ETF knowledge

Everything worth knowing about ETFs before setting up a first savings plan – and afterwards. From the basics through costs, German partial exemption and advance lump-sum tax, to factor strategies and the fair criticism of the MSCI World.

• Distributing or accumulating ETFs? The differenceDistributing ETFs pay out dividends, accumulating ETFs reinvest them automatically. Which one suits whom.
• Dividend ETFs as a passive income sourceHow dividend and distributing ETFs turn a portfolio into regular income – with a payout calculator.
• ETF fees: TER and hidden costsWhat an ETF really costs: TER, spread, order fees and tracking difference – and why small percentages matter over decades.
• ETFs & tax in Germany: the essentialsTeilfreistellung, Vorabpauschale and the saver's allowance: how ETFs are taxed in Germany, explained clearly.
• ETFs for beginners: start in 5 stepsThe simple way into ETFs: open a brokerage account, pick the right ETF and start with a savings plan.
• Factor ETFs: Value, Quality, Growth & Small CapBeyond the plain MSCI World: what value, quality, growth and small-cap factor ETFs actually hold – with live holdings.
• How to decode ETF namesiShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF USD (Acc) – every part of an ETF name explained.
• MSCI World criticism: how big is the US concentration?The MSCI World is criticised for its heavy US weighting. Here's the actual, live breakdown – and what factor and small-cap ETFs can add.
• Savings plan vs lump sum: which wins?Invest all at once or monthly? What the data says – and how to test both with the calculator.
• Sector ETFs: how to invest in a single industrySector ETFs bundle one industry – like consumer staples. What that means, with a live example.
• Small Cap Value: the underrated return booster?Small caps and value stocks have historically added return over the broad market. See the real factor ETFs on Alysly.
• The pension gap: planning your retirement with ETFsHow much capital do you need for retirement – and how long a portfolio lasts. Two calculators do the maths.
• The Rule of 72: how long until your money doublesA one-line mental-math trick for compounding – and the exact number from the calculator.
• What are ETFs? Simply explainedAn ETF bundles many stocks into one fund you buy like a share. How ETFs work and why they are so popular.