Investment: Shareholder and dividend, bonus and split of shares

When we invest in a company and buy a share from the share market, we become a shareholder for the company.

We are then entitled to a share of the profit or loss of the company. The management of company can declare dividend, bonus share or split of share to reward its shareholders.

Share price moves up and down during the trading session and varies according to the performance of the company. Price appreciation is also the return against the investment for the investors. The shareholders can book the profit against the investments anytime or continue to hold the share for a longer time. 

Investment: Shares & ETF

Investors have the option to invest in company shares or index exchange traded funds (ETFs).

We can invest in the shares of the companies listed on BSE and NSE. Index ETFs like Nifty ETF, Sensex ETF and Nifty bank ETF are also available for the investors who do not have knowledge about the share market. Other ETFs are also available for investors to diversify their portfolio.

Investment: Investing in Share Market

Before investing in share market, we must open Trading and Demat account.

Trading account is used to buy and sell the shares while Demat account is for storing the shares. Trading account is opened with a SEBI registered broker.

Once the trading and demat account is opened, we can place an order after transferring an amount in the trading account from a linked bank account. A buy order or a sell order is placed to buy or sell shares.

Day trading is buying the shares for a single day. The shares are sold before the close of the trading session of the day. And a delivery is buying the shares to hold them for a time period. The shares are sold when the shareholder places a sell order.

Investment: Share Market

After mutual fund, it is now the time to understand share market. This is the most risky investment. Investing in equity will give a good return in short and long period. We need to be careful in investing in share market or else we will lose our money.

Share market is a place where shares are bought and sold. The shares are traded in two major stock exchanges: Bombay stock exchange (BSE) and National stock exchange (NSE).

The shares of the listed companies are available for trading in the stock exchanges. The top 30 companies in BSE is Sensex. Similarly, the top 50 companies in NSE form the index named Nifty.

These exchanges are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Investment: Types of Mutual funds

There is a lot of mutual funds for the investors to choose from. Investors can choose from the lot ranging from low risk to high risk funds.

Investors have the option to select any of the funds or diversify their portfolio with more than one fund. Once invested, the fund manager takes the job of investing the money in the stocks alloted for the fund.

Large cap fund is the least risky fund while small cap fund is the most risky one. Mid cap fund is also available for investors who are not willing to take too much risk. Multi cap fund is the combination of large, mid and small cap stocks, in addition to the fund with combination of investing in shares and debt instruments.

Apart from the above funds,  index funds, sectorial and thematic funds, liquid and debt funds are also available for investors to invest their money. 

Investment: Mutual Fund

After investing a certain amount which has immediate requirement in safe deposits, investors can move up to some risky options available to us like mutual funds and stock market.

A mutual fund pools investments from many investors to buy securities.

Investing in mutual is riskier than fixed and recurring bank and post office deposits, EPF and PPF.

They are subject to market risk. Investors who have no knowledge to invest in stock market directly, can invest in mutual funds. The selection of right funds is essential to create wealth in long term. 

Investment: Post Office Savings Schemes

Investing in post office is also a safe investment. There are various saving schemes as well as National Savings Certificates.

We can invest in fixed and recurring deposits.

PPF can also be invested from any post office. 

Investment: EPF and PPF

We can invest in EPF and PPF.

EPF or Employer's Provident Fund is directly deducted from employee's salary. Employer also contributes to the EPF. A part of the employer's contribution goes to pension scheme. Since employee and employer contribute equally to the fund, it is the best investment for the investor looking for wealth accumulation with fixed return.

PPF or Public Provident Fund is contributed voluntarily by the investor who is investing  for long term and looking for secured return. PPF can be opened at any bank or post office with the facility and can be transferred to any bank or post office.

EPF and PPF are safe investments.

Investment: Fixed and recurring deposits

The amount saved for six or more months should not be kept in saving account.

We should convert it to fixed deposits. It is easy to break the deposits as and when there is any emergency and the fund is required.

We have an option of sweep-in and sweep- out wherein the excess money is automatically converted to the fixed deposits. The last deposit is broken if there is any withdrawal.

Recurring deposits can be initiated where a fixed amount is deducted from the savings account and credited to recurring deposit account every month on a scheduled date for a certain period.

The principal amount along with interest is credited to the savings account on maturity of both fixed and recurring deposits.

Investment: How much should we save?

Now the question is: How much should we save?

Saving should be enough to cover your immediate expenses for a few months. One has to decide one's comfort level of immediate expenses. Some may feel comfortable with six months expenses amount while others may need more.