Think of this as a little investor check-in. No right answers. No wrong answers. Just six questions to get you thinking.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"1. First things first: what are you investing for?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/bb914ca0-b6d9-4e14-9729-8f0156e8d174/Comfort-investment-woman-hammock-scene.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/bb914ca0-b6d9-4e14-9729-8f0156e8d174/Comfort-investment-woman-hammock-scene"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Picture your future self. What are you hoping your investments will help you achieve?
Your answer matters because investing works best when there’s a goal behind it.
You don't need to have every detail figured out. But knowing why you want to invest can help you make more informed choices about how you invest.
Quick check:
Can you finish this sentence?
“I’m investing because…”
If you can, you're already one step closer to understanding your investing style.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"2. Are you in for a short trip or a long journey?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"left","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/8c9863cc-95bb-4dbf-974e-2cd104fc7669/12_Travel-accomodation.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/8c9863cc-95bb-4dbf-974e-2cd104fc7669/12_Travel-accomodation"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"
Investing is a little like planning a journey: it helps to know when you need to arrive.
Your time horizon is the amount of time you expect to leave your money invested.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Why does that matter?
Because investment values can go up and down. If you're likely to need the money soon, you may have less room to wait for markets to recover after a decline. So ask yourself:
“When am I likely to need this money?”
And then:
“Could I leave it invested if markets happened to be down at that moment?”
Your answers can tell you a lot about the kind of investment journey you're comfortable taking.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"3. How much financial turbulence can you handle?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/ab0838c8-7dc2-492d-803b-a1c78f6d2865/plane.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/ab0838c8-7dc2-492d-803b-a1c78f6d2865/plane"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Imagine you're on a flight.
A little turbulence starts.
A. No problem. I'll keep watching my movie.
B. Not my favourite moment, but I know turbulence happens.
C. Where is the fasten-seatbelt sign?!
"}},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/54978ad8-c7c9-4904-a3fc-ff954fc445c4/scalemoneybag.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/54978ad8-c7c9-4904-a3fc-ff954fc445c4/scalemoneybag"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Markets have their turbulent moments too.
But there are actually two sides to investment risk.
How much risk can you take?
This is about your financial situation, including your income and expenses, assets and debts, and significant expenses you may expect in the near future.
How much risk are you willing to take?
That's more personal.
How do you feel when the value of an investment moves up and down? Being honest with yourself here is more useful than trying to choose the answer that sounds like the “best investor”.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"4. Your investment drops. What happens next?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"left","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/c63a91a7-022f-4ab2-a9f3-34991ee03a87/Phone-and-Tablet.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/c63a91a7-022f-4ab2-a9f3-34991ee03a87/Phone-and-Tablet"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Let's make it more concrete.
You open your ING Banking app one morning and see that the value of your investments has fallen.
What's your first thought?
“Markets move. I'll stick to my plan.”
You're probably relatively comfortable with fluctuations.
“Okay… I'm watching this.”
You accept that markets fluctuate, but bigger movements can make you uncomfortable.
“Should I sell?”
Seeing your money lose value, even temporarily, feels difficult.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Again, there is no winning answer.
The point isn't to prove how brave you are. It's to recognise how you might actually respond when markets become uncomfortable.
Your investing style has to work for the real you, not the imaginary investor who never gets nervous.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"5. How hands-on do you want to be?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"left","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/ec8248b4-8c35-41ae-a98c-d137ba60bcd7/cappuccino.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/ec8248b4-8c35-41ae-a98c-d137ba60bcd7/cappuccino"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Saturday morning. Coffee is ready.
How would you rather spend the next hour?
A. “Let me check the markets.”
Researching companies, following financial news and making investment decisions sounds interesting to you.
B. “I'd like some guidance.”
You want to be involved, but you wouldn't mind having expertise to help you navigate your choices.
C. “I'll take the coffee. Someone else can watch the markets.”
You would rather keep things simple and spend little time managing investments yourself.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"All three can be perfectly valid preferences.
Your investing style isn't only about how much risk you're comfortable with. It's also about how much time and attention you want to give your investments.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"6. What matters to you?"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/19fb88f7-62c1-433e-90ab-a7248f7d9a76/Woman_happy_hands_heart_spot-1.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/19fb88f7-62c1-433e-90ab-a7248f7d9a76/Woman_happy_hands_heart_spot-1"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Now imagine two investments.
Their financial characteristics may interest you equally, but one invests in areas you feel more comfortable with than the other.
Would that influence your decision?
For some people, where their money is invested matters. Others may be particularly interested in specific sectors, themes, companies or regions.
So add one more question to your investor check-in:
“What matters to me when I invest, besides potential return?”
There is no universal answer. That's precisely why it's worth asking.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"So… what’s your investing style?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"If you've been keeping score, you can stop. 😉
There is no magic formula that says:
3 As + 2 Bs + 1 C = “The Adventurous Investor.”
Real life is more nuanced than that.
You might be:
And that's completely normal.
"}},{"alignedImage":{"position":"left","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/e42ac9d1-916d-460b-a421-a71646dd28a3/Craftspeople-man-freelancer-scene.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/e42ac9d1-916d-460b-a421-a71646dd28a3/Craftspeople-man-freelancer-scene"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Rather than putting yourself into a box, look at the pieces together:
Put them together and you start to get a much clearer picture of your investing style.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Plot twist: your style isn't set in stone"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Here's one last thing to remember.
Your investing style today doesn't have to be your investing style forever.
Your situation can change. Your goals can change. And as you learn more about investing, your comfort level may change too.
So every once in a while, check in with yourself:
“Does the way I invest still fit me?”
Because finding your investing style isn't about giving yourself a label.
It's about getting to know yourself as an investor, so you can make choices with greater understanding and confidence.
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"e52e03fe-f25e-40e0-b969-64e01ffa90b0","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Investing","url":"/en/individuals/investing"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"There’s no personality test that can tell you exactly how you should invest. But getting to know yourself a little better can help you understand what kind of investing approach may feel right for you.","subtitle":"Hands-on, hands-off, cautious or comfortable with a few bumps along the way?","title":"What’s your investing style? Let’s find out"},"date":"2026-08-31","readingTime":5},"publishDate":"2026-08-31T15:27:55.079+02:00"}}