The SPI Crowdlending Method Checklist: 47 Points to Vet Any Platform
After losing €50,000 to fake crowdlending gurus, I developed a systematic approach that now safeguards my €1,000,000+ portfolio and delivers consistent 12.25% net returns.
The hardest lesson learned? Most platform failures are predictable if you know what to look for.
In this comprehensive guide, I’m giving you the exact 47-point checklist I use to evaluate every crowdlending opportunity—the same framework that’s helped me achieve 4.5 years without significant losses.
Why I Created This Checklist (My €50,000 Wake-Up Call)
Like most investors, I started by trusting social media “experts” with impressive charts and success stories. The brutal truth I discovered? Many maintained minimal investments (€200-€500) primarily to qualify for affiliate commissions while recommending I risk tens of thousands.
When platforms I’d invested significant amounts in began failing, these “gurus” disappeared. Their business model was customer acquisition, not investment success.
My fundamental mistake: trusting advice from people with minimal skin in the game. Many social media analysts sign up with €200 for three months just to create “review” content, lacking the long-term experience and real financial commitment that separates theoretical analysis from practical wisdom.
This €50,000 lesson taught me that real due diligence requires both a systematic framework and genuine platform experience.
How to Use This Checklist Without Analysis Paralysis
This 47-point checklist is comprehensive, but you don’t need perfect information on every point. Focus on these priorities:
- Red flags in any category should give you pause
- Aim for 80% completeness rather than 100%
- Some verified data beats perfect missing data
The real value comes from combining this structured approach with the intangible wisdom of actual experience—something I provide clients through 5 years and €1,000,000+ of real testing across 50+ platforms.
The SPI P2P Method Checklist: 47 Points Across 3 Pillars
🛡️ PILLAR 1: STRUCTURAL SECURITY (25 Points)
The Non-Negotiable Foundation
Excellent returns mean nothing if the platform itself fails
Regulatory Compliance & Governance
- Verified regulatory license from recognized authority
- Minimum 3 years of operational history
- Audited financial statements available
- Clear corporate structure and ownership
- Management team with relevant financial experience
Investor Protection Mechanisms
- Buyback guarantee terms clearly defined
- Provision fund size relative to portfolio
- Historical performance of protection mechanisms
- Legal jurisdiction favorable to investors
- Insurance coverage details
Platform Financial Health
- Platform profitability or clear path to it
- Adequate capitalization ratios
- Transparent fee structure
- Sustainable business model
- Independent credit rating if available
Originator Due Diligence
- Originator financial health verification
- Underwriting standards transparency
- Historical originator default rates
- Geographic diversification of originators
- Contractual relationships with originators
Operational Security
- Data protection compliance (GDPR, etc.)
- Banking partner credibility
- Technology infrastructure reliability
- Customer service responsiveness
- Crisis management plan transparency
💰 PILLAR 2: REAL PROFIT POTENTIAL (12 Points)
Moving Beyond Advertised Returns
Calculate what you’ll actually keep after all costs
Net Return Calculation
- Stated gross returns vs. historical actual returns
- All fees and commissions clearly itemized
- Historical default rates across market cycles
- Currency exchange costs if applicable
- Tax treatment efficiency
Operational Efficiency
- Auto-invest functionality and flexibility
- Cash drag minimization features
- Reinvestment automation options
- Withdrawal processing times
- Secondary market liquidity depth
Sustainable Competitive Advantage
- Unique technology or market position
- Defensible market niche
- Scalability of business model
- Innovation pipeline visibility
🌐 PILLAR 3: PORTFOLIO IMPACT (10 Points)
Strategic Integration
Excellent individual investments don’t necessarily create excellent portfolios
Diversification Alignment
- Geographic diversification vs. current portfolio
- Loan type diversification benefits
- Currency exposure alignment
- Correlation with existing investments
Risk-Return Optimization
- Risk-adjusted return potential
- Liquidity profile matching needs
- Investment timeline compatibility
- Tax efficiency within overall strategy
Monitoring & Exit Strategy
- Reporting transparency and frequency
- Clear performance benchmarks
- Pre-defined exit triggers
The Intangible Difference: Experience You Can’t Download
While this checklist provides the framework, the real wisdom comes from lived experience. At Carlia Consulting, we offer what no checklist can provide:
🎯 5 Years of Real Money Testing
We’ve invested €1,000,000+ across 50+ platforms over 3-5 years before recommending any to clients. When we say a platform delivers 12.25% net returns, we show you exactly where our money is invested to prove it.
📊 Beyond Paper Analysis
Checklists can’t capture platform behavior during market crashes, liquidity crises, or regulatory changes. We’ve lived through these scenarios and built our recommendations on real stress-testing, not theoretical analysis.
🤝 Perfect Alignment of Interests
Unlike affiliate-driven reviewers, we maintain substantial personal investments in every platform we recommend:
- PeerBerry: €85,000+ personal investment
- Mintos: €120,000+ personal exposure
- EstateGuru: €65,000+ own capital at risk
When you invest based on our advice, you can verify we face the same risks and rewards.
Your Next Steps: From Checklist to Confident Investing
P2P Crowdlending Platforms Where I Maintain Substantial Personal Investments
These platforms have passed our 47-point checklist AND 3-5 years of real-money testing:
Note: Some links above are affiliate links that provide minor compensation at no cost to you. We only affiliate with platforms where we maintain substantial personal investments.
Conclusion: Knowledge vs. Wisdom
This 47-point checklist gives you the knowledge to avoid obvious red flags and make informed decisions. But wisdom comes from applying this framework across market cycles, learning from mistakes, and developing the intuition that only experience brings.
After losing quite a lot of money due to bad advice, I committed to providing the guidance I wish I’d had. The choice is simple: continue following potentially conflicted influencers, or embrace a proven methodological framework backed by real skin in the game.
To learn more about the SPI methodology that has enabled these results, visit our complete guides:
Verified Platforms Where I Have My Money Invested
Click on our referral links to get welcome bonuses for your first investments:
Lendermarket
Bondster
PeerBerry
Esketit
Income
Robocash
Swaper
EstateGuru
Debitum
Profitus
HeavyFinance
Lande
Crowd With Us
CrowdPear
Scramble
Kiviku Finance
ViaInvest
Twino
Hive5
NordStreet
Nibble
Maclear
Loanch
Afranga
Lonvest
Ventus Energy
Tokenized Green
Civislend
