How to read an investment platform before you deposit

Start with the pages nobody markets: terms of use, risk disclosure and the withdrawal policy. A platform comfortable with scrutiny publishes them in full rather than condensing them into three friendly bullet points.

Then look at how returns are described. Wording matters: 'past performance does not guarantee future results' is a normal disclosure, while a specific monthly percentage presented as an expectation is not.

Finally, test the support channel before you deposit, not after. Ask a concrete question about withdrawal timing and see how quickly and precisely it's answered — that reply is a fair sample of what you'll get when it counts.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of some or all of the capital you invest. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you originally put in. Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.