Frequently asked questions about trading and investing

The financial market is the place where financial assets are bought and sold — stocks, currencies, bonds, commodities, and more. It brings together those who have capital to invest with those seeking financing.

It isn't a single market, but several: the capital market (stocks, bonds), the currency market (Forex), the commodities market. Prices are formed by supply and demand, in real time.

A stock exchange is an organized and regulated market where stocks and other financial instruments are traded, according to clear and transparent rules. Companies list their shares to attract capital, and investors can buy and sell them.

Well-known examples are the exchanges in New York or Frankfurt. In Moldova, the Moldova Stock Exchange operates, smaller and less liquid than international ones.

You have two main directions: investing long-term (you buy assets and hold them for growth and passive income) or trading short-term (you anticipate price movements).

Concretely, you can buy stocks, ETFs, currencies through the Forex market, commodities, or derivative instruments such as CFDs. Each comes with its own level of risk and time horizon.

Investing means buying an asset to hold it long-term, betting on its value growing over years. Trading means opening shorter-term positions — from a few minutes to a few weeks — to anticipate price movements.

The investor seeks gradual growth and passive income. The trader seeks profit from volatility, but needs more time, discipline, and risk management. Neither is "better" — it depends on your goals and the time you have available.

It can be — but not the way it's shown in social media ads. Professional traders typically work at investment funds, investment banks, or specialized firms, with institutional capital and strict risk control.

For the individual investor, the path to a professional level requires years of experience, discipline, and continuous education. Realistically, many start as a side activity, not as their main income from the outset.

Over time, investing can become an important source of passive income, but it rarely replaces a salary quickly. Solid portfolios are built over years and decades, by reinvesting gains.

For most people, investing works best as a second financial pillar, built consistently — not as a way to get rich quickly.

There is no universal "right" amount. The right amount depends on your goals, your risk tolerance, and how much you can afford to set aside without affecting your daily expenses.

The basic principle stays the same for everyone: only invest money you can afford to lose. Many beginners start with a demo account (no real money), then move to small amounts that they gradually increase as they gain experience.

You can start on your own. There are many free resources — articles, guides, demo accounts — that let you build the basics. Structured courses shorten the path: they give you a logical order, practical examples, and someone to ask questions.

The practical recommendation: start with free resources, and if you want to advance seriously, a course helps you avoid costly mistakes.

No. You need simple operations — addition, subtraction, percentages — which you do anyway every day, and platforms automatically calculate most values.

Much more important are discipline, patience, and the ability to stick to a plan. Many successful investors don't have advanced math training; instead, they have clear rules that they follow consistently.

It depends on the goal. The basics — how a market works, the terminology, how to read a chart — can be learned in a few weeks.

Long-term investing requires less study time and can be practiced relatively quickly. Active trading requires more: months of practicing on demo and, realistically, years to reach consistency. It's not a race; it's something you build.

Yes, entirely online. You only need a computer or phone, an internet connection, and an account with a regulated broker. Modern platforms work in a browser or through an app.

It's precisely this accessibility that draws many people to the financial markets — but easy access doesn't replace education and risk management.

No. Trading.md is not a broker, but an intermediary firm. We connect you with regulated international brokerage companies, help you open an account, and provide support and financial education.

In Moldova there are no local brokers for the global markets — there are only intermediary firms that work with brokers abroad. We chose to work only with regulated partners, which means safety for you and for our reputation.

When you open an account through one of our partners, the broker pays us a portion of the trading costs you would have paid anyway (for example, from the spreadspreadThe difference between the buy price and the sell price of an asset.). For you, the cost stays the same — you don't pay anything extra for our services.

Separately, we offer paid courses and consultations for those who want to learn systematically.

We offer access to regulated international brokers (intermediation and onboarding), technical and informational support, financial education through our blog and guides, plus paid trading and investing courses and consultations.

We also have Trading Club — a community for traders and investors in Moldova. In short, we try to cover everything someone needs to get started in the financial markets.

Yes. We operate through Royal Consulting SRL, a company registered in the Republic of Moldova, active in brokerage services since 2012. We have a physical office in central Chisinau.

We work exclusively with regulated brokers — a choice driven both by client safety and by our reputation.

