investing guide Archives - Smartchoice.pk https://smartchoice.pk/blog/tag/investing-guide/ Personal finance, insurance & life style tips to help you make smart decisions Tue, 12 Mar 2024 18:01:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.5 https://smartchoice.pk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fav_64.png investing guide Archives - Smartchoice.pk https://smartchoice.pk/blog/tag/investing-guide/ 32 32 All you need to know about Investing In Pakistani Mutual Funds https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2022/02/all-you-need-to-know-about-investing-in-pakistani-mutual-funds/ https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2022/02/all-you-need-to-know-about-investing-in-pakistani-mutual-funds/#respond Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:18:24 +0000 https://smartchoice.pk/blog/?p=6458 Mutual funds may seem complicated to people new to investing or investment products. They are a comparatively safer and low-risk […]

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Mutual funds may seem complicated to people new to investing or investment products. They are a comparatively safer and low-risk investment option. If you have not invested in any form before and have as little as Rs. 5000 to spare, you can start a simple investment option known as “Mutual Funds”.

Mutual Funds are a good option for new investors because of the following advantages:

  • Mutual funds are designed to make investing low-cost and straightforward. You can begin investing with as little as Rs. 5,000.
  • Investors are not burdened with the decision and research involved in selecting the stocks and bonds to be purchased in the funds or the daily management and safekeeping of the chosen investments.

What are Mutual Funds

A mutual fund is a selection of stocks, bonds, money market instruments, or any similar assets bought by the investors’ money. A mutual fund can be different combinations of stocks, stocks & bonds, or any other variety of securities combined under the mutual fund as a single investment pool.

This combination is specified in the mandate of the mutual fund, and they cannot deviate from the set mandate.

Mutual fund investments are managed by Money or Fund Managers, who make the investment decisions and manage the funds to ensure that capital gains are maximized for investors.

Mutual funds are run by Asset Management Companies (AMCs), usually public limited companies. A Trust (and Trust Deed) is established by the Asset Management Company under which a mutual fund is launched. The Trustee acts as the custodian of the fund’s assets while the Fund Manager makes the investment and related operational decisions regarding the fund. Asset Management Companies can launch and manage multiple mutual funds with different or overlapping, or entirely distinct mandates.

Why Invest in Mutual Funds:

Mutual funds offer an optimized investment option to yield competitive returns to meet long-term or short-term financial goals. The investor can invest with the long-term financial goals of arranging funds for their child’s higher education or retirement savings or child’s marriage etc. An investor can also have short-term financial goals like saving for a vacation or buying a new car or a new home.

Before investing in mutual funds, all investors need to know their investment objectives. This will help determine the risk and return profile, investment timeline, and target goals. Understanding these questions will allow an investor to make more effective investment decisions.

By investing in mutual funds, the investor gets the advantage of exposure to different securities under a single investment package. They allow the investor to develop a diversified portfolio of assets while enjoying financial management by professionals.

Another key advantage of investing in mutual funds is that the investor can avail tax credit.

Types of Mutual Funds:
There are two primary forms of mutual funds. These are

  1. Closed-Ended Mutual Fund:  These funds are traded on the Secondary Market after their launch through an Initial Public Offering.
  2. Open-Ended Mutual Funds: These funds are issued in the form of Units to investors, which can be redeemed (sold back) based on their Net Asset Value (NAV) at any time. These funds can be purchased and redeemed through the Fund Management Company, which daily announces their offer and redemption prices. These funds can also be listed on the Stock Market.

Categories of Mutual Funds:

Mutual Funds are of different categories. These categories are based on where the fund invests, its risk profile, and the investment strategy. In Pakistan, the following mutual fund categories are approved by the SECP.

1.     Money Market Fund

These funds invest in short-term fixed-income securities like government bonds and certificates of deposits, and commercial paper. Their aim is to maintain high liquidity by investing in low-risk instruments that are generally safer.

2.     Income Fund

These funds generally invest in market securities, term finance certificates/sukuks, commercial paper, and spread transactions. They aim to generate a regular stream of income for their unitholders.

An income fund is generally seen as less risky compared to an equity fund as it is not likely to be affected by market volatility. The probability of capital appreciation is also limited.

3.     Equity Fund

These funds invest in stocks and grow faster than money market or fixed-income funds. This means they carry a higher risk as they are exposed to market volatility.  An equity fund aims to provide exposure to listed equity securities and capital appreciation over the medium to long­ term.

