The Clarity Guide is Finally Here
Your simple, free 5-page plan to build a simple, no-nonsense, evidence-based portfolio that saves you time.
This guide delivers the foundational framework. It's a 5-page, step-by-step plan for designing a simple, effective portfolio, giving you the confidence to finally build it completely on your own. By signing up, you'll also get immediate access to my rational investor education program by email to continue your learning journey.
When "Waiting" has become the most dangerous decision.
The paralyzing fear of making a mistake is costing many European investors thousands every year.
You've done the hard work. You have the capital. But it’s stuck on the sidelines. That nagging feeling persists: When is the right time to start?For many rational professionals, the fear of making a simple error is the ultimate blocker. You know you need to invest, but the overwhelming jargon and conflicting advice leads to analysis paralysis that guarantees a loss to inflation over time.Worse, you worry that in trying to start, you might actually make things worse. In this sea of complexity, you ultimately don't know which "simple first step" you can safely make, while dodging the dangerous mistakes that could cost you thousands.
The First Evidence-Based Guide Built for EU Investors
Decades of academic research, distilled into a practical, step-by-step plan.
Evidence-based investing knowledge has historically been scattered and buried across complex books, academic papers, and gated industry research. While valuable, the information was never accessible or actionable for busy professionals.Over the years, I dissected thousands of pages of this research to extract the timeless, proven principles that actually drive returns, and I cut everything else away.The result is a radically simple 4-step process, to get you from confused to confident.With this guide, I had one goal in mind capture 90% of the results of a complex strategy, for a fraction of the cost, time, and stress.
How The Guide is Structured
A 4 step-process to go from paralyzed to confident
Step 1: Strategic Alignment: We determine which investment philosophy best helps achieve the objective of busy professionals.
Step 2: Solution Definition: We determine the evidence-based characteristics of 90% solution, one that achieve the majority of the result for a fraction of the complexity.
Step 3: Tool Screening: We evaluate different tools for the job and settle on the best product solution.
Step 4: Implementation. We cover the implementation steps and criteria to finally build your portfolio all on your own.
A Different Approach, Built on Education and Integrity.
Because the Best Steward of Your Capital Should Be You.
After 7+ years inside the financial industry here in Luxembourg, from fund audit to managing ETFs, I saw a fundamental problem: the system isn't always designed for your success. Too often, sophisticated professionals see their hard-earned wealth eroded by hidden fees, complex jargon, and advice conflicted by commissions.
Romain Lucas, Founder, Smart Money Growth
I believe you deserve better. I believe the knowledge to confidently manage your own capital shouldn't be a closely guarded secret or require navigating a predatory system. It should be accessible, transparent, and empowering.
So I quit. and founded Smart Money Growth
Smart Money Growth is build to be the unconflicted, evidence-based alternative I wished existed when I started. My mission isn't to manage your money, but to give you the clarity and frameworks to become the sovereign architect of your own wealth.We do this through pure education, on ETFs, passive investing, and personal finance. The practice is built on a single, non-negotiable principle: zero commissions, zero conflicts. My only incentive is your success – equipping you with proven principle and models so that lets you be the steward of your own capital.
Trusted by a Growing Community of Serious Investors
Frequently Asked Questions
So, what is the product?
The product is confidence, clarity, and time. It's a high-integrity educational service delivered via a 3-part model:
- The Public Frameworks: The high-value knowledge I publish, from the 5-page guide and my ongoing LinkedIn analysis to the private Strategic Session. Build your own path, using these proven frameworks.
- Implementation Workshops: Focused, hands-on sessions where we tackle the complex challenges investors commonly face. Using proven frameworks and my proprietary tools, we cut through the complexity, building a step-by-step path to demystify these critical issues and turn them into a solved problem.
- The 1-on-1 Mentorship: My private tutoring service. It's the fastest, most effective way to clear your specific roadblocks and ensure your problem is solved the best way, once and for all.
Isn't all this information available online? What's the real value here?
Some of the raw theory exists, yes. But it's often buried in dense academic papers, complex industry research, or requires insider knowledge to fully grasp. The real value I provide isn't just information; it's translation and application:
For the 'Clarity' (0-90%) path:
I've done the rigorous work of curating and distilling these proven principles into one simple, actionable 5-page guide. It's not just what to do; it's the clear, step-by-step how, designed to give you the confidence to solve the core problem of getting started effectively. It saves you the immense time and the costly mistakes of trying to piece it together yourself.
For the 'Mastery' (90-99%) path:
I translate advanced, institutional-grade concepts, often confined to academic theory or private wealth circles, into practical frameworks you can actually implement. Liability matching, optimizing for human capital, advanced factor analysis, the application of these sophisticated strategies for individual investors simply doesn't exist elsewhere in this accessible format.
Ultimately, you can spend hundreds of hours trying to piece together complex knowledge, unsure if it even applies to your situation. Or, you can leverage my expertise to get the relevant insights framed in a way that allows you to solve your specific problems and execute with unshakeable confidence.
