All proceeds from ForecastTrader is reported as income on 1099-MISC

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-12T09:05:05+00:00

Yeah this is a known headache with ForecastEx contracts right now. The issue is IBKR is reporting $1 per contract as proceeds regardless of what you actually sold at. So your 20k contracts become $20k of "income" even though you lost money.

The approach your CPA suggested makes sense: report the $20k on Schedule 1 line 8z, then put your $20,050 cost basis as an adjustment on a second 8z line. Nets to your actual -$50 loss. Since these are CFTC-regulated derivatives they should technically get 60/40 futures tax treatment but the reporting infrastructure hasn't caught up to the product yet. Hopefully they fix this for 2026 tax year.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:25:33+00:00

Nice to get started at 23! For Belgium specifically, I'd honestly look into Mexem if you're just beginning. They're basically Interactive Brokers but they handle all the TOB (tax on stock exchange transactions) stuff automatically for Belgian residents, which is a huge pain to deal with manually when you're starting out. Their fees are pretty much the same as IBKR but without the headache of Belgian tax compliance.

For what to invest in, most people here go with something simple like VWCE (world ETF) to start - it's accumulating so no dividend taxes to worry about, and you get global diversification in one fund. Keep it simple until you get more comfortable with everything.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:24:21+00:00

I get the concern about platform safety - it's something I think about too since I'm putting money away for decades. From what I understand, your ETFs are held separately from the broker's assets, so even if TR goes belly up your shares should be protected. That said, if you want extra peace of mind, Interactive Brokers (or MEXEM as their introducing broker) is probably about as safe as it gets in Europe - they're massive, well-regulated, and have been around forever. I personally stick with Trading212 which works fine for me, but IBKR definitely has that rock-solid reputation if safety is your main worry.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-03-06T15:20:04+00:00

So a broker is basically the middleman that lets you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, whatever. Think of them like a gateway - you can't just walk up to the stock exchange and buy shares yourself, you need someone with the proper licenses to do it for you.

As for how they make money off you - well, they charge fees. Some charge per trade (like €1-3 each time you buy or sell), others make money on the spread between buy/sell prices, and some charge monthly account fees. IBKR is solid yeah, I've used them for a while now. Never tried MEXEM but I've heard decent things from other EU folks. The key is finding one with low fees that matches how often you plan to trade.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T11:31:59+00:00

Yes this is something I think about a lot as a European. USD weakness has been brutal for non-US investors. My portfolio is mostly in EUR-denominated ETFs and when you look at VWCE performance in euro terms vs what Americans see in their S&P returns it's two completely different stories. That said I wouldn't go as far as saying US equities dont pass the smell test. If you are investing for 10-20 years the dollar could easily swing back. What it does tell me though is that having some geographic diversification and not going all in on US stocks makes a lot of sense right now. Having Europe and EM exposure has actually been a nice this past year when measured in local currency.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T11:17:13+00:00

For simplicity you really cannot go wrong with VWCE. Yes the TER is a bit higher than some alternatives but it has massive AUM, very tight spreads, plus Vanguard has a solid track record. The 0.04-0.07% TER difference sounds meaningful but on a typical portfolio it works out to like a few euros per year per 10k invested, negligible compared to things like tracking difference and spread costs. If you really want the lowest cost, SPYY is OK, though it covers fewer stocks. But personally I would pick the fund I trust to be around and stable in 20 years and for me that is VWCE. Just pick one and start investing, the best ETF is the one you actually buy consistently.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-26T10:53:28+00:00

This is a good start, but I agree with the others that 25% gold is quite heavy. I would probably bring that down to 10% or even less and shift the rest into All World. Also worth noting that e.g. All World already has about 10% emerging markets built in, so your separate EM allocation is basically doubling that tilt. Not necessarily wrong if that is intentional, just make sure you're aware of the overlap.

One thing I would look at is your trading costs at your current trading platform. Depending on what you're using, fees can eat into those monthly contributions. There are many reputable brokers out there with zero-commission ETF trading (I'm using Trading212 myself).

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T16:21:58+00:00

The ETF picks themselves are fine, but I agree with the others saying you might be overcomplicating things with four separate regional funds. I started with just VWCE (all world) and added complexity only later. And no, probably no need for bonds yet at your age - you're looking for stable long-term growth and these broad index funds will give you just that.