4.     Balanced Fund

A balanced fund offers exposure to both growth and regular income by investing in equities and fixed income securities. Regulations require that balanced funds keep 30% to 70% of their net investments in listed equity securities.

The other remaining can be invested in other certified investments. Balanced funds are exposed to both risks of fluctuations in equity markets and interest rate variations. Balanced funds can be risky like equity funds but are less risky than equity funds based on asset allocation.

5.     Asset Allocation Fund

These funds can invest in any type of securities subject to conditions to diversify their assets across different types of securities and investment styles as written in their offering document. Asset allocation funds are generally considered high-risk funds due to their potential to be fully invested in equities at any point in time.

6.     Capital Protected Fund

This type of fund makes investments in such a way that the original amount of investment is safe to ensure positive investment returns. This fund keeps a significant part of its net amount in a bank in the form of a term deposit. At the same time, the remaining is invested in accordance with the authorized investments stated in the offering document. Unlike other funds, the capital-protected fund has a fixed maturity period specified under the investment period or tenure.

7.     Index Tracker Fund

This type of fund is designed to carry out the activities of a particular index and show the probable tracking in the offering document. Investment of at least 85% of net assets is required in the securities that constitute the selected index or subset.

8.     Fund of Funds

This fund holds other mutual funds in its portfolio rather than investing directly in any security. However, each fund of funds will have its own category, for instance, equity fund of funds, income fund of funds, etc.

An investor can invest in the fund that suits his investment strategy, the investment time horizon, how much risk he can tolerate, his cash flow requirements, or any other investment objectives/ requirements.

The Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan has a very helpful website http://www.mufap.com/ with comprehensive details and comparisons of fund performance.

Key Terms:

Some key terms used in mutual funds investment that you should know are as follows:

Net Asset Value (NAV): 

Net Asset Value is the market value of a mutual fund’s assets after deducting its expenses and liabilities on a particular day. The per unit NAV is the Net Asset Value of the funds divided by the number of units/ certificates outstanding on the Valuation Date. The NAV shows the performance of a mutual fund.

NAV = (Current Market Value of all Assets – Expenses – Liabilities) / (Total Number of Units Outstanding)

Expense Ratio: 

Expense Ratio is the fund’s annual fund operating expenses, expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. An Expense Ratio of 1% p.a. means that 1% of the fund’s total assets will be used to cover expenses each year. Expense Ratios are essential to consider when choosing a category of mutual fund as they can significantly affect returns.

Redemption: 

The units of open-end mutual funds can be partially or fully redeemed at any time from the Asset Management Company that manages the funds.

Fund Manager Report

This is a monthly report produced by an asset management company in which information on the composition and performance of the mutual funds is presented.

How to Invest in Mutual Funds:
The documents needed for opening a mutual fund account are as follows:

  1. CNIC Copy
  2. Application/ Account Opening Form/ Purchase of Units Form
  3. Zakat Affidavit (Optional)
  4. KYC Form/ FATCA Form
  5. Cheque/ Pay Order/ Demand Draft (payable to the respective Trustee)

Fees & Charges:

You must keep in mind that there are charges involved with investing in mutual funds. Some of these charges are as follows:

  1. One-time Fee: This fee is paid for investment/ divestment in an open-end fund. Details of these fees are disclosed in the offering documents.
  2. Front-end Load: This is charged on the purchase of units of the fund.
  3. Backend Load: This is charged when an investor redeems his investment in the mutual fund.
  4. Contingent or Deferred Sales Load: This is charged only when there is no front-end load. This load ischarged on redemption of investment. However, funds can reduce it progressively if an investor holds an investment for a more extended period.
  5. Management Fee: This is the fee charged by the AMC for the management of a fund.
  6. Trustee Fee: This is the fee charged by the Trustee to provide trusteeship and other services for the fund’s assets.

Benefits Of Investing In Mutual Funds:

Asset management companies manage mutual funds. They evaluate investment opportunities by researching, selecting, and monitoring the performance of the securities purchased by the fund. These tasks are done by qualified financial professionals who make calculated investment decisions on your behalf.

Diversification

A mutual fund can help reduce investment risk if a company or sector fails by spreading its investments over other securities and investment sectors.

Affordability

Mutual funds are ideal for investors without a lot of money to invest. They have relatively low Rupee amounts for initial purchases and subsequent monthly purchases. For example, you can add funds at set amounts of, say, PKR 1,000 to 5,000 per month or other intervals. This is not difficult to set aside for savings or investment purposes.