Because you get support in Romanian at every step: we help you choose the broker that fits your profile, with opening and verifying your account, and with support whenever questions come up.

Your cost stays the same — the broker pays us, not you. In practice, you have a local intermediary between you and a company abroad.

Yes. We're located in the very center of Chisinau, close to the City Hall, the Government, and the CNPF. You can come in for a face-to-face discussion or contact us online.

You can find the full details and our schedule on the contact page.

A broker is the intermediary that gives you access to the financial markets. A regular investor can't buy stocks or currency directly on the exchange — they need a brokerage company that executes orders on their behalf and provides them with a platform.

The broker provides your account, the trading platform, and access to thousands of instruments. Trading.md helps you choose a regulated broker suited to your profile.

A regulated broker is supervised by a financial authority (for example, a European regulator) that imposes strict rules on it: segregating client funds from company funds, periodic reporting, and protection mechanisms.

Regulation is your first line of defense. It reduces the risk of fraud and gives you avenues for compensation if something goes wrong. That's why all Trading.md partners are regulated.

You check whether it has a valid license issued by a recognized financial authority, and look it up directly on the regulator's website. You read the terms and conditions, see where client funds are held, and how withdrawals are made.

Warning sign: any broker that promises guaranteed profit or pushes aggressively. We've already done this verification for our partners.

From a few sources: the spread (the difference between the buy and sell price), transaction commissions on certain account types, and overnight position fees (swapswapThe interest paid or received for keeping a position open overnight.).

On some instruments, the broker earns from the spread; on others, from a fixed commission. It's normal for these costs to exist — what matters is knowing them in advance.

At regulated brokers, client funds are held separately from the firm's funds, in segregated bank accounts. This means they can't be used for the broker's expenses, and in many jurisdictions there are also compensation schemes in case of bankruptcy.

The risk doesn't disappear completely, but regulation reduces it significantly — that's why it matters so much.

In theory yes, but not all brokers accept clients from every country, and many aren't regulated. Our recommendation is simple: choose among regulated brokers.

Working with an unregulated firm, no matter how attractive the offer looks, means less protection for your money. Our partners are already selected on this criterion.

The process is 100% online. You fill out a form, go through identity verification (KYCKYC"Know Your Customer" — the legally mandatory identity verification for any financial firm.) with an ID document, then activate your account.

At most brokers it takes between a few minutes and 1–2 business days, depending on document verification. We can guide you every step of the way.

A demo account lets you trade with virtual money under real market conditions. You learn the platform, test strategies, and make your first mistakes without risking a single leu.

It's the best starting point for any beginner. Move to real money only when you feel ready and understand how everything works.

Usually two: a valid ID document (ID card or passport) and proof of address (for example, a utility bill or a recent bank statement).

Identity verification (KYC) is legally mandatory for any financial firm and protects both parties against fraud. The process is online and usually takes little time.

Through the methods accepted by each broker — usually bank card, bank transfer, or e-wallets. Withdrawals are generally made through the same method you used to deposit, as a safety measure.

Timing varies: some deposits are instant, while withdrawals can take a few business days. Always check for any fees.

Yes, it's allowed and common. Many investors use different brokers for different instruments or to compare conditions.

Watch out, though, for spreading your attention and capital too thin: more accounts mean more to keep track of. To start, a single account with a regulated broker is more than enough.

It matters more than it seems. If you deposit in lei but trade instruments quoted in dollars or euros, each conversion adds a cost. Double conversion (leu → euro → dollar and back) can add an extra percentage at each step.

The practical solution: if you can, choose an account currency close to the instruments you trade.

The currency market (Forex) is the global market where currencies are exchanged — euro against dollar, dollar against leu, and so on. It's the largest and most liquid financial market in the world, operating over-the-counterover-the-counterDirect trading between participants, outside a centralized exchange. (OTC), 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

A CFD (Contract for Difference) is an instrument that lets you anticipate the price movement of an asset without actually owning it. You gain or lose the price difference between when the position was opened and when it was closed.

CFDs often use leverageleverageA mechanism that lets you control a position larger than the capital you deposited. It amplifies both gains and losses., which makes them riskier. That's why we explain them in detail separately.

A stock is a share of ownership in a company: when you buy one, you own a fraction of the firm and can benefit from its growth and, sometimes, dividends.

