The belief that holds everyone back
Where this idea comes from
For decades, investing has been presented as the domain of experts, heirs, and people who already had "enough" to afford taking risks.
This image has left a lasting mark. Neither school nor most families passed down a financial culture that makes people want to, or feel allowed to, start investing with little money. As a result, many people move through life with the vague conviction that investing isn't for them, at least not yet.
In Switzerland, however, 45% of people already hold at least one investment product, making the country one of the leading investment hubs in Europe (BlackRock "People & Money" study, 2024). The reality on the ground is far more accessible than most people imagine.
This is one of the 7 most common financial mistakes we see: confusing "I'm not ready" with "it's not the right time."
What this waiting really costs
Financial inaction isn't neutral. It has a real cost, even if it's a silent one.
In Switzerland, the average interest rate on adult savings accounts was 0.11% in January 2026, according to Moneyland, a level far too low to offset the effect of inflation. Money left sitting in an account therefore gradually loses purchasing power.
Every month spent not investing is a month where your money isn't working, and where its value quietly erodes.
The principle of compound interest, explained simply
A simple but counterintuitive mechanism
Picture a snowball at the top of a hill.
At first, it's small. It picks up a little snow with each roll. But the bigger it gets, the more it picks up with every turn. After a while, it's no longer the slope doing the work, it's the size of the ball itself.
Compound interest works exactly the same way. You invest a sum, it generates gains. Those gains get added to the capital, and the following year, it's this new, larger total that generates gains in turn.
In the first year, the effect is almost invisible. By the tenth, it becomes noticeable. By the thirtieth, it's dramatic.
According to Raiffeisen Switzerland, when the returns on an investment are systematically reinvested, they themselves generate new returns, and the growth curve becomes steeper and steeper over the years.
This is what's known as long-term return: not linear accumulation, but growth that accelerates.
Two profiles, one surprising result
Here's an illustrative comparison based on an assumed average annual return of 5% (figures are indicative only, with no guarantee of future performance).
According to the Swiss calculator, someone who starts saving 500 CHF a month at age 25 reaches around 760,000 CHF by age 65. Someone who starts ten years later with the same monthly amount reaches only around 420,000 CHF, despite putting in the same effort.
The difference doesn't come from the amount invested. It comes purely from the amount of time given to the money to work.
And if we compare Profile A, who invests 100 CHF a month starting at 25, with Profile B, who invests 300 CHF a month starting at 35, Profile A often comes out ahead, with three times less effort. Not because they put in more, but because they started earlier.
Why time does what money alone cannot
Consider the rule of 72: dividing 72 by the average annual return gives an estimate of how many years it takes for capital to double. At a 5% return, it doubles in about 14 years. With a savings account paying 0.1%, it would theoretically take close to 720 years.
This isn't a matter of luck or talent. It's a matter of arithmetic, one that favors those who start investing early and let time do the work.
What each year of waiting actually costs
The cost of inaction
200 CHF a month at 7% over 35 years produces around 442,000 CHF. The same amount invested over 20 years produces only 118,000 CHF. The extra 15 years at the start add 324,000 CHF, far more than the total amount contributed over the entire period.
This figure reveals something essential: in long-term saving, it isn't the final years that drive performance. It's the first ones. Every year added at the beginning of the journey is worth far more than every year added at the end.
Waiting for the right moment is also a mistake
Waiting isn't justified by trying to find the perfect moment to enter the markets either. As we explain in our article on the 7 financial mistakes to correct, no one knows when the right moment is, not even professionals. What matters is being in the game, not finding the perfect entry point.
Starting small is a strategy, not a compromise
What you can do with 50 or 100 CHF a month
The most common psychological barrier is this: "it's too little to be worth it."
That's not true.
100 CHF invested at age 25 at 7% a year is worth more than 1,000 CHF by age 65, purely thanks to time. Multiply that by regular contributions over 40 years, and the effect becomes considerable. Investing a small amount regularly also lets you learn as you go: understanding how markets work, getting used to ups and downs, and building a discipline that naturally grows along with your income.