Liquidity

Mutual fund unit holders can easily redeem their units into cash on any working day. They will receive the applicable value (NAV) of their investment within six working days. Investors do not need to look or wait for a buyer. The fund buys back (redeems) the units at the current net asset value (NAV).

Well regulated

The SECP continuously monitors all mutual funds through reports that the mutual funds are required to file with the SECP regularly.

Transparency

a mutual fund’s performance is reviewed by different publications, rating agencies, and the SECP. This makes it convenient for investors to compare the performances of different funds. Unit holders also receive regular updates, like daily NAVs, fund’s holdings, and the fund manager’s monthly strategy report.

Tax benefits

Investment in mutual fund schemes entitles the investor to avail tax credit that enhances the overall return on their savings

Things to Know Before Investing In A Mutual Fund

Before selecting an appropriate mutual fund for your savings, you must identify your investment objectives. Your financial goals are determined by your income, expenses, financial independence, age, lifestyle, family stage, etc.

Here are some questions that you should ask yourself and likely answers that will help you select an appropriate mutual fund.

  • Why am I investing?

I need some side income, need to save up to buy a home, fund a wedding, save for higher education, or a combination of all these needs.

  • What is my risk tolerance?

I am unwilling to take any risk, or I accept that to earn long-term gains, I may book short-term losses.

  • What are my cash flow requirements?

I want to multiply my assets for the future and do not need periodic cash flow; I need a regular cash flow, or I need X amount to meet a need in X years.

  • What is my time horizon?
  • I need some money in under a year (short term), or one to five years (medium-term), or five years or more (long time)

If you answer these questions honestly, you will have clarity of what to expect from your investment.

This will help you determine an appropriate mutual fund investment strategy.

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All you need to know about investing in Pakistan’s Share Market https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2022/02/all-you-need-to-know-about-investing-in-pakistans-share-market/ https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2022/02/all-you-need-to-know-about-investing-in-pakistans-share-market/#respond Sat, 05 Feb 2022 20:51:25 +0000 https://smartchoice.pk/blog/?p=6421   Investing in the stock market is one of the most common means of investing all over the world. There […]

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Investing in the stock market is one of the most common means of investing all over the world. There is a whole science to it and for someone looking to start investing for the first time, it can be confusing. This article will help introduce you to the technical world of stock investments.

 

What are stocks and how can you earn from them?

 

Stocks or shares are units of ownership of a company. Companies issue shares for the money that they raise. People that buy shares become shareholders of a company. Companies that are established, pay their shareholders some portion of their net earnings. This payment is called dividends if it is paid in cash. Sometimes a company pays its shareholders more stock if it doesn’t have the cash to distribute. The additional shares are called bonus shares.

 

Types of Shares

Shares can be preferred or common, which yields different returns for shareholders. They are traded in the stock market by specialized vendors called stockbrokers or stock traders. Many people invest in stocks by buying companies’ stocks and hope that the company will pay good dividends. People that purchase stocks for an extended period are known as investors. This type of investment is called passive investment.

 

Most people investing in stocks are passive investors; however, some people buy and sell stocks regularly. These people are known as day traders or active traders.

 

Active traders trade in stocks over a short term of maybe a day or up to a month, just to capitalize on the share price fluctuation. A basic rule of thumb is to call investors that trade shares at least ten times a month an active trader. These people try to benefit from rising share prices, buying a share as it rises and then selling it as it reaches the expected peak price. These people usually base their decision on information about the share, the company’s anticipated results, or some other information.

 

For the average person looking to invest in stocks, bear in mind that it is best to keep things simple. If you do not know the stock market, it is best if you dabble in a mix of low cost, indexed funds to get the most out of your investment in the stock market.

 

How To Trade In The Stock Market?

Pakistan Stock Exchange building

To start on your investing journey, you must open a brokerage account. This account can be linked to your bank account for fund transfers.  The most common way to trade shares in the stock market is by trading through stock exchanges. Stock markets are where buying and selling forces influence the trading price of a stock. Through a stockbroker, you can buy shares from existing investors who wish to sell them and vice versa.

Stock market transactions can be of two types, primary and secondary market transactions.

Primary Market

When a company first releases its stock, it is called an Initial Public Offering, usually called an IPO in short.  Since there are regulatory requirements that companies must follow, the IPO must be registered, and the company decides which banks it wants to issue the IPO through.

