If I Started Investing in 2026, This is What I Would Do
PensionCraft 15:57
30,441 views · 893 likes Watch on YouTube ↗
Starting to invest can feel overwhelming, but the gap between a comfortable retirement and a disappointing one usually comes down to a handful of early decisions, not fund-picking skill or luck. In this video I walk through exactly what I'd do if I were starting from scratch in the UK in 2026, covering which account to open first, how to choose a fund, how much to put in, and which platform makes sense at different portfolio sizes. If you're new to investing and want to get the foundations right from day one, this is where I'd start.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. This information is not investment advice. Do your own research. Other fees may apply.
Sponsored link. To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/join/RAMIN. Terms apply: https://www.trading212.com/legal-documentation/Invite-a-Friend-terms_EN.pdf
Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Trading 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface.
✔️ If you want to learn more about investing, why not become a pensioncraft.com member? To find what we offer and how you can join our friendly community click here https://www.pensioncraft.com/investor-education/membership/
📹 Investing For Retirement playlist (with deeper dives into safe withdrawal rates & glidepaths) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TcWFuRd51gkPyAGleZRvGcN
Best Index Funds For Long Term: One ETF To Rule Them All (2026) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAA3fSUu9JQ
GULP calculator (Gains Ultimately Lost to Professionals) - https://pensioncraft.com/gulp/
What Else PensionCraft Offers:
💡 Book a coaching session with Ramin so he can answer your questions in a one-to-one video call via Zoom: https://pensioncraft.com/power-hour/
📰 Sign up for our free weekly market roundup to get news and views about what's going on in the stock market and wider economy https://pensioncraft.com/market-roundup/
📖 Understand investment in more depth with my online courses https://pensioncraft.com/courses-we-offer/
❓ Join PensionCraft on YouTube and you’ll be supporting me to make more content and I will answer your questions and respond to your comments on YouTube as a priority https://www.youtube.com/pensioncraft/join
🎧Check out our free weekly podcast "Many Happy Returns" on your podcast app of choice or at https://www.youtube.com/@ManyHappyReturnsPodcast
The Following Data Sources Help Me Create My Videos
(These links provide new users with a special offer and may also provide me with a small commission)
✔️ Stockopedia - New users get a special 25% discount on any annual plan if they use this link http://stk.pe/pensioncraft or enter our promo code 'PC25' at the checkout.
✔️Bondfish provides bond market data, analytics, and broker availability. New users get a special 20% discount on the Premium plan when they use the promo code PENSIONCRAFT at https://bondfish.com/pensioncraft
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Two Numbers That Matter
01:33 Savings Rate Impact
02:47 Start Early Advantage
04:07 Fees Quietly Compound
05:42 See Fees In Pounds
06:16 Platform Fee Types
08:30 UK Account Order
11:02 Asset Allocation Basics
12:03 Simple Fund Choices
12:36 Five Costly Mistakes
14:07 Core And Fun Portfolio
15:09 Wrap Up And Next Steps
Where Else You Can Find Me
🌐 Website - https://pensioncraft.com/
📱 Twitter - https://twitter.com/PensionCraft
👨 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pensioncraft/
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pensioncraft
Take A Look At Some Of My Other Videos
📹 Investment For Beginners playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TcG9QNlRJ_QjI8iX_q_I8jo
📹Investing With Vanguard playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TfMV4S_51E_zmbMio4UNBtM
📹 Portfolio Building Blocks playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TdRdp-hLnL5oxsaRjJZVSyn
DISCLAIMER
All information is given for educational purposes and is not financial advice. Ramin does not provide recommendations and is not responsible for investment actions taken by viewers. Figures that are quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
If you need financial advice, Unbiased, the UK’s leading online directory of financial advisers, can connect you to an Independent financial advisor for free. Additionally if you use our link to register with Unbiased, your first consultation with a financial adviser is free. https://imp.i337888.net/c/4012142/1936845/11746 (This link provides you with a special offer and we will also earn a small commission)
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. This information is not investment advice. Do your own research. Other fees may apply.
Sponsored link. To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/join/RAMIN. Terms apply: https://www.trading212.com/legal-documentation/Invite-a-Friend-terms_EN.pdf
Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Trading 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface.
✔️ If you want to learn more about investing, why not become a pensioncraft.com member? To find what we offer and how you can join our friendly community click here https://www.pensioncraft.com/investor-education/membership/
📹 Investing For Retirement playlist (with deeper dives into safe withdrawal rates & glidepaths) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TcWFuRd51gkPyAGleZRvGcN
Best Index Funds For Long Term: One ETF To Rule Them All (2026) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAA3fSUu9JQ
GULP calculator (Gains Ultimately Lost to Professionals) - https://pensioncraft.com/gulp/
What Else PensionCraft Offers:
💡 Book a coaching session with Ramin so he can answer your questions in a one-to-one video call via Zoom: https://pensioncraft.com/power-hour/
📰 Sign up for our free weekly market roundup to get news and views about what's going on in the stock market and wider economy https://pensioncraft.com/market-roundup/
📖 Understand investment in more depth with my online courses https://pensioncraft.com/courses-we-offer/
❓ Join PensionCraft on YouTube and you’ll be supporting me to make more content and I will answer your questions and respond to your comments on YouTube as a priority https://www.youtube.com/pensioncraft/join
🎧Check out our free weekly podcast "Many Happy Returns" on your podcast app of choice or at https://www.youtube.com/@ManyHappyReturnsPodcast
The Following Data Sources Help Me Create My Videos
(These links provide new users with a special offer and may also provide me with a small commission)
✔️ Stockopedia - New users get a special 25% discount on any annual plan if they use this link http://stk.pe/pensioncraft or enter our promo code 'PC25' at the checkout.
✔️Bondfish provides bond market data, analytics, and broker availability. New users get a special 20% discount on the Premium plan when they use the promo code PENSIONCRAFT at https://bondfish.com/pensioncraft
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Two Numbers That Matter
01:33 Savings Rate Impact
02:47 Start Early Advantage
04:07 Fees Quietly Compound
05:42 See Fees In Pounds
06:16 Platform Fee Types
08:30 UK Account Order
11:02 Asset Allocation Basics
12:03 Simple Fund Choices
12:36 Five Costly Mistakes
14:07 Core And Fun Portfolio
15:09 Wrap Up And Next Steps
Where Else You Can Find Me
🌐 Website - https://pensioncraft.com/
📱 Twitter - https://twitter.com/PensionCraft
👨 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pensioncraft/
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pensioncraft
Take A Look At Some Of My Other Videos
📹 Investment For Beginners playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TcG9QNlRJ_QjI8iX_q_I8jo
📹Investing With Vanguard playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TfMV4S_51E_zmbMio4UNBtM
📹 Portfolio Building Blocks playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlqeAQqQK7TdRdp-hLnL5oxsaRjJZVSyn
DISCLAIMER
All information is given for educational purposes and is not financial advice. Ramin does not provide recommendations and is not responsible for investment actions taken by viewers. Figures that are quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
If you need financial advice, Unbiased, the UK’s leading online directory of financial advisers, can connect you to an Independent financial advisor for free. Additionally if you use our link to register with Unbiased, your first consultation with a financial adviser is free. https://imp.i337888.net/c/4012142/1936845/11746 (This link provides you with a special offer and we will also earn a small commission)
Category (YouTube): Education
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