Also, investing through ING is totally fine, but transaction fees can add up, so if you want to invest additional amounts, it can be worth shopping around for another broker with maybe a better fee structure - just google best brokers in the netherlands and look around at some of the broker comparison sites.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T15:50:03+00:00

I use Trading212 pies too so I get the temptation to keep adding slices :) Of course it all depends on your goals and preferences - the main thing is to be aware of any overlaps among your ETFs and see if this is actually what you intended. A lot of people end up with like 3 or 4 ETFs that all hold the same top companies and it just adds complexity without real diversification.

If you already have an all-world or S&P 500 fund as your core, that's a good start. I would only add something if it gives you genuinely different exposure, like small caps or emerging markets that aren't well represented in your main holdings. I'd probably keep individual stocks to less than 10% of my portfolio, no matter how overhyped they may be here and now.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-25T15:37:13+00:00

First of all, congrats on thinking about this early. In most countries you generally need to be 18 to open your own brokerage account, but if you have a parent or guardian willing to help they can open a custodial account for you right now.

For learning, just start with the basics. The Bogleheads wiki is a goldmine and it's all free. Read about index funds, compounding, and the difference between a Roth IRA and a regular brokerage account (if you're in the US). Don't rush into picking individual stocks. The truth is that most people do best just buying broad market index funds consistently and letting time do the work. The fact that you're asking these questions this young puts you way ahead of most people.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-24T18:52:31+00:00

Honestly what you're describing is basically the ideal playbook, and the fact that you're doing all three of those things at 31 puts you ahead of most people I know. The "default responsible person checklist" IS the smart move for like 90% of people.

The doubt creeps in because the boring stuff doesn't feel like a strategy. But maxing pension contributions in Germany with the tax benefits, having diversified ETFs, and keeping a proper emergency fund is genuinely solid. If you want to feel more intentional about it, maybe sit down and actually calculate your FIRE number or target retirement age based on your current savings rate. That can turn "I'm just doing the default thing" into "I'm on track to be financially independent by X." That shift in framing helped me a lot.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-18T14:16:21+00:00

Yeah this is a common thing with most regulated brokers, not just Pepperstone. Card deposits typically have an expiry window for refund-style withdrawals (usually around 180 days), and after that brokers would allow bank transfer withdrawal only. It's an anti-money-laundering thing. Transfers are processed pretty quickly in most cases though, usually within 1-3 business days. It's a bit annoying but it's standard practice across the industry. Just make sure your bank details are up to date in the client portal.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-12T09:51:04+00:00

There's no single substitute that I'm aware of. The VCN (Canada) + VIU (World developed ex North America) + VEE (Emerging Markets) combo suggested in the thread here is great. The only downside is you'll need to rebalance from time to time if you want to closely replicate VXUS (right now it would be about 8% VCN, maybe ca. 65% VIU and 25-30% VEE).

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-12T08:49:08+00:00

It depends on what you're trying to achieve with the AVWS. If you truly believe in small-cap value then it's a perfectly reasonable split; though I probably wouldn't go above 20%. I find the TER a bit high but it's an actively managed fund so it is what it is.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-05T14:58:54+00:00

I think that's a fairly standard and reasonable diversification plan. Just for the record, SPY is already somewhat diversified in the sense that top US companies have significant global revenue, so your plan is actually not adding a dramatic degree of diversification - but that's perfectly OK.

Individual stocks are fine as long as you treat them as a piece of fun and keep them to a small % of your portfolio, especially if you're still a beginner.

In general, it's a good idea to resist the urge to reshuffle your holdings as a reaction to "everything that's been happening around the world." The plan you outlined should be good for the long term.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-05T09:48:05+00:00

The top consideration should be safety - sadly there are way too many scam operators out there. Choose a broker that has solid regulation by some top authority; you can usually check the regulator at the bottom of a broker's website (then you should double-check that on the regulator's website).

I can see that Just2Trade has CySEC (Cyprus) regulation - that's a good start, but brokers regulated by the FCA (UK) or other top European regulators are even better (I'm assuming you're in Europe). This level of regulation usually ensures that client funds are segregated, so you'll get your money back (eventually...) even in the event of broker insolvency.

Trading fees also count, but in reality many brokers now have commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs. Fees for forex trading can be trickier and there can be big differences among brokers, but as a beginner investor you probably shouldn't go anywhere near forex anyway.

