Video summary

Find the BEST ETFs for European investors (2026)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Finance

Finance-focused summary (ETFs for European investors)

Instruments / tickers / assets mentioned

  • ETFs and ETCs (exchange-traded commodities)
  • Equities / stock market ETFs
  • Bonds (via bond ETFs) — discussed as an alternative asset class
  • Precious metals: gold, silver
  • Commodities: crude oil, natural gas, agriculture
  • Crypto (as an ETF/ETC-related option)
  • Real estate (via ETFs)
  • Money market ETFs / money market funds
  • Benchmark examples (widely known but often not available in many European countries):
    • SPY (S&P 500 ETF)
    • QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF)
  • Company example for dividends: Coca-Cola

Key numbers / counts (availability screens)

  • 3,265 ETFs available in Europe (starting universe)
  • After selecting Equities: 1,953 ETFs
  • After selecting Global / world region: 576 ETFs
  • After filtering for broad/global, with no sectors and no themes: 230 ETFs
  • After applying a sustainability filter (Only Sustainable ETFs): 116 ETFs (then removed later)
  • After removing the sustainability filter: back to 230
  • After selecting accumulating ETFs: 150 (subtitle suggests “150 three ETFs”)
  • After selecting fund size > €100 million: 100 ETFs
  • After selecting replication method = full replication and sampling (excluding synthetic): 87 ETFs
  • After selecting fund domicile = Ireland: 82 ETFs
  • After additional selection toward “broadest possible” (no equity strategy): ends with 19 ETFs
  • Final shortlist target: “five or even less”

ETF selection methodology (step-by-step framework)

Using JustETF ETF Screener (justetf.com), the workflow described is:

  1. Open the ETF Screener on JustETF.
  2. Select country at the bottom (he uses Germany with English language to see the widest selection).
  3. Choose Show all listings (includes all stock exchanges in Europe).
  4. Pick asset class (example: Equities).
  5. Set investment scope:
    • Region = World (global funds).
  6. Refine fund type:
    • No sectors (broad market across the economy)
    • No theme
  7. Sustainability / responsible investing:
    • Option: Only Sustainable ETFs
    • Caution: sustainability definitions vary; requires deeper fund-by-fund research.
  8. Apply “technical” structure filters:
    • Prefer accumulating ETFs (use of profit).
    • Prefer fund size > €100 million (avoid very small funds).
    • Prefer full replication and sampling; avoid synthetic/swap-based structures due to added complexity/extra risk.
    • Prefer fund domicile = Ireland (especially for physically replicated US exposure).
    • Currency hedging:
      • For stocks: leave unhedged (currency diversification can reduce overall risk).
      • For bonds: hedging is more recommended.
  9. Exclude certain categories:
    • Avoid short and leveraged ETFs (“toxic”; likened to gambling).
    • Skepticism about active ETFs (often struggle to beat indexes).
  10. Final narrowing (if many remain):
    • Use TER (Total Expense Ratio):
      • Start with the cheapest options.
    • Then review:
      • holdings focus
      • risk level
      • key information document
    • Pick one or two for the portfolio.

Portfolio construction / recommendations and cautions

  • Availability caveat for US ETFs: Common US tickers like SPY and QQQ are “not available in most European countries.”
  • Accumulating vs distributing (tax-focused):
    • In “most European countries,” accumulating ETFs are typically better because dividends aren’t paid out to the brokerage account immediately → less tax today, with tax deferred until selling.
    • Rules can be less clear in some countries; explicitly mentioned: Germany, Austria, Netherlands, UK, Denmark.
  • Fund size:
    • Avoid “really small ETFs” due to:
      • harder execution/liquidity
      • risk of ETF closure (possible hassle, return of money, potential tax effects, reinvestment)
    • Example preference: > €100 million
  • Replication method:
    • Prefer full replication or sampled (optimized) physical replication.
    • Avoid synthetic (swap-based) ETFs: described as “more complicated” and “more risky,” even if they may offer tax-related advantages for US market exposure.
  • Domicile:
    • Generally prefer Ireland, including for physically replicated US stock ETFs.
  • Currency hedging:
    • For stock ETFs: usually unnecessary; unhedged exposure across currencies may reduce risk via diversification.
    • Currency hedging is more relevant for bond investing.
  • Risk management:
    • Strong caution to avoid short and leveraged ETFs; says “99.99%” of investors should stay away.
  • Cost discipline:
    • Emphasizes narrowing by TER before deeper research.
  • Sector/theme selection difficulty:
    • Warns that picking “winning” sector themes is difficult in practice.

Disclaimers / disclosures

  • Notes: “No, they’re not sponsoring this video.” (about JustETF)
  • No explicit “not financial advice” language appears in the provided subtitles excerpt.

Presenters / sources (as stated)

  • Tom Crosill (presenter; “I’m Tom Crosill.”)
  • JustETF (tool referenced: justetf.com; explicitly stated as not a sponsorship)

Original video