Savings and investments

Before you invest money

Obtain sufficient information and familiarise yourself with it

As a customer, before making a decision you must obtain sufficient information about product features, contract terms and conditions, costs and the party responsible for the product. You are responsible for the investment decisions you make – even if, in retrospect, they turn out to be bad ones.

Investment products always involve value fluctuations, and you may also lose your capital, and returns are not always guaranteed.

Give the seller correct information

For the seller to be able to serve you in the best way possible, you should give the seller sufficient information about your life situation, your financial position, savings and investment experience, and your goals.

The investment service provider is also obliged to ask you for the aforementioned information if you are offered investment advice or asset management.

This information should be provided by the seller

The investment service provider must provide you with information about the service or product being marketed, including details about the service provider, their home country, and the supervising authority, as well as the key features of the product such as risk, expected return, minimum investment period, and how you can terminate or modify the agreement. The service provider must also inform you about the product's costs and fees.

As a customer, it is worth remembering that the marketing of investment products should be honest and fair, but on the other hand, the seller can only offer the investment products of the company or group they represent. Therefore, it is wise to compare the product range of different service providers.

If the product seems so complex that you do not understand how it works, it is often better not to invest. Be skeptical of promises of large, guaranteed, protected, or certain returns.

Consider your decision calmly before signing a contract

Consider any offer you receive calmly and familiarise yourself carefully with the written material you are given. Before making a decision, read the product brochure, the terms and conditions related to the product and visit the seller’s website. It is also worth getting to know other products and services offered by other service providers.

Before signing a contract, go through agreed aspects and the key points of the contract once again with the seller. Do not sign anything before you are certain you understand what you are getting yourself involved in. Responsible sellers do not rush customers into making savings or investment decisions. If a quick transfer of money is requested or the offer is only valid for a very short time, it might be a scam (see more details in Scams).

Where can you get impartial additional information?

The seller is required to inform you about where you can obtain additional information and what you can do in the event of problems.

If a problem cannot be resolved in discussions with the seller or the party responsible for the product, impartial assistance is available from various bodies. You can obtain more detailed information, for example from the Finnish Financial Ombudsman Bureau FINE (telephone +358 9 6850 120).