What Myths Were Dispelled After Starting to Invest?
People who haven't yet invested but are considering it often experience anxiety – will they have enough knowledge, how much will they realistically earn, and will their money disappear? The crowdfunding platform "Röntgen" asked its investor community what thoughts they had before starting, which myths were proved to be true, and which were dispelled.
At the beginning of the year, "Röntgen", together with the KOG Institute of Marketing and Communication Sciences, conducted an anonymous survey of the platform's investors. One of the most interesting findings from this study was that investors who had not yet tried the platform considered real estate purchases and stocks to be the most attractive investments. However, among respondents already actively using "Röntgen", real estate crowdfunding emerged as the clear leader, significantly outshining real estate purchases, stocks, funds, peer-to-peer lending, ETFs, deposits, and other investment instruments in terms of attractiveness.
These results prompted the "Röntgen" team to directly ask their investors about their investment motivations, as well as the beliefs that were confirmed or debunked.
One of the most interesting debunked myths was shared by Ausra Tartiliene, who works in a managerial, yet employed, position. She said that for a long time, she believed that the only goal in life was to earn more, and that this would ensure financial well-being. However, at one point, she realized that her type of income is the most heavily taxed and could theoretically disappear at any time.
"This realization forced me to understand that I need to create passive income based on accumulated and accumulating assets, which would at least partially replace or supplement active income. I made a simple calculator, set passive income goals, and started moving forward. Of course, there were fears of losing funds, choosing the wrong investment tools or amounts. But now it seems paradoxical that I wasn't at all afraid of the depreciation of the money I had," says A. Tartiliene.
She says she previously only kept deposits and never considered real estate an attractive investment due to unsatisfactory rental returns. After starting to invest more actively, A. Tartiliene tried peer-to-peer lending platforms, dividend-paying stocks, and bonds. Later, she replaced peer-to-peer lending platforms with real estate crowdfunding, and further supplemented her portfolio with a fund for informed investors, ETFs, and other investment funds. Over time, the investor says she gained a more systematic approach, financial discipline, and began to take a greater interest in books, seminars, and communities related to investing – all of which gradually reduced her anxiety and increased her confidence in her decisions.
"Through my investment journey, I realized several important truths. First of all, no one cares more about your money than you do, so you can listen to all the advice, but in the end, you have to choose, learn, think, and act on your own. Also, I understood that you should never risk the principal amount – you can lose the earnings, but not the investment itself. Moreover, collateral worth double the loan amount is the best protection for the investment. Finally, greed must be managed ruthlessly, fear wisely, and you must take a step forward every day, without exception and with pleasure," explains the investor.
When talking about real estate crowdfunding, she says she prefers large and liquid projects – these factors are more important to A. Tartiliene than the return rate. She likes the platforms as a convenient tool for beginners and those who want to start investing with small amounts. Speaking about a specific platform, she recommends paying attention to the operator's transparency, professional process management, and open and timely communication with investors.
Investor and entrepreneur Vytautas Syvys made his first investment at the age of 18, just before the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The biggest myth that was dispelled during his several years of investment experience is related to the differences between investing and speculating.
"My first investment was leveraged bonds, and a week later, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and the U.S. financial market crashed. It felt like I had entered a madhouse, but this way I quickly learned about investing from mistakes. Later, I tried various products: stocks, ETFs, government bonds, private debt, investment life insurance, real estate, etc. I got burned with Greek bonds but made even more from oil with the same leverage. It was a rollercoaster of a life, lacking stability, and that was very unsettling. Eventually, I realized what I was doing wrong – it turns out there's a fundamental difference between investing and speculating," says V. Syvys.
According to him, speculation is trying to profit from market fluctuations, but it is often accompanied by emotions and biases that outweigh rational calculations and ultimately lead to losses.
"Eventually, I realized that a true investor leads a boring life and makes precisely those boring decisions that generate significant added value in the future. It's no coincidence that W. Buffett said the first rule of investing is to never lose money. Passive income may not generate astronomical returns, but it provides enough freedom and security to realize oneself. It generates additional capital, which may not seem very significant today, but over 10-15 years, without rushing, it creates a significant part of wealth. It all comes down to risk and its premium," comments the investor.