An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a basket of multiple assets, bought in a single move. ETFs offer easy diversification and are popular among long-term investors.

Currently, the crypto market is not regulated in Moldova, which means less legal protection for users. Authorities have announced a legal framework aligned with European standards, expected in 2026.

We offered access to crypto services in the past and will bring this offering back if and when the market becomes regulated. (Details in the Legal and Taxes chapter.)

Leverage lets you control a position larger than the capital you deposited. For example, with 1:10 leverage, a small amount "commands" a position ten times larger.

Careful: leverage amplifies gains and losses equally. It's one of the main reasons leveraged products are risky for beginners.

The spread is the difference between the price at which you can buy and the price at which you can sell an asset at the same moment. In practice, it's a cost on every trade: you start slightly "in the red" and need a favorable move to cover it.

The more often you trade, the more a small spread matters.

No. Trading is not gambling. In gambling, the house always has a fixed mathematical edge and the outcome is purely random. Trading is based on analysis, strategy, and risk management — a disciplined trader builds a statistical edge over time.

The approach makes the difference: with a clear plan and risk rules, it's a professional activity. Without a plan, with impulsive positions and trying to "revenge-trade" losses back, anyone can turn trading into something uncontrolled. That's exactly why education comes first.

With leveraged products, such as CFDs, losses can exceed the amount deposited if the market suddenly moves against you. Many regulated brokers offer negative balance protection, which limits the loss to the capital in your account — always check for this.

No one can guarantee a profit, and anyone who promises you sure returns should be avoided. Results depend on strategy, discipline, capital, and market conditions. A significant share of non-professional investors lose money, especially at the start.

The realistic approach: treat your first steps as an investment in education, not as a quick source of income. Consistent profit comes from experience and proper risk management.

There's no universal figure. At the institutional level, traders at funds and investment banks can have high incomes — but they work with institutional capital, teams, infrastructure, and strict obligations, conditions that don't compare to those of an individual investor.

For individuals, the reality is more modest: a significant share lose money, especially at the start. Treat the spectacular figures you see online with caution.

The activity itself is legitimate as long as you use a regulated broker. Scams do exist, but they come from unregulated entities that promise guaranteed profit, "magic signals," or quickly doubling your money.

The golden rule: if someone guarantees you gains, that's a red flag for fraud. The financial markets are real; promises of getting rich quick, almost never are.

Through a few simple rules, applied consistently: you risk only a small portion of your capital on a single trade, you use stop orders that automatically close the position at a preset loss, and you don't put all your money into a single instrument.

Risk management doesn't guarantee profit, but it keeps you in the game — and that matters enormously in the long run.

A margin call is the broker's warning that the funds in your account no longer cover your open positions. If the market keeps moving against you and your capital drops below a threshold, Stop Out kicks in: the broker automatically closes positions to limit losses.

Stop Out is the term familiar to traders; in regulatory language it also appears as "margin closeout".

A huge role. Many losses don't come from a lack of knowledge, but from emotions: fear makes you close too early, greed makes you risk too much, frustration makes you "chase" losses impulsively.

Good investors and traders aren't the ones without emotions, but the ones who recognize them and follow a plan instead of reacting in the moment. Discipline beats inspiration.

With rules written down in advance and followed without exception: how much you risk per trade, when you enter, when you exit. A clear plan takes decisions out of emotion's hands.

Taking breaks helps too — don't trade right after a loss. Many keep a trading journal to see their patterns. Emotional control is trained, it doesn't come naturally from the start.

For a few recurring reasons: lack of a plan, too much leverage, overtrading, emotional decisions, and expecting quick profit.

For leveraged products, the statistics speak for themselves — between 74% and 89% of non-professional investor accounts lose money (ESMA data). The good news: most of these mistakes can be avoided with education and discipline.

It's a set of clear rules that tell you what, when, and how to trade — the criteria you use to enter a position, when to exit, and how much to risk. A strategy eliminates improvisation and emotional decisions.

There are many styles, from fast-paced ones (several trades a day) to slower ones. What matters isn't the "perfect strategy," but one you understand and apply consistently.

A few simple, time-tested approaches: investing small amounts consistently at regular intervals (regardless of price), diversifying across multiple assets to reduce risk, and long-term investing in broad instruments, such as ETFs.

