Investment Meaning, Types And How To Start Investing 

Investment is a financial commitment to meet short-term, mid-term, or long-term financial goals. It refers to assets or securities acquired with an aim of earning income or creating wealth in the future. Investments are made to prospectively create future capital through equity, bonds, real estate, etc. If you are someone who wants to know what is an investment, how it works, the types, the documents required and how to start investing, you are at the right place. Keep reading!

What is an Investment?

Investment refers to assets that generate income or appreciate in value over time. The idea is that when you buy goods, you do not consume but you keep them for future returns. The intent is to generate a better payoff in the future than what was initially put in. An investment includes any medium or mechanism used to generate future income including bonds, stocks, business, or real estate. 

How do Investments Work?

The goal of an investment is to generate income and increase its value over time. Investments generate returns in two ways. In the first method, investors can sell it and gain capital income. The second method is that the investor can earn regular income from them in the form of interests and dividends.

Investing includes the purchase of bonds, stocks, products, gold and machinery, to produce returns. Understanding what is an investment might be easy, however, investing can be tricky as it may generate income or loss. The companies that are invested in, might go bankrupt which can cause you heavy loss. Therefore, investors should evaluate the risks associated with them and make investments cautiously. 

Why Should You Invest?

Saving money from every income creates savings funds. But keeping these savings in a savings bank account will get you little to no return given how low the interest rates are. Another reason to invest elsewhere is that a savings account does not give inflation-adjusted returns. This leads to a loss of capital. Through investing, you get:

• Aid in times of emergency: It is easy to liquidate investments. They act as financial aid in times of emergency. One can sell their assets or take loans against some investments at times of crisis.
• Meet future financial goals: Having only a primary source of income and spending it normally will take a lot of time to fulfil your big financial goals. It is necessary to make long-term investments that can help you achieve bigger goals.
• Have a secure future: Investing in the right way will also ensure a secure future. In extraordinary and unforeseen cases, these investments prove to be of great help.

6 Types of Investments that are Beneficial

1. Stock

This is the most common form of investment in India. Here, the investment is done in shares of companies through the stock exchanges to earn capital gains and also earn regular income from dividends. When the share prices of the stocks go up, the investors investing in those stocks benefit. The returns from these investments are linked to the market, which makes them extremely risky.

2. Bonds

Bonds are used by companies or governments to raise money for their own operations from the investors. Bonds are issued to generate funds for specific projects. In return, the bond issuer pays interest to the investors apart from paying back the bond amount upon maturity of the bond. 

3. Mutual Funds

Pooled funds of the investors are invested in equity, debt and related instruments like stocks, bonds, commodities and other securities based upon the mandate of the fund. The investors get units of the mutual fund. A fund manager manages and keeps a check on the mutual fund’s portfolio. 

There are many types of mutual funds – The main categories are debt mutual funds, equity mutual funds, and hybrid funds. Mutual funds are considered more stable compared to stocks due to their diversification feature within a single product. Interested in investing in mutual funds? Visit Navi Mutual Fund and start investing today!

*Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

4. ETFs

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are pooled investment security that brings the best of stocks as well as mutual funds into one single product. ETFs are traded on the stock exchange like common shares but provide diversification within a single unit of ETFs like mutual funds and track a benchmark index. ETFs are lower-risk and low-cost options to get exposure to the stock market. They offer real-time settlement and liquidity. 

5. PPF

PPF (Public Provident Fund) was launched by National Savings Institute and is a savings-cum-tax saving investment. PPF investments are backed by the Government’s sovereign guarantee, making it a safe investment vehicle. The rate of interest is 7.1% p.a. with a lock-in period of 15 years. The interest accrued each year is paid to the PPF account holder on 31st March every year. 

6. ULIP

ULIP (Unit Linked Insurance Plan) is ideal for individuals with long-term financial goals. It provides the opportunity to invest in different market-related securities like balanced funds, debts, and equity to get long-term returns. It also provides life cover to protect your family financially, in case of any crisis. 

Also Read: Things To Know Before Choosing A Mutual Fund Scheme In India

How to Start Investing?

Investing might seem a very lucrative option to make money but one must not overlook the associated risks. Some of the core steps are listed down below to start investing:

• Identify goals:  It is very crucial to know why you want to invest and what you expect out of your investments, both in the long term and short term.
• Shortlist investments: One must put sufficient time and effort to research the different options and choose the ones that suit them best in terms of investment objective, profile, and tenure. 
• Invest and review periodically: Just investing in the right scheme does not ensure returns. You need to keep yourself updated and keep reviewing periodically. 

Important Documents Required to Buy Investment Plans?

Here are the essential documents you need to buy investment plans:

• Address proof – Aadhaar card, Voting card, Driving License, Passport, etc.
• Identification proof – Aadhaar card, voting card, PAN card, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Age proof – Aadhaar card, Passport, Voter’s ID card, driving license, etc.
• Income proof –  Bank statement, Salary slips, Income Tax returns, etc.

When Should you Invest?

There is no perfect time to start investing. In fact, the sooner you start, the better your chances to earn higher future returns. There are many investment options where you can start with very small amounts. But if you are a working professional and you have not started investing yet, then you must definitely consider the many options available. 

Also Read: 10 Best Tax-Saving Investments For Salaried Employees

Final Word

Investment is a vehicle for potentially generating wealth depending on an individual’s long and short-term financial goals. It not only provides a future source of income but also works as financial aid in times of crisis. Apart from saving, you must also start investing. If you are new to investing, check out Navi Mutual Fund to start investing online now!

*Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

FAQs on Investment Meaning

Before You Go…
Want to put your savings into action and kick-start your investment journey, ? but don’t have time to do research? Invest now with Navi Nifty 50 Index Fund, sit back, and earn from the top 50 companies.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.

This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.