Didn't Think It Was Accessible to Everyone
Of course, among "Röntgen" investors, there are not only entrepreneurs and managers. For example, Justas Spakauskas, a high school student, is probably the youngest platform investor, having just turned 18 this year. He says he became interested in investing at the age of 15, but at that time, he was convinced that one could only invest in stocks or the then-popular cryptocurrencies. As he approached adulthood, he became interested in finance and learned about instruments such as ETFs, bonds, peer-to-peer lending, and real estate crowdfunding.
"When I was 15, I asked my parents what they thought about investing. Like many, they said it was only for millionaires or practicing finance experts. I didn't believe that even then and was sure that all it took was curiosity. It's amazing that nowadays, all the information about investment instruments, diversification, risks, returns, etc., is available at the click of a button. But even after I started learning, I was sure that investing only paid off over decades and that the best choice was long-term, well-performing company stocks. This belief was shattered when I discovered real estate crowdfunding with 6-12% returns, investment periods of just 6-12 months, and small amounts as low as 100 Euros, which are attractive to small investors," comments J. Spakauskas.
The myth of needing large sums was also dispelled for Vygantas Dumskis, who works in an employed position. After long hesitation and doubt, he began his investment journey with investment life insurance and later discovered real estate crowdfunding.
"You definitely don't need large sums; you can invest periodically by allocating a small amount each month. You don't need to be a finance expert either – projects are described in detail, and there is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and experience. This way of investing has really drawn me in, helped me become more frugal, and more accurately plan my finances and expenses. Now, before spending money, I think – do I really need this? Maybe it's better to allocate the money to an investment in a real estate project? I think that by investing, I am increasing my financial knowledge and feel safer by 'smartly' setting aside money for the future," says V. Dumskis.
Amounts Increased and Priorities Changed
Some other "Röntgen" investors agreed to share their experiences only anonymously. For example, a resident of Vilnius County says that she previously considered buying real estate the most attractive investment, but she didn't have the necessary amount of money for it. After discovering crowdfunding, she was worried about the complexity of the process, but in reality, it turned out to be very simple. After trying the platform with smaller amounts, she gradually increased them and even caught a certain thrill of allocating free money to investments instead of consumption. Eventually, the woman was worried about the, in her opinion, not short 12-month investment period in case she needed the money urgently. However, over time, she noticed that after investing in many projects, loans are constantly being repaid throughout the year, so if she needs funds, she can simply skip reinvesting once.
Another investor from Vilnius reveals that at one point he realized that he had no savings, let alone investments. This greatly alarmed him when the war broke out, so he started researching and investing small amounts in various products: stocks, funds, real estate crowdfunding, and more. Now, the Vilnius resident is pleased with his growing experience, knowledge, and portfolio, and regrets not starting to invest earlier.
When it comes to anxiety and small amounts, another investor says that at first, he was anxious about making even a 100 Euro investment, but over time, the amounts invested grew 10-20 times. He understands that risks remain in any investment, but he feels "99% calm" about his portfolio.
Finally, another investor who wished to remain anonymous says that he used to spend his free funds on consumption, but over time, he decided to manage his finances more responsibly and systematically. This way, he began to take an active interest in finance, discovered instruments such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and ETFs, and as one of the tools for portfolio diversification and liquidity, he also uses deposits, which have recently started offering non-zero interest rates.
According to Greta Zarembiene, Head of Investor Relations at "Röntgen", all these stories illustrate and confirm the most important investment advice: the most important thing is to start.
"Crowdfunding has many advantages for first-time buyers: an easy and transparent process, low minimum amounts, initial mortgages as security, short terms and quarterly interest payments. However, we still encourage investors to diversify - through different projects, geographies, platforms and investment tools. The most important thing is that someone interested in investing simply takes the first practical steps. This is what will provide the most experience, help identify priorities and encourage further interest. And then it will be much easier to make further decisions that are best for everyone," says G. Zarembiene.