Is this regulated financial advice?
No. Mentoring is educational. Under MiFID II, I do not give personal recommendations about specific instruments. We cover principles, tools, and public examples; you decide what, if anything, to buy.
How is mentoring different from hiring a traditional financial adviser?
Mentoring (This Service)
- Payment model: One fixed fee (mentorship) or hourly.
- Control of assets: You keep 100% control; no log-ins given.
- Service: Education, tools, decision frameworks.
- Product commissions: None.
- Ongoing dependence: Low, you are DIY after mentorship.
- Outcome: Investing self-directed.
- Trust: Trust the education, then trust yourself.
Typical Adviser (MiFID-licensed)
- Payment model: ~1% of assets every year.
- Control of assets: Adviser may hold or trade assets.
- Service: Personal recommendations and/or discretionary management.
- Product commissions: Possible, depending on adviser.
- Ongoing dependence: High; fee repeats annually.
- Outcome: Funds managed by advisor.
- Trust: Trust the adviser.
What is your investment philosophy?
The core philosophy is an evidence-based framework: global diversification through ultra-low-cost index ETFs, disciplined rebalancing, and tight cost control. While the implementation can be very simple (even one ETF), it can also become more complex depending on what's needed to achieve your specific goals. This approach is supported by peer-reviewed academic research and long-term industry data (SPIVA, Morningstar Active/Passive Barometer).
Will you tell me exactly what to buy?
No. I do not prescribe a specific ISIN or quantity, as final implementation decisions must be yours. However, all 1-on-1 Mentorship programs include exclusive access to the "Deep-Dive ETF Workshop" recording. This workshop provides the complete, step-by-step framework and uses detailed case studies to equip you with the methodology needed to select the best ETFs for your specific situation. Using these tools and frameworks, you will be fully empowered to make your final selections with confidence.
What is passive investing, and how is it different?
Passive investing means buying the whole market, not guessing which stocks will win.
- Index ETFs (exchange-traded funds) often track thousands of companies at once, for example, the MSCI World or a Total-Market index.
- Because ETFs simply copy an index, fees are tiny (often 0.05–0.20% per year).
- There’s no fund manager trying to “beat” the market, so results closely match market returns minus those low costs.
Active investing (or stock-picking) is the opposite. A manager, or you, tries to choose “winning” stocks or time the market, which incurs higher fees. Research from SPIVA and Morningstar shows this approach consistently underperforms after costs.
What results can I expect?
You can expect:
- The ability to maintain your portfolio in ≈ 45 min per month in a self-directed manner, often using automation.
- Typical fee savings of €2,000–€6,000 per €100k invested over 10 years, just from tax efficiency and good implementation. This can be upward of €10k+ compared to a financial advisor or bank products. These quantifiable savings alone often vastly exceed the cost of any program.
- The non-tangible but very real benefits: confidence, competence, and being guided by a trusted partner to stay the course. You'll also gain the ability to teach friends and family members the same proven principles.
Of course, investment returns are never guaranteed. Every investment carries risk, regardless of advice or approach. The mentorship focuses on increasing your probability of success and reducing avoidable costs.
Can I lose money using this approach?
Yes. Markets fluctuate, with or without mentoring or advisers. Diversification, cost control, and disciplined behaviour reduce, but cannot eliminate, market risk. Nobody can guarantee positive returns.
I want to book a consultation with you. Do I need to prepare anything?
Once you've filled out the application for a Fit Call, please prepare:
- Some information about your goals, your financial situation, and your country of residence (current and anticipated). This is only to guide the direction of the mentoring, never to give personalized investment advice.
- Your top questions and concerns.
Is there a refund guarantee?
We agree in advance on the objective, the nature of the service needed, and the path to achieve the desired outcome. If, however, there is a misunderstanding on the service or a lack of fit that reveals itself after we've started, then a refund will be issued.
What support is available during and after the mentorship?
All programs feature a set number of on-demand memos and dedicated support for clarifying questions on what has been taught. You also receive session recordings to review. The goal is that you are able to be independent after our work. I will, of course, keep publishing new frameworks to the community.
How do I get started?
The best way to begin is by selecting the path most relevant to you using the buttons below (either "Get the Guide" or "Apply for the Strategic Session"). In case of a unique or urgent situation, feel free to send me an email, and I will discuss the best way forward or redirect you appropriately.
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Are you Ready to take the next step?
© Smart Money Growth. All rights reserved. Smart Money Growth and Romain provide financial education and coaching services. We do not provide investment advice, individual recommendations, or manage investments on behalf of clients. The information shared on this website, the guide, during workshop/strategic sessions, mentorship sessions or through any other content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal, tax, or investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product. Each individual is responsible for their own investment decisions. If you require personalized financial advice, please consult a licensed financial advisor or other qualified professional.