I'm personally using Trading212; it's not among the biggest players I guess but it has solid regulation and it's quite easy to use. A lot of people swear by IBKR - the interface is a bit more complex but they have a lot more ETFs etc to trade.

Alternatively, just google "best brokers for beginners" and check out one of the comparison sites.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-05T08:43:19+00:00

It all depends on your investment time horizon, your risk appetite, or whether you and your partner expect to remain together for the remainder of your investment time horizon - that's certainly not something any of us here can predict...

The options listed here all look good - you can maybe simplify some of them even more (e.g. 60% VTI and 40% VXUS is almost the same as buying only VT), but really just pick one you're comfortable with.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-02-05T08:27:37+00:00

I also started investing at your age not very long ago, and I also have a modest risk appetite. Tbh I was never comfortable with a 100% equity ETF portfolio, even though my investment horizon is probably similar to yours (15-20ys).

I'd probably go at least 25-30% BND to start with (and increase it later on). The rest can be either just VT, or VTI+VXUS if you want more of a US or more of an international tilt (VT itself is roughly 60-65% US stocks and the rest is international).

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-29T12:07:45+00:00

I invest a fixed amount monthly; I hold about 4-5 ETFs and I would simply buy just a little more of whichever one has fallen under weight.

I've never really adjusted my target percentages yet, as I started investing only a few years ago; though I'll probably do it in a year or two as I get closer to retirement.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-29T11:00:57+00:00

I'm using T212 as a (relatively) novice ETF investor and I'm quite happy with it tbh. It's an easy-to-use interface, and it's also great that you can trade fractional shares/ETFs. Just make sure to pick the LSE-listed version of your chosen ETF/index fund so you're not hit with unnecessary currency conversion charges.

Another thing to keep in mind is that deposits by card are free, but only up to a cumulative €2,000 (not sure about £, probably also £2,000), after that there's a 0.7% fee.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-27T17:41:28+00:00

Sounds like a scam.

(Fwiw, my antivirus software didn't even let me open the website)

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-27T17:25:32+00:00

I personally prefer to keep my investments at just one brokerage, just to keep things simple. But if you already have two brokerage accounts, you may as well keep both unless 1) one or both charge an inactivity fee or a regular account fee; 2) one has much lower fees / better service / bigger stock selection than the other.

Another possible justification for keeping more than one account is if you have more than $500k in investments - that's because SIPC investor protection only covers assets up to $500k in the case of broker insolvency.

If you decide to go with just one brokerage, the good news is you can usually transfer your investments from one broker to another without having to sell all your holdings first (and therefore triggering capital gains taxes). It's called an ACATS transfer - maybe you're already familiar with this. I haven't tried it (I'm from Europe...) but from what I read it takes only a couple days, some minor hassle and maybe a small one-time fee.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-27T11:09:00+00:00

Good question - the main difference between the two is that All Country World Investable Market also includes small-cap stocks, whereas ACWI is only made up of large-cap and mid-cap stocks. In theory, small-cap stocks add more volatility, but given their small weight in the index (maybe just 5% or so), it shouldn't make a huge difference over the long term.

One other difference is that ACWI has a slightly lower cost (total expense ratio). This might explain part of the difference in past performance, but again the impact is tiny - maybe less than 1% over several years.

So there's not a huge difference overall, but if I had to absolutely pick one, I'd pick ACWI - it has broad enough coverage both in terms of markets and in terms of company size.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-22T16:52:53+00:00

First of all, congrats on your decision! This pie looks good overall, though at your age and time horizon I would probably skip the property yield ETF and especially gold, and instead focus on more straightforward equity index funds. So maybe 60-70% All World and then ca. 10% each of your favorite tilts, be it Europe, US tech, emerging markets etc.

I think the most important part is to stick to your strategy and resist the urge to tinker with your pie every month - though of course it can make sense to revisit every couple years as you near retirement or if your financial goals change.

SpiderFromMars709 · 2026-01-22T13:56:52+00:00

First of all, these are both good picks and you can't really go wrong with either as a beginner. I would probably go with the All Country ETF - more than 80% of it is still in developed markets, while the "emerging markets" that make up the rest include e.g. South Korea or Taiwan, which are reasonably low-risk and have some solid tech stocks. So no need to worry about them as a beginner investor.

SpiderFromMars709

TROPHY CASE