Camille Van Vyve
20 Feb 2025
Money Stories: one million euros in 7 years for Anne, 54
Easyvest dives into its clients' portfolios to tell real investment stories. First episode: Anne, 54, who invested €10.000 in 2017 and who, thanks to her constant investment efforts, now finds herself at the head of capital of more than a million euros.
Investor profile
Anne*, 54 years old, married, employed by an international NGO
Initial investment: €10.000 in September 2017
Portfolio: 9
Current portfolio value: €1.040.000
Total invested over time: €645.000
Total profit: €395.000
How did you hear about Easyvest?
A friend recommended Easyvest to me because he knew one of the founders and was convinced by index investing. Personally, I didn’t know much about it—actually, I knew nothing at all!— But coming from someone I consider a "wolf of finance" that recommendation was enough to give me confidence, even though Easyvest had only been around for about a year at the time.
What was your goal when you started investing with us?
I've always worked in the humanitarian field, mostly as an expatriate abroad. At some point, I started earning a better salary—once you reach a certain level of experience, international organizations pay fairly well—but I realized that my pension rights would be minimal. So, I had no choice: I needed to build up capital for my future retirement.
Over the past seven years, you've made 95 deposits ranging from €500 to €50.000, averaging just over one deposit per month. Was this disciplined approach a conscious decision from the start?
Yes, because I knew the gap between my "acquired" pension and my retirement goals was significant, and I didn’t have a large amount to invest upfront. My strategy was to invest in line with my income flow.
Why such fluctuations in your deposit amounts? Do your earnings vary significantly over time?
I’m now a salaried employee, but I spent many years working on assignments, meaning there were gaps of three or four months between missions abroad. Since I didn’t have a fixed income, I couldn't commit to a regular investment schedule, and I had to keep a financial cushion for inactive periods. Today, my income is more stable, but I still maintain that flexibility. Sometimes, I transfer my 13th or 14th-month salary in one go, and then I might not invest for a longer period.
Have you ever considered liquidating your investments, or has the market ever scared you?
Like everyone else, I was a bit worried during the COVID crisis, but I held firm and didn’t touch my portfolio. I didn’t need that money at the time, so there was no reason to sell. Easyvest’s communication during that period was reassuring, as were my individual discussions with my wealth manager.
Do you have other investment portfolios elsewhere?
Yes, but with much smaller amounts. I also recently bought an apartment, but instead of selling part of my Easyvest portfolio, I preferred to cash out an underperforming life insurance policy—one with low risk and, therefore, low returns.
You chose portfolio 9, which has a high level of risk.
That’s what was recommended based on my situation and long-term goals, and I don’t regret it. During the COVID crisis, I considered opening a second, more defensive portfolio, but after discussing it with my manager, I decided against it, as it would also mean higher fees. We agreed that it would be better to keep investing in my portfolio 9 but to gradually reduce the risk level as I approach retirement.
What are the main reasons you would recommend Easyvest to others?
The biggest factor for me is the responsiveness of the management team. I always get clear, precise answers to my questions—almost instantly. As someone who tends to be anxious and impatient, that’s a key element of trust for me. Since I’m investing for my future retirement, it’s a serious matter—I’m putting my financial future into this investment, but I don’t want it to be a constant source of stress. In this regard, Easyvest’s management style is very reassuring: it’s transparent, efficient, and requires no financial expertise to understand.
Have your experiences elsewhere been less positive?
In my opinion—outside of Easyvest!—there are two types of investment managers: the large institutions where you’re just another anonymous client, and the wealth advisors who are constantly in seduction mode and charge you hefty fees. That lack of neutrality is something I find unbearable.
Finally, do you think Easyvest offers advantages for people with expatriate careers?
For me, absolutely. I’ve traveled extensively and accumulated small pension funds in multiple countries, often in foreign currencies, only to realize that I wouldn’t get much. Instead of having scattered investments, I consolidated those dormant funds and started actively investing, with Easyvest as my main partner. This has finally given me a clear and reassuring view of my financial future.
*For confidentiality reasons, an assumed first name was used when transcribing this interview.