Comparing Balanced and High-Risk Strategies Over 20 Years. Part#1

Building long-term financial stability is more than just investing — it requires structuring your money according to risk, goals, and liquidity needs. Many advisors recommend dividing investments into three layers:

  • Safe fund: extremely liquid, covers urgent needs (accessible within days or 1–2 weeks)
  • Medium fund: moderately liquid, accessible within 4–12 months, used for larger purchases or income protection
  • Risky fund: long-term growth, higher volatility, less liquid

This article compares two strategies for a young investor with modest income, no major family obligations, and the comfort of parental support in emergencies. We simulate 20 years of investing, including a financial crisis and post-crisis recovery.

Continue reading Comparing Balanced and High-Risk Strategies Over 20 Years. Part#1
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Fast, cheap, good – what to choose (p2p)

Article from 2015 with small update 2025

Every now and then someone asks me a simple question: “Where should I invest?”

It sounds easy, but the real answer depends on several factors that people often overlook.  To explain it, let’s start with something familiar. Continue reading Fast, cheap, good – what to choose (p2p)

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Tracking Investment Returns: A Practical Guide Using XIRR

Any investment platform eventually has to address one uncomfortable topic: a real return on investment (ROI). Comparing ROI across different platforms is rarely simple. There are several reasons for this.

Different platforms use different methods to calculate returns. These methods are usually documented and publicly available, but users still often complain that the results shown by platforms are too optimistic, for example:

  • Not adjusted for defaults or overdue loans.
    A platform may say “only one payment is late”, meaning they do not treat the entire loan as potentially defaulting — even though for the investor, the full principal is at risk.
  • Missing negative data or hiding losses.
    Some platforms ignore fees or other costs (transfer fees, service fees, currency losses). These still affect your true return, even if the platform excludes them from its calculations.
  • Calculated in a way that flatters the platform rather than reflects reality.
    Platforms rarely start their presentations with pessimistic scenarios.

Because of this, it’s up to us — the investors — to calculate realistic and comparable returns ourselves.

Continue reading Tracking Investment Returns: A Practical Guide Using XIRR

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What I Use for Investing and P2P Lending

P2P Lending Platforms

I use several peer-to-peer lending platforms focused mainly on unsecured loans. These platforms often offer referral bonuses for new investors within the first few months:

  • Finbee — A P2P platform primarily for unsecured loans. New investors get a 1.5% bonus on investments made within the first 60 days. Link to Finbee here
  • Savy — Another platform focusing on unsecured loans, offering a 1% bonus on your invested amount for the first 90 days. Link to sign up with Savy
  • Paskolu klubas — Specializes in unsecured loans with a 1% bonus for new investors during the initial 90 days. Link to register at Paskolu klubas
  • Lendermarket — Focuses on unsecured loans and has strong ties to the Estonian company Creditstar. They offer a 1% bonus on invested amounts for the first 90 days. Link to check out Lendermarket
  • Bondora — This is a “blackbox P2P” platform offering a stable 6-6.7% annual percentage rate (APR) and fast withdrawals, positioning itself as an alternative to a traditional savings account. Possible to explore Bondora here

(Information is valid for Dec 2025, amount invested per platform may be very different).

Investment Platforms

For broader investment options including ETFs, stocks, bonds, and savings plans, I use the following:

When I say “effective” I mean the possibility to buy, sell, or store securities for free, less, or max 1€ fee per transaction (information is valid for Dec 2025).

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. It is not intended to be used as a basis for any investment decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments. The author is not a licensed investment advisor and does not provide personalized investment recommendations. Readers should consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

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