Lusa – Business News – Portugal: Minister gives 11th year pupils tips on investing to mark Savings Day

Lisbon, Oct. 31, 2025 (Lusa) – The Portuguese minister of finance marked Savings Day on Friday by giving a lesson to pupils at a secondary school in Lisbon, explaining the best ways to invest money while avoiding mistakes and fraud.

“Be careful with what you find on the internet, especially if you see my face in some adverts, it’s a lie. I have already asked the Judicial Police and the SIS (Security Information Service) to try to stop this, but it is almost impossible,” he warned, referring to internet fraud.

Joaquim Miranda Sarmento spoke today to 150 11th-year pupils at the José Gomes Ferreira Secondary School in Lisbon.

The 47-year-old minister of finance attended the same school during his secondary education and, addressing the pupils, stated that all investments are subject to tax.

“There are only two certainties in life: death and paying taxes. Therefore, all the investments you make are subject to tax,” he said.

At the beginning of the class, the minister of finance explained the basic concepts of investment in relation to the rates of inflation, the time value of money, opportunity cost and the relationship between risk and return.

He also explained how the banking system works, saying that the “best thing” young people can do to save is to put part of their money in term deposits and the rest in funds, shares and bonds.

“Think about saving in the medium and long term, think about what you would like to do in two years’ time, or when you turn 18. You can drive, travel more, and think about the money you need. Think about the money you can save every month and, above all, the times when you receive more: on birthdays and at Christmas,” said the minister.

On the other hand, he warned that sacrifices must be made because you cannot buy everything and advised that it is easier to “negotiate” with parents when you have saved some money.

He also advised pupils to think about the “diversified” banking products available to them.

“The best option you have is to open a bank account and put some of your money into funds that can give you a higher return (deposits and funds). Be careful with risk. Take risks, but don’t take too many. Be careful with internet fraud and study very hard.”

At the end of the class, a pupil asked the minister if it was “worthwhile” to invest in cryptocurrencies, but was advised against it by the minister of finance.

“If my Secretary of State for the Budget were here, he would enthusiastically say yes (…) because he is a staunch investor in cryptocurrencies. My suggestion is that you invest no more than 1% or 2% of the money you have,” said the minister of finance, addressing the 11th-year pupil.

For Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, those who have invested in cryptocurrencies in recent years have made money, but he considered that “it is a bubble” because the assets tend to appreciate without any underlying economic reason.

At the same time, the minister of finance stressed that studying is very important for the future of young people, regardless of which school they attend, and criticised school ranking lists.

“There is a lot of talk about school rankings. They are completely irrelevant because the journey is made by each one of you. I studied at this school and I am a university lecturer and minister of finance,” he said.

The minister said that young people today have access to all the information that exists and that, currently, they “have a wider range of opportunities” than in the past, such as studying abroad.

Today, to mark Savings Day, financial literacy initiatives were held in schools across the country with the participation of members of the Government, academics and leaders of institutions.

In addition to the minister of finance, the Governor of the Bank of Portugal was also present at a secondary school in Coimbra.

PSP/AYLS // AYLS

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