Salimkhan Seisembayev | 16.11.2023

INVESTING 101

Investing is a crucial aspect of financial planning, allowing individuals and entities to grow their wealth, hedge against inflation, and achieve financial goals. This article delves into the
essentials of investments, exploring various types, strategies, risks, and tips for successful investing.

Types of Investments
  • Stocks: Buying shares of a company, giving the investor a portion of its ownership and potential dividends.
  • Bonds: Lending money to a corporation or government in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of principal at maturity.
  • Mutual Funds: Pooling money from many investors to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities.
  • Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Similar to mutual funds but traded like stocks on an exchange.
  • Real Estate: Investing in property for rental income or capital appreciation.
  • Commodities: Investing in physical goods like gold, oil, or agricultural products.
  • Cryptocurrencies: Digital or virtual currencies that use cryptography for security.

Investment Strategies
  • Long-term Investing: Focusing on holding investments over years of decades, typically in stocks or bonds.
  • Short-term Trading: Engaging in frequent buying and selling of securities, aiming to profit from short-term market movements.
  • Value Investing: Seeking undervalued stocks with strong fundamentals.
  • Growth Investing: Targeting companies with potential for substantial growth.
  • Income Investing: Choosing investments that provide regular income, like dividends from stocks or interest from bonds.
  • Diversification: Spreading investments across various asset classes to reduce risk.

Risks and Considerations
  • Market Risk: The risk of investments losing value due to economic developments or other events affecting the overall market.
  • Liquidity Risk: Difficulty in quickly converting an investment into cash without significant loss in value.
  • Credit Risk: The risk that a bond issuer will default on its payment obligations.
  • Inflation Risk: The possibility that the rate of inflation will outpace the returns on investment.

Tips for Successful Investing
  • Start Early: Compound interest can significantly increase the growth of investments over time.
  • Understand Your Risk Tolerance: Choose investments that align with your comfort level regarding risk.
  • Research Thoroughly: Understand the investments and the factors that influence their performance.
  • Diversify Your Portfolio: This can help mitigate risk and stabilize returns.
  • Regularly Review Your Portfolio: Adjust your investments as needed based on performance and changing goals
Aiisha Kuziyeva | 22.11.2023

INVESTING

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use
various financial skills, including personal financial management,
budgeting, and investing, which we will talk about in this article.

Before diving into the world of investments, it is very important to
define clear financial goals and identify your objectives. Start by
reflecting on your values, aspirations, and what truly matters to you,
considering both short-term and long-term goals.

It is essential to remember that there are always risks associated
with different strategies and investing in general. Consider how
comfortable you are with possible changes and fluctuations when
investing. It's crucial to find a balance that corresponds with your
risk tolerance because, in general, larger returns are associated with
higher risk. However, the greater the risk that an investment may lose
money, the greater its potential for providing a substantial return.

One of the key things you should do before starting to invest is
getting a good understanding of how everything works. Take the time to
educate yourself about the different investment options. Understand
the basics such as: the stock market, how bonds work, exchange-traded
funds etc. Individuals seeking information on investment are fortunate
to have a plethora of resources available online. You can use books,
courses, videos, articles to help you build a solid foundation of
knowledge.

If you're new to investing, consider starting with a small amount -
many online platforms allow you to do so. (M1 Finance, Stash,
Robinhood etc). Starting small allows you to gain experience without
exposing yourself to significant risk, you are relatively less
vulnerable to market fluctuations (Some experts recommend at least 15%
of your income.)


Benefits of investing:
  • Income generation
  • Helps you stay ahead of inflation
  • Achieve financial goals
  • Educational experience
  • Investing is flexible
  • Potential for long-term returns
  • Building savings
  • Tax benefits
  • Improves your understanding in the market
  • Get money back at any time
Made on
Tilda