IPO offerings

An IPO specifies a fixed number of shares for a specific price. You must subscribe to the shares through the bank’s IPO offering documents. At times, an IPO can be oversubscribed, which means that more people have subscribed for the IPO than there are shares to be issued. Similarly, an IPO can also be undersubscribed, which means fewer people are looking to buy the stock than there are shares.

In most cases, primary market issues are much lesser in number compared to secondary market trades.

 

Secondary Market

Stock is traded on stock exchanges in secondary sales. Trading in stocks has to meet specific government regulations. Most of these regulations are in place to protect investors from fraud. Over the long run, stocks usually give better returns on the money you invest in them than other investments.

 

Brokerage

An investor must trade stocks through brokers or brokerage houses registered with the stock exchange. This does not require the direct involvement of the company. Each stock exchange has a number of brokers and brokerage houses registered. Registered Brokers/brokerage houses are allowed to engage in the execution of trade on others’ behalf as per the laws, rules and regulations. The following points are of key importance if you are opting for trade.

  • For protection against fraud and misrepresentation, an investor should trade only through registered brokers/brokerage houses and agents.
  • Make sure that the brokerage house, broker or agent you pick is authentic. You can check their registration on the SECP’s uploaded list of registered Stock Exchanges brokers and agents on its website. Remember that the registration of all the brokerage houses/brokers and agents are valid for a period of one year. this registration is renewed annually.
  • If you find an unregistered broker or agent, report them immediately to the SECP as it is in the general interest of other investors.
  • The list of registered brokerage houses/brokers and agents can also be found on the respective websites of the Exchanges.

 Trading Platform

When assessing a brokerage house or agent to invest in the Stock market, make sure to see how you like their trading platform. An online trading platform helps its users to assess the market through pricing charts and indicators that track stock prices and behaviours. A comprehensive trading platform that is easy to use and understand is essential to place orders on the stock exchange.

Research

PSX Pakistan Stock Exchange

Availability of research into industries, sectors and market behavior can be helpful in making informed and sensible decisions about shares in your portfolio. Having market information is important to successful stock trading. Having informed market research and other information is useful.

Steps to open a brokerage account

You need the following to open a brokerage account:

  • CNIC
  • A Pakistani bank account.
  • Salary slip; if you are self-employed, provide a bank statement. This helps in having swift credit history checks.
  • You must research which brokerage will work for you and then visit them physically once.
  • Once you finish all the paperwork and admit all the documents, you will have to wait for 1-2 weeks.
  • After the verification and account processing is done, you will be granted access to trade with stock exchange issued stocks.

Once the account opening formality is completed you will not need to visit your brokerage firm as the majority of dealings and trades will be handled online on the platform.

Benefits of Investing in Stocks

At times, the stock market over or underprices shares based on market and industry trends. Similarly, the stock market undervalues shares based on negative news and events. These events and news could be directly related to the company or could impact it indirectly by being connected to the industry that the company works in.

SCS - PSX - Pakistan Stock Exchange Brokerage

This can be confusing for investors as while the company’s financials and valuation are the same, the market price is affected by different news or events. An example would be shares prices falling after a poor World Cup performance.  Unrelated and related events can influence prices for the short term but this is not relevant for passive investing we discussed above.

In spite of the challenges, investing in shares has some benefits to offer:

1.    Capital Gain

A strong fluctuation in stock prices can give you a better gain from your investment than a simple long term investment. As stock prices change every day, this makes stocks a sound long-term investment.

2.     Dividends

Established and well-performing companies in the shareholder market offer dividends and bonus shares to their shareholders at the end of each financial year. This allows for capital appreciation if you continue to reinvest the dividends you receive. The more shares you own, the more profit you will earn at the end of each financial year.

3.    Liquidity

Investing in shares is a liquid investment. Most shares can be easily bought and sold on any working day on the stock market

How to Trade in Stocks

The underlying concept behind investing is simple, you know the price of something and the predictions or forecasts for the price. Ideally when it’s available for a lower price in the market, you buy it. This is kind of like buying a product on sale. It’s the same product, but you buy it for less. This means that you save money while investing in something worthwhile

Bear in mind that it is better to see the financial analysis on the company’s financials, keep an eye on its dividend payouts, revenue, cash flows, events related to the industry, its brand target market, and its competitive edge.  This is where your broker’s research should be useful.

The more information you have, the more reliable your buying decision is going to be. The process of analyzing a company’s financials as well as non-financial components is known as intrinsic analysis.

Since such analysis involves multiple factors, many investors make mistakes in their stock valuation.