What Myths Were Dispelled After Starting to Invest?
People who haven't yet invested but are considering it often experience anxiety – will they have enough knowledge, how much will they realistically earn, and will their money disappear? The crowdfunding platform "Röntgen" asked its investor community what thoughts they had before starting, which myths were proved to be true, and which were dispelled.
At the beginning of the year, "Röntgen", together with the KOG Institute of Marketing and Communication Sciences, conducted an anonymous survey of the platform's investors. One of the most interesting findings from this study was that investors who had not yet tried the platform considered real estate purchases and stocks to be the most attractive investments. However, among respondents already actively using "Röntgen", real estate crowdfunding emerged as the clear leader, significantly outshining real estate purchases, stocks, funds, peer-to-peer lending, ETFs, deposits, and other investment instruments in terms of attractiveness.
These results prompted the "Röntgen" team to directly ask their investors about their investment motivations, as well as the beliefs that were confirmed or debunked.
One of the most interesting debunked myths was shared by Ausra Tartiliene, who works in a managerial, yet employed, position. She said that for a long time, she believed that the only goal in life was to earn more, and that this would ensure financial well-being. However, at one point, she realized that her type of income is the most heavily taxed and could theoretically disappear at any time.
"This realization forced me to understand that I need to create passive income based on accumulated and accumulating assets, which would at least partially replace or supplement active income. I made a simple calculator, set passive income goals, and started moving forward. Of course, there were fears of losing funds, choosing the wrong investment tools or amounts. But now it seems paradoxical that I wasn't at all afraid of the depreciation of the money I had," says A. Tartiliene.
She says she previously only kept deposits and never considered real estate an attractive investment due to unsatisfactory rental returns. After starting to invest more actively, A. Tartiliene tried peer-to-peer lending platforms, dividend-paying stocks, and bonds. Later, she replaced peer-to-peer lending platforms with real estate crowdfunding, and further supplemented her portfolio with a fund for informed investors, ETFs, and other investment funds. Over time, the investor says she gained a more systematic approach, financial discipline, and began to take a greater interest in books, seminars, and communities related to investing – all of which gradually reduced her anxiety and increased her confidence in her decisions.
"Through my investment journey, I realized several important truths. First of all, no one cares more about your money than you do, so you can listen to all the advice, but in the end, you have to choose, learn, think, and act on your own. Also, I understood that you should never risk the principal amount – you can lose the earnings, but not the investment itself. Moreover, collateral worth double the loan amount is the best protection for the investment. Finally, greed must be managed ruthlessly, fear wisely, and you must take a step forward every day, without exception and with pleasure," explains the investor.
When talking about real estate crowdfunding, she says she prefers large and liquid projects – these factors are more important to A. Tartiliene than the return rate. She likes the platforms as a convenient tool for beginners and those who want to start investing with small amounts. Speaking about a specific platform, she recommends paying attention to the operator's transparency, professional process management, and open and timely communication with investors.
Investor and entrepreneur Vytautas Syvys made his first investment at the age of 18, just before the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The biggest myth that was dispelled during his several years of investment experience is related to the differences between investing and speculating.
"My first investment was leveraged bonds, and a week later, Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and the U.S. financial market crashed. It felt like I had entered a madhouse, but this way I quickly learned about investing from mistakes. Later, I tried various products: stocks, ETFs, government bonds, private debt, investment life insurance, real estate, etc. I got burned with Greek bonds but made even more from oil with the same leverage. It was a rollercoaster of a life, lacking stability, and that was very unsettling. Eventually, I realized what I was doing wrong – it turns out there's a fundamental difference between investing and speculating," says V. Syvys.
According to him, speculation is trying to profit from market fluctuations, but it is often accompanied by emotions and biases that outweigh rational calculations and ultimately lead to losses.
"Eventually, I realized that a true investor leads a boring life and makes precisely those boring decisions that generate significant added value in the future. It's no coincidence that W. Buffett said the first rule of investing is to never lose money. Passive income may not generate astronomical returns, but it provides enough freedom and security to realize oneself. It generates additional capital, which may not seem very significant today, but over 10-15 years, without rushing, it creates a significant part of wealth. It all comes down to risk and its premium," comments the investor.
