Thanks to compound interest, €100/month invested at 7% for 30 years grows to ~€113,000. Start 10 years later and you only get ~€51,000.
Invest a fixed amount on a regular schedule regardless of market conditions. You buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when prices are high.
Fees eat into returns. A fund charging 2% annually vs. 0.1% can cost you tens of thousands over a lifetime. Prefer low-cost index funds and ETFs.
Fear causes panic-selling at market lows. Greed causes buying at peaks. Stick to your plan.
If stocks surge and represent 80% of your portfolio (up from 60%), sell some and buy bonds to restore your target allocation.
Keep 3–6 months of living expenses in a liquid, safe account before investing.