limit them. And also view the Investment Terms and Conditions.
*This translation is intended for the customer’s convenience only. In the event of any inconsistency between the English translation and the original Dutch version, the original Dutch version shall prevail.
"}},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"See Also"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/investing-for-beginners","text":"Investing for beginners: tips and information"},{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/testimonials","text":"Investment testimonials"},{"url":"/en/personal/investing/sustainability","text":"Sustainable investing"},{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/rates","text":"Investing rates at ING"},{"url":"/en/personal/payments/bank-accounts/become-a-customer","text":"Open an account"}]}]}}}