Didn't Think It Was Accessible to Everyone
Of course, among "Röntgen" investors, there are not only entrepreneurs and managers. For example, Justas Spakauskas, a high school student, is probably the youngest platform investor, having just turned 18 this year. He says he became interested in investing at the age of 15, but at that time, he was convinced that one could only invest in stocks or the then-popular cryptocurrencies. As he approached adulthood, he became interested in finance and learned about instruments such as ETFs, bonds, peer-to-peer lending, and real estate crowdfunding.
"When I was 15, I asked my parents what they thought about investing. Like many, they said it was only for millionaires or practicing finance experts. I didn't believe that even then and was sure that all it took was curiosity. It's amazing that nowadays, all the information about investment instruments, diversification, risks, returns, etc., is available at the click of a button. But even after I started learning, I was sure that investing only paid off over decades and that the best choice was long-term, well-performing company stocks. This belief was shattered when I discovered real estate crowdfunding with 6-12% returns, investment periods of just 6-12 months, and small amounts as low as 100 Euros, which are attractive to small investors," comments J. Spakauskas.
The myth of needing large sums was also dispelled for Vygantas Dumskis, who works in an employed position. After long hesitation and doubt, he began his investment journey with investment life insurance and later discovered real estate crowdfunding.
"You definitely don't need large sums; you can invest periodically by allocating a small amount each month. You don't need to be a finance expert either – projects are described in detail, and there is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and experience. This way of investing has really drawn me in, helped me become more frugal, and more accurately plan my finances and expenses. Now, before spending money, I think – do I really need this? Maybe it's better to allocate the money to an investment in a real estate project? I think that by investing, I am increasing my financial knowledge and feel safer by 'smartly' setting aside money for the future," says V. Dumskis.
Amounts Increased and Priorities Changed
Some other "Röntgen" investors agreed to share their experiences only anonymously. For example, a resident of Vilnius County says that she previously considered buying real estate the most attractive investment, but she didn't have the necessary amount of money for it. After discovering crowdfunding, she was worried about the complexity of the process, but in reality, it turned out to be very simple. After trying the platform with smaller amounts, she gradually increased them and even caught a certain thrill of allocating free money to investments instead of consumption. Eventually, the woman was worried about the, in her opinion, not short 12-month investment period in case she needed the money urgently. However, over time, she noticed that after investing in many projects, loans are constantly being repaid throughout the year, so if she needs funds, she can simply skip reinvesting once.
Another investor from Vilnius reveals that at one point he realized that he had no savings, let alone investments. This greatly alarmed him when the war broke out, so he started researching and investing small amounts in various products: stocks, funds, real estate crowdfunding, and more. Now, the Vilnius resident is pleased with his growing experience, knowledge, and portfolio, and regrets not starting to invest earlier.
When it comes to anxiety and small amounts, another investor says that at first, he was anxious about making even a 100 Euro investment, but over time, the amounts invested grew 10-20 times. He understands that risks remain in any investment, but he feels "99% calm" about his portfolio.
Finally, another investor who wished to remain anonymous says that he used to spend his free funds on consumption, but over time, he decided to manage his finances more responsibly and systematically. This way, he began to take an active interest in finance, discovered instruments such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and ETFs, and as one of the tools for portfolio diversification and liquidity, he also uses deposits, which have recently started offering non-zero interest rates.
According to Greta Zarembiene, Head of Investor Relations at "Röntgen", all these stories illustrate and confirm the most important investment advice: the most important thing is to start.
"Crowdfunding has many advantages for first-time buyers: an easy and transparent process, low minimum amounts, initial mortgages as security, short terms and quarterly interest payments. However, we still encourage investors to diversify - through different projects, geographies, platforms and investment tools. The most important thing is that someone interested in investing simply takes the first practical steps. This is what will provide the most experience, help identify priorities and encourage further interest. And then it will be much easier to make further decisions that are best for everyone," says G. Zarembiene.
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