Long-Term Investing: Practical Principles

Long-term investing can ultimately change your life. But before you start, it’s essential to understand how money loses value over time — and how inflation, fees, and taxes can shape your financial future. Many people see large future sums and get excited, but often forget to consider real money value, taxes, and inflation — which can make those amounts much smaller in today’s terms.

This course helps you plan your investments in today’s real money value, so you can make smarter, more realistic financial decisions and build long-term wealth with confidence, clarity, and practical strategies. You’ll get a clear, beginner-friendly introduction to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs — the classic, time-tested investment instruments that have helped millions of people grow their savings over time. With a downloadable Excel investing and financial planning tool, you’ll learn how to calculate realistic returns, set achievable goals, and understand what really drives sustainable long-term growth — without complex math or financial jargon.

Created for an international audience, this course focuses on universal investing principles — not on any single country’s financial products. No prior investing knowledge is required — just curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to learn step by step at your own pace. Taught by Al Zailskas, an economist with over 12 years of experience in banking, insurance, and real-estate investments, including working with institutional portfolios totaling around €700 million.