How to Trade Shares and ETFs on Investfora
A practical guide to buying and selling shares and ETFs through Investfora's trading account, and what to consider before you start.
What you can trade and how it works
Investfora gives you access to a trading account where you can buy and sell shares, ETFs, currencies, indices and commodities. The account is funded from your Investfora cash balance, which you build by transferring euros from your bank. Once money lands in your account—usually one to three working days after your transfer—you can move it into trading whenever you choose.
Trading happens on a dedicated platform. You can use Windows software, an Android app, or a web trader that opens inside your Investfora account. Whichever you pick, you see live prices and can execute trades in seconds. The trades you make are separate from your other investments.
The broker provides the trading platform and prices. When you buy a share, you own it; when you sell it, the cash goes back to your Investfora balance. You are in control of every decision. Investfora does not give advice or recommend what to trade.
The difference between shares and ETFs
A share is a piece of ownership in a single company. When you buy shares in a retailer, a bank, or a technology firm, you own a small part of that business. The value of your shares moves with the company's fortunes and the market's view of its prospects. If the company does well and grows, the share price may rise.
An ETF is a fund that holds many shares, or many bonds, or a mix of assets, all bundled together. Instead of picking individual companies, you buy a fund that tracks, say, the top one hundred European companies, or all the firms in a particular industry, or gold prices. ETFs spread your money across many holdings at once.
The choice between the two is personal. Some people prefer the simplicity of an ETF that tracks a broad market. Others enjoy researching individual companies and building a portfolio of shares they believe in. Many do both. On Investfora you can trade either, or both, from the same account.
Getting started: moving money and placing a trade
Before you can trade, you need cash in your Investfora account. Open your dashboard and you will see a unique bank transfer reference. Use that reference to send euros from your bank to Investfora. The minimum first deposit is EUR 250. After that, you can transfer any amount.
Now you decide how much of that balance to move into trading. You do this inside your account. It takes just a moment; the money moves from your Investfora balance to your trading account, and you are ready to trade.
Once money is in your trading account, you open the trading platform. Search for the share or ETF you want—by name or ticker symbol. Check the current price, decide how many shares or how much of the fund you want to buy, and place your order. It executes at the next available price. Your purchase appears on your account screen immediately.
Things to think about before you trade
Trading shares and ETFs means the value of your investment can go down as well as up. You may get back less than you put in. This is particularly true over short time periods. Markets move constantly, driven by news, economic data, company results, and the collective decisions of millions of traders.
Think about your time horizon. If you need the money in three months, trading may not suit you, because short-term price swings could mean you are forced to sell at a loss. If you are comfortable holding for years, and can accept that some holdings may fall before they rise, trading becomes more feasible.
Costs matter. Trading incurs fees—typically a commission per trade or a spread (the difference between buy and sell prices). ETFs charge an ongoing fee, usually small, which is deducted from the fund's value. Frequent trading can erode returns because you pay costs on every transaction. If you trade often, your costs will be higher than if you buy occasionally and hold.
Doing your own research
Investfora does not tell you what to buy. That means the responsibility is yours. Before you trade a share, learn about the company. Read its latest financial results, understand what it does, and think about whether the current share price seems reasonable given its prospects. Ask yourself: would I want to own this business at this price?
For ETFs, know what is inside. An ETF that tracks the top 100 European companies is very different from one that bets on technology stocks rising sharply. One is broad and stable; the other is narrow and volatile. Read the fund's fact sheet. Understand its strategy, its holdings, and its costs. Only then decide if it fits your goals.
Use free research tools and financial news. Company websites publish financial statements. Exchanges publish price charts and data. Financial websites explain market moves and company news. You do not need to be an expert, but you do need to think carefully before risking your money. The more you read and learn, the better your decisions will be.
Building a balanced approach
Many people do not put all their money into trading. Investfora lets you split your cash between different investments on the same platform. You might put some into a fixed-term deposit with a bank, earning a known rate for an agreed term. You might lend to real businesses and earn interest from them. You might hold some cash for emergencies.
This spread reduces risk. A deposit is predictable and your money is covered by the bank's country's deposit-guarantee scheme up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank. Business lending is higher risk but offers real returns. Trading shares and ETFs is volatile but offers growth potential and liquidity—you can sell quickly if you need cash.
Think of your overall plan before you start. How much can you afford to lose without hardship? How long can you leave money invested? What are you trying to achieve—growth, income, or both? Once you have answers, building a portfolio across deposits, lending, and trading becomes clearer. You control every decision, and every pound of your money is visible on your dashboard.
Getting started today
Opening an Investfora account takes minutes. You provide basic details, verify your identity, and you are in. Your dashboard shows your cash balance, your investments, and everything you own in one place. There is no pressure to invest immediately. You can open an account, explore the platform, read about shares and ETFs, and move at your own pace.
When you are ready, make your first deposit of at least EUR 250. Use the reference shown in your dashboard. Within one to three working days, the money arrives and becomes your Investfora balance. Move some into trading, open the trading platform, and start learning.
Remember: the value of your investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invested. Trading shares and ETFs is not guaranteed to make money. But if you do your research, think carefully, and take time to learn, you give yourself the best chance of building wealth over time. Investfora gives you the tools and the platform.
Open an account
Deposit euros when you are ready and choose what they do next. You can start with one thing and add others later.
Written for Investfora, part of LIFT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SGEIC SA, CNMV register no. 244. This article is general information, not advice or a recommendation. The value of investments and crypto assets can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.