The common idea: consistency and patience, not perfect market timing. For most beginners, simplicity works better than complexity.

Not necessarily. It depends on your style: an active short-term trader watches the market frequently, while a long-term investor may check their portfolio a few times a month.

In fact, obsessive checking often leads to poor emotional decisions. Choose a style that fits your time and temperament.

Technical analysis studies charts and price movements to anticipate direction, assuming the price already reflects everything. Fundamental analysis looks at the real "health" behind it — a company's results, economic data, interest rates.

Short-term traders lean toward technical analysis; long-term investors, toward fundamental analysis. Many approaches combine both.

Yes. Individuals in Moldova can invest and trade legally. Recent legislation regulates how service-providing firms promote and distribute financial instruments, but it doesn't limit investors' right to independently access authorized platforms.

In other words, as an investor you have the right to open an account with a regulated broker and trade. Our recommendation remains: use only regulated brokers.

CNPF (National Commission for Financial Markets) is the public authority in Moldova that supervises the non-banking financial market — the capital market, insurance, and other non-banking financial services.

Its role is to ensure market stability and transparency, prevent manipulation, and protect consumers of financial services. The CNPF is the authority that enforces capital market legislation.

Law 177/2025 (in effect since July 2025) initiated the regulation of the derivative financial instruments market and strengthened investor protection. It targets service-providing firms — the way they can promote, sell, and distribute these instruments.

For you, as a non-professional investor, the law doesn't restrict your right to access authorized platforms. In practice, its purpose is to protect you from aggressive marketing and unfair practices.

Investment gains are treated as capital gains. The taxable base is 50% of the realized gain (the difference between the sale price and the purchase price), and the income tax rate is 12%.

As a result, the effective tax comes to about 6% of the total gain. The declaration is filed with the State Tax Service using form CET18, by April 30 of the following year. Purchase documents must be kept.

No. Binary options are banned in Moldova under Law 177/2025 — their promotion, sale, and distribution are prohibited, with no exceptions. This measure protects investors from an extremely high-risk product.

Trading.md does not promote or provide access to binary options. We focus on instruments offered by regulated brokers.

Currently, no. The crypto market doesn't yet have a legal framework in Moldova, so it offers less protection to users. Authorities (the Ministry of Finance, together with the National Bank and the CNPF) are preparing regulation aligned with European standards, announced for 2026.

According to the stated intentions, holding and trading crypto would be legalized, and profits taxed, without the leu being replaced as the official currency. (Announced information, not yet adopted.)

A healthy path follows this order: (1) you learn the basics — concepts, terminology, how a market works; (2) you choose a regulated broker suited to your profile; (3) you practice on a demo account, with no real money; (4) you build a clear strategy, with a plan and risk-management rules; (5) you trade on demo until you reach consistent results, matching the track record you're aiming for; (6) only then do you move to real money, with small amounts that you gradually increase.

Education remains the first step, and the move to real money — the last. We can guide you through every stage.

With an amount you can afford to lose without affecting your daily life. There's no universal "right" threshold — it depends on your goals and situation.

Many start with small amounts, which they gradually increase after gaining experience. Before real money, practice on a demo account.

The basics: how a market works, the essential terminology (spread, leverage, order), how to read a chart, and — most importantly — the principles of risk management. Only then move on to strategies.

Many beginners jump straight to "how do I earn fast" and miss the fundamentals. The correct order: understand the mechanics, practice on demo, then risk small amounts.

For the individual investor, the path to a professional level requires years of experience and discipline — and remains uncertain. Professional traders typically work at investment funds, investment banks, or specialized firms, with institutional capital and infrastructure.

The realistic approach: start it as a side activity, keep learning consistently, and don't give up your main source of income right away.

Jumping straight to real money, without practicing and without a risk-management plan. The second common mistake: too much leverage, which turns a small loss into a serious one.

Start with a demo account, define your risk rules, and treat your first steps as an investment in education, not as a quick source of income.

On our blog you'll find articles for beginners, and our pillar guides explain the Forex market, CFDs, and the basic concepts in detail. You also have demo accounts for practice and the Trading Club community, where you can ask questions.

If you want a structured path, our courses and consultations cover the journey from scratch, step by step.