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Learn to invest in ETFs

These guides teach you how to invest in ETFs from outside the US, starting from zero. Every piece is written in plain English, explains the jargon as it appears, and uses the same live fund data as the rest of the site. None of it is financial advice.

ETF basics

2 guides

Start here if terms like index fund and ETF still feel fuzzy.

Index funds vs ETFs: what is actually the difference?Index describes what a fund holds, ETF describes how you buy it, and most ETFs are index funds. What actually differs between index mutual funds and index ETFs, and which suits international investors.10 min read · Updated Jul 2026What is a UCITS ETF? The label on European funds, explainedPlain-English guide to what UCITS means on an ETF, why Irish-domiciled funds pay 15% US dividend tax instead of 30%, and the disadvantages to know.12 min read · Updated Jul 2026

Buying your first fund

5 guides

Step-by-step guides that take you from opening a broker account to a placed order.

How to invest in the S&P 500 (from outside the US)Step-by-step guide for non-US investors: how to buy a UCITS S&P 500 ETF like CSPX, VUAG or VUSA, pay 15% dividend tax instead of 30%, and avoid US estate tax.11 min read · Updated Jul 2026How to invest in gold (without buying bars)The practical way to own gold: physically-backed ETCs like SGLN, bought through your broker. What a gold ETC is, how to buy one step by step, and the costs and risks in plain English.9 min read · Updated Jul 2026Index funds in the UK: a beginner's guide to getting startedWhat index funds are, which indices UK investors track, and how to buy your first one, with real fund fees from 0.07% a year explained in plain English.13 min read · Updated Jul 2026How to invest in silver (without buying coins)The practical way to own silver: physically backed ETCs like SSLN, bought through your broker. We explain fees, UK VAT rules and risks in plain English.12 min read · Updated Jul 2026VOO UK equivalent: what to buy instead of VOO and SPYUS-listed ETFs like VOO and SPY are off limits to UK and EU investors under European fund rules. The Irish equivalents VUSA, VUAG and CSPX do the same job.13 min read · Updated Jul 2026

Dividends and taxes

2 guides

What happens to the cash your funds earn, and how to pick the right share class.

Accumulating vs distributing ETFs: which share class to pickSame fund, one difference: accumulating ETFs reinvest dividends automatically, distributing ETFs pay cash. How each works (VUAG vs VUSA), when each makes sense, and the tax nuances in plain words.10 min read · Updated Jul 2026US withholding tax in Singapore: paying 15% instead of 30%Singapore investors lose 30% of US dividends to withholding tax. Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs like CSPX pay 15% and sit outside US estate tax. Here is how.10 min read · Updated Jul 2026

Choosing your funds

1 guide

Head-to-head guides for the decisions every beginner faces: US or world, one fund or two.

FTSE All-World vs S&P 500: how beginners chooseFTSE All-World vs S&P 500 in plain English: what each fund holds, fees, overlap and live performance, plus a simple way for beginners to pick one and start.12 min read · Updated Jul 2026

Put it into practice

Reading only takes you so far, so when a guide clicks, try the ideas on real data. The investment calculator shows what a starting amount plus monthly contributions could grow into, the compare tool puts any two funds side by side on fees and performance, and the best ETF rankings list the cheapest fund for every major index.