What is investing?
Investing means helping to shape the future. With your investment, you choose which companies and ideas you support and participate in their development. As a shareholder, you own stakes in the companies you invest in. You focus on the long-term and stay patient through market fluctuations and let your returns compound. With your investment decision you set a signal: for the future, for progress and for independence. You seize the opportunity to make a difference with your money – for your personal wealth-building and the economy in your region.
What can I invest in?
There are many opportunities on the stock market, the most important asset classes are stocks and bonds. By investing in stocks, you are providing equity capital. In return, you become a shareholder, gain voting rights and a share of the company’s profits (dividends). Bonds are debt capital: you lend your money to companies or governments and receive interest in return. Funds such as ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) bundle various stocks or bonds into a single product. This automatically diversifies your investment and reduces risk. Perfect for getting started. Begin with small amounts and steadily build up your wealth.
Where does the return come from?
Yields are created when we are willing to pay for products and services. Whether it is microchips, parcel delivery, electricity or housing construction: whenever a company provides genuine value, it creates wealth. And with that, profit. By investing, you participate directly. Your return comes from price gains and dividends. It shows how much you receive in relation to the capital invested and represents your stake in the company’s economic success. Stocks prices also reflect expectations about the future. The better a company performs and the more promising its prospects, the greater the return on your investment.
Savings interest vs. inflation – what do you actually get?
If inflation is higher than the interest rates on your savings account, your money loses value. You may receive interest, but you can afford less. Your savings grow more slowly than prices rise. Investing can help protect your money from losing value and increase it over the long-term. A broadly diversified equities portfolio is considered the safest and most profitable long-term investment – and therefore the most reliable protection against inflation.
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How do I open a securities account?
A securities account is like a digital home for your investments. It allows you to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and other financial instruments. Setting it up is easy: you can open an account with a bank or an online broker, often directly via a website or app. After registration and identity verification, you can deposit money and start investing. This is how you take your first step towards building wealth.
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How do I buy my first stock?
Anyone can buy stocks. All you need is a securities account, some initial capital and a basic understanding of how stock exchanges and markets work. Before you invest, ask yourself: What are your goals? How much risk are you comfortable with? How flexible do you want to remain? By following a few clear principles and investment guidelines, your first purchase becomes part of a long-term plan.
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How do I set up a savings plan?
Savings plan = investing on autopilot. You set it up directly in your securities account. For example, you select an ETF and the rest runs automatically. The best part: you can start with small amounts. And because ETFs invest in many companies at once, your portfolio is automatically diversified. This reduces your risk and offers stable returns over the long-term.
Austrian stocks
By investing in Austrian stocks, you place your trust in the strength of the domestic economy. Alongside with many others, you become a co-owner. The country’s leading companies are global players and an essential part of a well-balanced portfolio. In addition to potential price gains, many also offer annual dividends. With an average return of 6-7%, Austrian stocks combine stability with long-term potential.
ATX: How Austria's stock market is performing
The ATX (Austrian Traded Index) comprises the stocks of Austria's 20 largest listed companies. The index is considered a sentiment barometer of the domestic stock market. It shows in real-time how the most important Austrian equities are performing. The ATX Total Return is particularly significant: like the German DAX, it includes dividends and has recorded an average annual increase of around 7% since its launch.
Companies = People = Economy
There is more to every stock than just its price: behind it are people with ideas, courage and responsibilities. By investing, you support not only business models, but also the individual who drive them. Your investment makes a difference: for you, for others and for the economy. And it makes you part of a development that we all shape.
Private pension provision
Will the state pension be sufficient to maintain your standard of living in old age? That question leads more and more people in Austria to take precautions for the future and rely less on traditional savings accounts. Over the long term, stocks have outperformed every other asset class whether property, commodities or savings deposits. Those who start early lay the foundation for long-term financial freedom.
Sustainability & impact investing
You decide where your money goes. Whether it is climate protection, social justice or future technologies. You can invest in line with your values. Sustainability is more than a trend. Many investors want not only returns, but also to make a positive contribution to the environment, society and the economy of tomorrow. Numerous Austrian companies are already demonstrating responsibility and focusing on ESG criteria (Environment, Social, Governance). One thing remains important: even when investing sustainably, do not forget diversification to reduce risk.
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Knowledge
Financial education is your strongest tool when investing. You do not need to be an expert, but understanding the basics enables you to make better decisions and stay calm when prices fluctuate. Make sure you understand what you are investing in. Or get it properly explained to you. That way, you will recognise opportunities, assess risks and invest with confidence.
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Costs
Keep an eye on fees, as they can reduce your returns over time. Many ETFs are available with total expense ratios (TER) of less than 0.5% per year. Cost‑efficient products such as ETFs or savings plans help you invest efficiently and keep more of your returns. A small difference in costs today can make a big difference tomorrow.
