About MyInvestAcademy
Markets move quickly. Good decisions usually do not.
MyInvestAcademy is an investing education website for readers who want to understand what they are buying before they commit money. We publish practical guides about stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrency, precious metals, real estate and the platforms used to access them.
The aim is simple: explain how an investment works, what it costs, what can go wrong and which questions are worth asking. Time horizon, risk tolerance, taxes and location all matter.
Why MyInvestAcademy exists
Financial information is everywhere, but much of it starts halfway through the conversation. A fund is called cheap without showing the full cost. A stock is labelled a bargain because its price fell. A crypto asset is discussed as if custody and volatility were minor details.
MyInvestAcademy starts earlier. We define the terms, show the tradeoffs and connect a product to the job it is meant to do. A beginner should be able to follow the explanation. A more experienced reader should still find the comparison useful.
The site is being built as a long term reference library. News can bring a reader in for one day. The evergreen guides are designed to remain useful after the headline has passed.
What you will find here
The library covers several parts of the investment market, but every section follows the same principle. Start with the decision, then work back to the product.
Stocks and ETFs
Learn how shares, indexes, dividends, valuation measures and exchange traded funds work. The guides compare broad market options with more focused strategies and explain where concentration, fees and expectations can trip investors up.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto involves more than a price chart. Our coverage looks at the asset, the network, the exchange or wallet used to hold it, and the risks that come with custody, regulation and sharp price moves.
Precious metals
Real estate
Real estate investing has its own language. We break down REITs, rental property analysis, financing, cap rates, cash flow and the practical differences between owning a building and buying a listed fund.
Brokers and investing platforms
A product can look attractive and still be a poor fit if the platform is expensive, unavailable in your country or weak on account protection. Broker content focuses on fees, market access, funding, withdrawals, tools and the restrictions readers need to know before opening an account.
How we research and write
Each page begins with a real reader question. Sometimes it is broad, such as how to start investing in ETFs. Sometimes it is specific, such as whether two funds that track the same index are genuinely interchangeable. The research follows the question rather than a fixed article template.
- Start with primary information. Company filings, fund documents, official fee schedules, regulator material and product documentation take priority over a marketing summary or a copied statistic.
- Separate facts from judgement. A stated fee, account rule or index methodology is a fact. A view on value, suitability or future returns needs context and should be presented as an assessment, not a certainty.
- Compare like with like. A broad global ETF should not be scored against a narrow technology fund as though both have the same job. The same applies to brokers that serve different countries or investor types.
- Make the downside visible. Costs, concentration, liquidity, custody, leverage, currency exposure and eligibility can matter as much as the headline benefit. They should not be hidden at the bottom of the page.
- Keep dates and assumptions clear. Rates, platform fees, product availability and market data change. Time sensitive details are dated so readers know what needs another check.
The finished article should answer the main question early, explain unfamiliar terms when they first appear and give the reader a sensible next step. Length is not the goal. Clarity is.
How reviews and comparisons work
A useful review needs more than a feature list. Depending on the product, we look at total costs, market access, account safeguards, funding and withdrawals, usability, customer support, regional availability and important limitations. The criteria change when the product changes.
Some pages compare providers or present a shortlist. A high position is not a promise that the product is right for everyone. Readers should check the country, account type, investment amount and intended use behind the comparison.
Product terms can change without much notice. We date commercial pages and update material details when they are reviewed, but the provider remains the final source for current fees, eligibility and legal terms.
How MyInvestAcademy is funded
Reading MyInvestAcademy is free. The site may earn revenue through advertising, affiliate links and sponsorships.
Sponsors can support MyInvestAcademy, but they do not choose which providers we test, list or recommend. We keep full editorial freedom to include any company and to report the results as we find them. Commercial relationships do not change test results, rankings or conclusions.
We do not sell positions in comparisons or accept payment in exchange for inclusion. When a sponsorship or affiliate relationship is relevant, it is disclosed clearly. An affiliate link may result in a commission when a reader signs up or completes a qualifying action, usually without changing the price paid by the reader. Commercial pages still need to make material fees, restrictions and risks easy to find.
Editorial freedom
Commercial relationships do not decide which providers are tested, listed or recommended. Sponsors do not alter test results, rankings or conclusions, and MyInvestAcademy does not sell positions in comparisons.
Meet Mark Verwoert
I founded MyInvestAcademy because investing is more than a professional interest to me. I believe everyone should have a fair chance to protect the value of their wealth against inflation, rising costs and the gradual loss of purchasing power.
I am the founder and majority shareholder of several companies, and I manage the investment portfolio of my holding company. My academic background includes private equity studies at Imperial College London.
My own investing experience spans stocks, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrency and precious metals. That breadth matters because I do not believe one asset class is right for every person, goal or market. Each investment needs to be judged by the role it can play, the risks it carries and how it fits within a wider portfolio.
That is the approach behind MyInvestAcademy. My aim is to explain investment choices clearly, show the tradeoffs and help readers make decisions they understand. I lead the site’s editorial direction, research priorities and publishing work. Specialist reviewers and contributors will be credited whenever their expertise is involved.
What MyInvestAcademy cannot do
No article can take account of your full financial situation. The content on this website is general education, not personalised investment, tax, accounting or legal advice.
Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and a product that suits one reader may be unsuitable for another. Do your own research and speak with a qualified professional when the decision calls for personal advice.
Corrections and feedback
Accuracy matters more than defending an old sentence. If you spot a factual error, an outdated fee, a broken link or a comparison that is unclear, tell us. Include the page URL and the detail that needs attention so it can be checked properly.
Where a correction is needed, the page should be updated promptly and the revised date should reflect the change. Questions, suggestions and partnership enquiries can also be sent through the contact page.
Where to Begin
Choose a Place to Start
You do not need to understand every asset class at once. Pick the area that matches the decision in front of you, learn the basics and move outward from there.
Stocks
Complete Stock Investing Guide
Understand how shares work, how companies are valued and how to approach dividends, risk and portfolio construction.
ETFs
ETF Investing Guide
Learn how exchange traded funds are built, what they hold, how fees work and how to compare funds with different jobs.
Crypto
Cryptocurrency Investing Guide
Start with the asset, custody and risk before moving to individual coins, exchanges and market narratives.
Precious Metals
Complete Gold Investing Guide
Compare physical gold, gold ETFs and mining shares, including the costs and risks that differ between them.
Real Estate
Real Estate Investing for Beginners
Work through REITs, rental property, financing, cash flow and the numbers used to judge a potential investment.
Take your time. A useful investment decision should still make sense after the urgency has worn off.