To go further, our article on diversified ETFs explains simply how to invest in hundreds of companies at once, with very low fees and no special expertise required. In Switzerland, solutions like pillar 3a in securities even let you combine the effect of compound interest with an immediate tax advantage.
Investing gradually
Getting started with investing doesn't mean solving everything at once.
You start with what you can, even if it's modest. You understand what you're doing. And as your income grows, your capacity to invest naturally grows with it.
Consistency often outperforms a large initial sum with no ongoing contributions. A disciplined investor with no starting capital but consistent contributions over 25 years can generate up to 49% more than an investor who started with 50,000 CHF but stopped adding to their investment.
What matters isn't starting big. It's starting and continuing consistently and regularly.
The right questions to ask before you start
What's my goal?
Investing "because you're supposed to," without knowing why, rarely produces good results over the long term.
A concrete goal changes everything: building capital for a project, preparing for retirement, gradually building financial independence, reducing your dependence on a single income. These reference points give you direction and make every decision much easier to stick with over time.
What's my time horizon?
Your investment horizon is one of the first things to clarify. Over 2 or 3 years, markets can drop without enough time to recover. Over 10, 15, or 20 years, historical data shows the probability of a positive outcome exceeds 95%. Your time horizon defines the level of risk you can reasonably take on.
Where to actually start
Before choosing a product, a platform, or a strategy, there's a step no one can skip: understanding your own situation.
How much you earn, how much you spend, how much you can set aside without putting yourself at risk. It's this clarity that allows you to start investing with peace of mind.
If you'd like to lay these foundations for free and at your own pace, AdvisorOne Academy's Foundations Path is built exactly for that: understanding how investing works, identifying your goals, and making informed financial decisions, without jargon.
And if you'd rather start with a personalized review of your situation, the AdvisorOne Financial Diagnostic lets you take this first step, with no commitment.
To go even further and build a strategy genuinely suited to your profile, our Signature program offers ongoing, one-on-one support, from understanding the basics all the way to implementing a personalized wealth strategy.
In conclusion
Time is the most valuable resource in investing. It's also the only one you can never get back.
You can earn more money. You can learn faster. You can choose better investment vehicles. But the years spent waiting can never be recovered.
Starting to invest early, even with little and without understanding everything yet, gives your money the one fuel no one can buy back later: time. That said, it's never too late to start. Even close to retirement, you may still have 30 to 50 years ahead of you, a period during which time can keep working in your favor.
Ready to lay the first foundations? Discover AdvisorOne Academy's Foundations Path, free and accessible at any level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really invest with little money?
Yes. The starting amount matters less than consistency and duration. In Switzerland, solutions like pillar 3a in securities or ETF savings plans let you start with just a few dozen francs a month. What matters is building the habit and letting time do the work.
What's the ideal age to start investing?
As early as possible. According to simulations from calcule.ch, starting at 25 instead of 35 with the same monthly contribution can nearly double your final capital at retirement. The best time to start is always now, whatever your starting point.
How much should you set aside each month to invest?
There's no universal number. What matters more than the amount is consistency. Even 50 CHF a month is a valid starting point, as long as you keep it up over time and gradually increase it as your income grows.
Why is compound interest so powerful?
Because it creates growth that accelerates over time. The gains generated get added to the capital, and that new, larger total itself generates gains the following year.
How do you know where to start if you don't know anything about finance?
With your own situation: what you earn, what you spend, what's left over. Before choosing an investment vehicle, having this clarity is essential. AdvisorOne Academy's Foundations Path is available for free to help you lay these foundations, at your own pace and without jargon.
The information presented in this article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalized advice, investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell financial products.
Any investment decision should be made after a thorough analysis of your personal situation, your objectives, and your risk profile, and may require the advice of a licensed financial advisor.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments carry risk, including the risk of capital loss.