For people new to the world of investing, buying stocks can be a scary concept, particularly during periods of extreme volatility. But according to SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community of personal finance and investing enthusiasts in the UAE, investing does not need to be complex at all. It says the process can actually be quite simple and you can master the basics in a couple of hours. To help residents achieve this, the group has launched its first guide to investing. Called Index Investing & Financial Independence for Expats, Getting Started Guide, it can be downloaded for free from SimplyFI.org or through their Facebook page.

So what does this new guide teach us? How does a passive investment strategy help secure your financial future? And how can we all go about achieving financial independence?

Host Alice Haine, the personal finance editor of The National, is joined by Elie Irani, the guide’s main author and a board member of SimplyFI.org, and Sebastien Aguilar, who founded the group in the UAE.