A practical, end-to-end guide to ETF investing — what they actually are, how they work, and how to build a portfolio you can hold for decades. Built for self-directed investors who want clarity without jargon.
40 modules · ~7 hrs total · Self-paced · Beginner to intermediate
What you’ll learn
- Understand exactly what an ETF is — and how it differs from mutual funds, individual stocks, and index funds.
- Read an ETF factsheet like a pro and pick the right share class (accumulating vs distributing) for your situation.
- Build a long-term portfolio using just a handful of ETFs — three-fund, lazy, or factor-tilted.
- Navigate the tax rules that catch out most retail investors, including Netherlands Box 3, Germany’s Vorabpauschale, and US PFIC issues.
- Choose a broker, place orders correctly, and minimise the hidden costs that erode returns.
- Rebalance, dollar-cost average, and stay disciplined through market crashes.
- Evaluate thematic, ESG, leveraged and active ETFs — when they’re useful, when they’re hype.
- Build a low-maintenance system that compounds your wealth quietly for the next 20+ years.
Course curriculum
40 modules grouped into eight tracks. Click any module to read it (full content available to members).
01 — Foundations: what an ETF really is
- Module 1.1 — What an ETF actually is: the 60-second version
- Module 1.2 — A short history: from mutual funds to the ETF revolution
- Module 1.3 — The UCITS framework and why it matters for European investors
- Module 1.4 — The five things every ETF investor should know on day one
- Module 1.5 — Common myths and misconceptions about ETFs
02 — How ETFs actually work
- Module 2.1 — Inside the wrapper: shares, baskets, and NAV
- Module 2.2 — Creation and redemption: the mechanism that keeps prices honest
- Module 2.3 — Physical vs synthetic replication
- Module 2.4 — Tracking error and what to look for
- Module 2.5 — Liquidity: trading volume vs underlying liquidity
03 — Indexes and what’s inside the wrapper
- Module 3.1 — The big index families: MSCI, FTSE and S&P
- Module 3.2 — Market-cap weighting vs equal, fundamental and factor weighting
- Module 3.3 — Reading an ETF factsheet like a pro
- Module 3.4 — Sector, regional and country ETFs: when each makes sense
- Module 3.5 — ESG, SRI and thematic indexes: substance vs marketing
04 — Income mechanics and taxation
- Module 4.1 — Accumulating vs distributing share classes
- Module 4.2 — Dividend withholding tax and why ETF domicile matters
- Module 4.3 — Ireland vs Luxembourg domiciled ETFs
- Module 4.4 — Tax in the Netherlands: Box 3 explained
- Module 4.5 — Other jurisdictions: Germany, UK and the US PFIC trap
05 — Building a portfolio
- Module 5.1 — Asset allocation: stocks, bonds, alternatives
- Module 5.2 — The one-, two- and three-fund portfolios
- Module 5.3 — Lazy portfolios that work: Bogleheads, Permanent, All-Weather
- Module 5.4 — Adding factor tilts: value, quality, momentum, small-cap
- Module 5.5 — Home bias: should European investors own more Europe?
06 — Brokers, execution and costs
- Module 6.1 — Choosing a broker as a European retail investor
- Module 6.2 — TER, spreads and what total cost actually means
- Module 6.3 — Currency: hedged vs unhedged, FX cost
- Module 6.4 — Order types: limit vs market, and the danger of market-on-open
- Module 6.5 — Auto-invest and savings plans (Sparplan-style)
07 — Long-term management
- Module 7.1 — Rebalancing: when, how and how often
- Module 7.2 — Lump-sum vs dollar-cost averaging
- Module 7.3 — Tax-loss harvesting in jurisdictions where it matters
- Module 7.4 — Behavioural pitfalls and how to design around them
- Module 7.5 — What to do when markets crash
08 — Advanced topics and what’s next
- Module 8.1 — Bond ETFs: the misunderstood diversifier
- Module 8.2 — Thematic ETFs (AI, clean energy, robotics): why most underperform
- Module 8.3 — Leveraged and inverse ETFs: what they are and why most retail investors shouldn’t own them
- Module 8.4 — Active ETFs and the convergence with mutual funds
- Module 8.5 — Crypto ETFs: what to make of them in 2026 and beyond
Who is this for?
- DIY investors who want depth without jargon.
- Pension-builders and FIRE-pursuers planning multi-decade portfolios.
- Professionals who want to evaluate ETFs without relying on a financial advisor.
- Anyone who has bought an index fund and now wants to understand what they actually own.
No prior experience needed. If you’ve ever opened a brokerage account or thought about it, you have everything you need.
What’s included
- 40 video and text modules — watchable on any device
- Downloadable ETF screening templates and portfolio worksheets
- Tax-rule cheat sheets for the Netherlands, Germany, UK and US
- Curated reading list, updated as the field evolves
- Lifetime access for members — revisit any module any time
- Access to the People & Media community for portfolio discussions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any prior investing experience?
No. The Foundations track assumes nothing. If you can open a brokerage account, you can follow the entire course.
How long will it take to complete?
About seven hours of structured content. Most members work through it over two to four weeks at their own pace.
Will the course cover my country’s tax rules?
Track 4 covers the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States in detail, plus the general European framework. Tax content is reviewed and updated annually.
Do I need a paid broker or investment account to follow along?
No — you can complete the course without any open positions. We do walk through real broker interfaces in Track 6, but watching is enough.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is education. We explain how ETFs work and how investors think about portfolios; we don’t tell you what to buy. Investment decisions are yours.
How do I get access?
The course is included with the People & Media membership at €9.99 per month. Cancel any time. 30-day money-back guarantee.