Why All Investors Should Be Careful of Stock Prices

As an investor, you should realize that the stock market is complex and unpredictable for even the most seasoned investors. If the market is rising, it is time for any investor to sell off their short-term holdings and gain based on the rising market.

Most newbies and even some seasoned investors get excited by rising trends and buy specific stocks rising daily. Investors’ buying interests usually drive such rises, and there is no guarantee of how long such rising trends, known as rallies, would continue.

When you go to a mall, you don’t walk into a store and buy just anything. You usually have a list or know what you want to buy and which shops to go into to browse. The same should hold for investing in the stock market.

You should have a list of sectors, stocks, and performance history to know which stock performance and valuation fits into your investment preference or risk appetite. Ideally, you should also know which stock should be bought at which price range and sold off at what level.

Some basic rules to follow before you start investing in a new stock are:

  1. Always research the company you are planning to invest in. What is their business, and which products do they sell? Do the products have a steady demand? Is the competition strong? Does the company have the muscle and capacity to supply the product?
  2. How long has the company been in business? Does it have a good stock performance record?
  3. Does it have sound Corporate Governance policies?

The stock market is all about news and perceptions. It is fueled and runs on the information. But should you invest in shares based on the news? A hot tip from a dealer or your broker should be taken with some healthy scepticism.

A golden rule is to buy on the rumour and sell on the news. Institutional investors would already be aware of the rumours, and jumping onto the buying bandwagon will only reduce your margins if there are any left. For instance, if market rumours claim that a company is due to get a big contract, its share price would start rising and would cross its intrinsic and fundamental valuation.

People begin to buy based on the rising trend, and the price would increase further. Once the rumour is proven to be false, everyone who bought during the rise would stand to lose money. However, if you had already purchased before the rumours and sold during the rise, then you stand to gain from your investment.

Buying based on rumours and news means that the stock price has already risen to accommodate the rumour prices and would be priced higher than its actual prices. You need to bear in mind that the stock market is fluid; it cannot remain high or low for an indefinite period. You have to follow market prices and pick up stocks when they are at low points.

 

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Invest Money in Pakistan: An Ultimate Beginners Guide https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2021/12/invest-money-in-pakistan-an-ultimate-beginners-guide/ https://smartchoice.pk/blog/2021/12/invest-money-in-pakistan-an-ultimate-beginners-guide/#respond Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:29:36 +0000 https://smartchoice.pk/blog/?p=6109 Investing is a process through which the investor (the person investing) puts some money aside to earn more money. The […]

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Investing is a process through which the investor (the person investing) puts some money aside to earn more money. The theory is that the money works for you without getting involved and growing. The objective is to increase the money you have.

What Kind of Investor Are You?

What Kind of Investor Are You?

Before you decide to invest money someplace, you need to know what type of investor you are. This means that you figure out how much risk you’re willing to take. This is because most investment choices have some risk. Risk can be seen as the chance of losing your original money, which is also known as your capital. Some people are not willing to have their capital at risk at all. This is known as being risk averse. Others are very comfortable with risking their money if there is a prospect that they can gain more in time. Most of us have risk preferences that fall in some range between these two extremes.

Most investment choices are categorized according to their risk level. For example, many people see Defence and Special Saving Certificates as safe investment avenues in Pakistan. Similarly, the stock market is riskier and more prone to manipulation.

As a new investor, it is up to you to decide what risk levels you are more comfortable with. standard options through which you can invest are as follows:

1. Investing through your employer

Investing through your employer

One of the safest options for investment can be to simply ask your employer to deduct an extra percentage of your salary into the retirement plan offered by your employer. This is an effortless and safe way of investing money with minimal hassle. Once you get used to this extra deduction, you won’t even feel its absence.

Most work-based retirement plans deduct your contribution before taxes, making it even more convenient. The charm is that you can continue to increase this deduction as your salary increases through promotions and annual raises.

2. Investing in stocks

Investing in stocks

A stock is an ownership unit in a business that gives the person ownership rights. Stocks are also called shares. A person holding stock in a company is the shareholder of that company. Most companies issue stocks to generate money for their businesses. Investors can buy and sell shares on stock exchanges or markets to earn profit from price fluctuation or dividends.

· What is a Stock Exchange?

A Stock Exchange is a specific market where you can buy or sell stocks. Units of stock are called “shares.” You can buy shares from companies, use them for investment and sell them again, in turn making a profit. A Stock Exchange allows complete anonymity of the person on the other end of the trade.

· How does it work?

