Olivier, 21, a bold and responsible investor 

Investor profile

Olivier, 21, student 
Initial investment: €37,500 in October 2024 
Portfolio: 10 
Current portfolio value: €35,992 

21 is young to start investing. How did you learn about the stock market? 

I’m currently in my third year of a business engineering degree at KUL, so finance and economics are naturally part of my studies. I’ve always had a strong interest in the stock market, the economy, and geopolitics. I also listen to a lot of investment podcasts. It’s a great way to stay updated on market trends—like knowing a company’s stock went up or down 3% because of a board decision. 

Being curious is one thing, but actually investing is another. 

True. Two years ago, a friend and I started doing a bit of stock picking through Revolut. It’s very easy to use, and you can buy fractional shares—which means you can invest in large companies without needing a lot of capital. It was a great experience, and those were good years. That’s how I caught the investing bug. 

But stock picking is the opposite of Easyvest’s philosophy… 

That’s true—and Easyvest came into the picture later, under very different circumstances. A year ago, my grandfather gave a financial gift to me and my cousins. As a student with no immediate need for that money, I saw it as a responsibility more than an opportunity. It felt very different from investing my own pocket money for fun. I wanted to take less risk with it. 

How did you find out about Easyvest? 

My dad was already a client and recommended I check it out. I ran a simulation, spoke with the investment team, and I was convinced. My thinking was that if I needed the money in five to ten years to buy an apartment, for example, I should minimize the risk of loss as much as possible. 

You currently have a portfolio 10, but your strategy shifted along the way… 

Yes, I initially chose a portfolio 7. But after some thought—and a discussion with another advisor on the team—I realized that five years is already a relatively long-term horizon. I’m young, I don’t have any dependents, and I felt comfortable with a bit more risk. Plus, I might not even need the money in five years. If I can move forward with my plans without it, I’ll leave it invested for longer. 

Do you plan to make regular contributions? 

Not at the moment, because I don’t have a steady income yet—just pocket money and the occasional student job. What I manage to save, I still invest actively. It keeps things fun and forces me to stay informed. But if I start underperforming, I might rethink my strategy! 

What does your active portfolio look like? 

It’s small and not very diversified—just 6 or 7 stocks, mostly U.S. tech companies. I’m clearly underexposed to European markets, but that’s kind of the nature of a portfolio like this. 

Is investing common among your peers, or more of an exception? 

It’s definitely the exception. Most of my friends have some money in savings, but they don’t know much about investing. For them, learning about the stock market and gaining confidence feels like climbing Everest three times in one day. Many just rely on their parents, who often park the family’s wealth with big institutions. That’s not exactly the best way to learn about investing—or to realize how high the fees at traditional banks can be.