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In the world of investing and trading, the biggest drain on beginner portfolios often isn’t bad choices—it’s invisible costs. Fees, spreads, and slippage quietly eat away at returns, leaving new investors frustrated and confused. But once you know where these costs hide, you can take back control.
This inspiring beginner’s guide reveals the mechanics of hidden costs in plain English. You’ll learn what fees really mean, how spreads work behind the scenes, and why slippage can turn a good trade into a costly mistake. Most importantly, you’ll discover practical strategies to minimize these traps, so more of your money stays in your hands.
No hype, no jargon—just the clarity you need to make smarter, more confident financial decisions. By mastering these fundamentals, you’ll unlock one of the greatest advantages in investing: keeping more of what you earn.
It’s time to stop leaking value and start building wealth with purpose. This book shows you how.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
Quentin Ashbourne
The Hidden Cost Trap: Uncovering Fees, Spreads, and Slippage—and the Simple Strategies to Keep More of Your Money
Copyright © 2025 by Quentin Ashbourne
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Quentin Ashbourne asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Quentin Ashbourne has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
First edition
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1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 1: Understanding the Invisible Costs
3. Chapter 2: The Basics of Fees in Investing
4. Chapter 3: Spreads—What They Are and How They Work
5. Chapter 4: The Impact of Slippage on Your Trades
6. Chapter 5: Minimizing Hidden Costs Effectively
7. Chapter 6: The Basics of Crypto Trading Fees
8. Chapter 7: Forex Spreads for Beginners
9. Chapter 8: Developing Safe Investing Strategies
10. Chapter 9: Building a Beginner Portfolio
11. Chapter 10: Value Investing and Cost Efficiency
12. Chapter 11: Essential Tools for Tracking Costs
13. Chapter 12: The Psychology of Costs in Trading
14. Chapter 13: Case Studies of Costly Mistakes
15. Chapter 14: The Future of Trading Costs
16. Chapter 15: Final Thoughts on Keeping More of Your Money
17. Chapter 16: Resources for Continued Learning
18. Chapter 1: Understanding the Invisible Costs
19. Chapter 2: The Basics of Fees in Investing
20. Chapter 3: Spreads—What They Are and How They Work
21. Chapter 4: The Impact of Slippage on Your Trades
22. Chapter 5: Minimizing Hidden Costs Effectively
23. Chapter 6: The Basics of Crypto Trading Fees
24. Chapter 7: Forex Spreads for Beginners
25. Chapter 8: Developing Safe Investing Strategies
26. Chapter 9: Building a Beginner Portfolio
27. Chapter 10: Value Investing and Cost Efficiency
28. Chapter 11: Essential Tools for Tracking Costs
29. Chapter 12: The Psychology of Costs in Trading
30. Chapter 13: Case Studies of Costly Mistakes
31. Chapter 14: The Future of Trading Costs
32. Chapter 15: Final Thoughts on Keeping More of Your Money
33. Chapter 16: Resources for Continued Learning
Table of Contents
The Basics of Hidden Costs
Understanding Fees
Exploring Spreads
The Impact of Slippage
Minimizing Hidden Costs
Tools and Resources for Beginners
Understanding Investment Fees
Types of Fees You Might Encounter
Hidden Fees to Watch Out For
How to Evaluate Fee Structures
Tips to Minimize Fees
Understanding Spreads: The Basics
Why Spreads Are Important for Beginners
Strategies to Minimize Spread Costs
Spreads in Different Markets
What is Slippage?
When Does Slippage Occur?
How to Minimize Slippage
The Emotional Impact of Slippage
Understanding Your Broker’s Fee Structure
Choosing the Right Trading Platform
Minimizing Spreads and Slippage in Trading
The Importance of Dollar-Cost Averaging
Building a Low-Cost Investment Portfolio
Understanding Crypto Trading Fees
Different Types of Fees
The Impact of Spreads
The Issue of Slippage
How to Minimize Crypto Trading Costs
Comparing Crypto Exchanges
Understanding Forex Spreads
How to Choose a Broker with Favorable Spreads
The Effect of Market Conditions on Spreads
Strategies to Minimize Spreads
Understanding Risk Tolerance
Diversification: Spreading the Risk
Safe Investment Vehicles
Setting Realistic Expectations
Understanding Your Investment Goals
The Basics of Asset Allocation
Choosing Low-Cost Investment Options
Diversifying Your Portfolio
The Importance of Regular Portfolio Review
Practicing Safe Investing Strategies
Understanding Value Investing
The Role of Costs in Value Investing
Minimizing Hidden Costs
Building a Cost-Efficient Value Portfolio
Safe Investing Strategies in Value Investing
Understanding Financial Tools
Comparing Broker Fees
Monitoring Trading Performance
Utilizing Cost Analysis Software
The Hidden Costs We Don’t See
Recognizing Emotional Triggers
Strategies to Combat Psychological Costs
Building Resilience in Trading
The New Investor’s Journal
The Day Trader’s Downfall
The Long-Term Investor’s Regret
The Forex Trader’s Experience