Stock Exchanges work the same way globally. A business raises money (known as capital) by issuing shares. The people who buy these shares usually plan to sell them someday. This selling (and buying) will be done through the Stock Exchange. Others buy shares to earn dividends from the shares.

The Federal Board of Revenue claims that there are roughly 300,000 registered stock traders under the Sales Tax Act. in comparison, the National Clearing Company of Pakistan (NCCPL) stated in April 2021 that about 250,000 are listed as earning from their trading activities.

· What are Dividends?

The company issues dividends to its shareholders. It is a part of the company’s profits given to the shareholders as payments. Most companies do not guarantee dividends, and they can vary year to year.

· Types of Investments in the Stock Market

Two types of investments can be made on any Pakistani Stock Exchange:

i. Short Term Investment:

In short-term investment, the investors buy and sell shares frequently based on the market price. They do so by their skill of analyzing the pricing projections of stock prices. The principle is to buy at low prices and sell as soon as the price rises.

ii. Long Term Investment:

In long-term investments, the investors keep their shares for an extended period. Ideally, they earn dividends and hold the share until the prices reach their peak to maximize profit.

Things to Remember when investing in Shares

When we buy a product, we usually have a list or know what we want to buy, where to go, and which shops to browse. The same applies to investing in the stock market.

You have to do a lot of research into sectors, companies, and their performance history to know which stock performance and valuation fits into your investment preference or risk appetite.

The main factors that influence the pricing for stocks are the financial data related to the company, the state of the industry in which the company is working, the interest rates offered by banks, and investor sentiments.

Financial information is available in financial statements issued by the company every quarter. They give investors insight into the financial situation of the company. However, understanding financial statements can be tough for even experienced investors.

Investing in stocks can be rewarding, but not everyone is fortunate enough to pick performing stocks and earn good returns. There are other options for people who find the stock market too complicated for their comfort.

3. Mutual Funds

Mutual Funds investment

Mutual Funds are a form of stock investment that is less risky and more convenient. A mutual fund collects money from multiple investors to invest in securities like stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other assets. The investment options for a mutual fund are predefined and available for everyone.

Mutual funds offer an edge to investors as they offer a diversified portfolio, which professionals manage for a specific price. This price is known as the management fee.

Assets under management (AUM) is the market value of all investments that the fund handles on behalf of investors. AUM shows the fund’s size, and generally, higher AUMs mean higher trading volumes and imply better liquidity.

Mutual funds are considered more advanced and less risky than stocks as they place the investors’ capital in a combination of shares, bonds, and even real estate. They are less risky because of this.

How It works

As an investor, you buy the mutual fund in units and earn a profit or grow your investment, depending on the type of mutual fund you invest in. You can shop around for a fund that you find suitable.

You can also invest in multiple funds covering foreign securities or industries. Mutual funds give returns in dividends, coupons, or even profits, depending on the type of assets they invest in.

The mix of investment choices is known as asset allocation. For an individual, asset allocation involves splitting the investment funds among various assets, like stocks, bonds, and cash.

4. An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

Exchange-Traded Fund

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a form of mutual fund that invests in a group of securities linked to an index. The stocks are selected based on the ETFs investment criteria.

ETFs can have different investments like stocks, commodities, bonds, or a mix of these types. ETFs are separate from mutual funds as they are listed on exchanges and can be traded there like ordinary shares.

Investing in an ETF gives exposure to a group of stocks. Instead of dealing with individual stocks, you can get multiple shares through a single ETF investment.

For an ETF, assets under management (AUM) are the market value of all investments that it handles on behalf of investors. AUM shows the fund’s size, and generally, higher AUMs mean higher trading volumes and imply better liquidity.

The process of settling on a mix of assets to invest in is a very personal one and usually depends on your investment goals and your age when you start investing. Opting for a mutual fund or an ETF simplifies the decision-making process.

Investment Strategy

An investment strategy is used to select what securities you will invest in. These strategies are made according to your risk appetite and saving preferences. This means the amount of risk you are willing to take on your money when you want your capital back and an estimate of how much you want to increase it.

In theory, your investment strategy determines which securities and investment avenues you will place your funds. Many younger investors, who have the funds and can take risks, invest in riskier investments since they can afford to gamble with their funds, as they have less responsibility and can take the shock of losing (some of) their capital.

Ultimately, you have to assess yourself to see why you are investing. Are you looking to get a secondary source of income through investing? Or do you want to build another house for rental income? Do you want to save up money for your children’s future? The reasons can be diverse.

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