Investing is the method of allocating money into jobs or endeavors with the goal of achieving a return that exceeds the initial financial investment. It involves placing sources, normally monetary funding, to operate in order to create income, revenues, or gains over a time period.
One can purchase several types of ventures (either directly or indirectly) such as utilizing money to start an organization, or in assets such as buying realty in hopes of creating rental income and/or re-selling it later at a greater rate.
Investing varies from conserving in that the money used is put to work, indicating that there is some implicit risk that the relevant job( s) may stop working, resulting in a loss of money. Investing also differs from speculation in that with the latter, the money is not put to work per-se, but is betting on the short-term price fluctuations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Investing involves deploying capital (money) toward projects or activities that are expected to generate a positive return over time.
The type of returns generated depends on the type of project or asset; real estate can produce both rents and capital gains; many stocks pay quarterly dividends; bonds tend to pay regular interest.
In investing, risk and return are two sides of the same coin; low risk generally means low expected returns, while higher returns are usually accompanied by higher risk.
Investors can take the do-it-yourself approach or employ the services of a professional money manager.
Whether buying a security qualifies as investing or speculation depends on three factors– the amount of risk taken, the holding period, and the source of returns.
Understanding Investing
Investing is to grow one’s money over time. The expectation of a positive return in the form of income or price appreciation with statistical significance is the core premise of investing. The spectrum of assets in which one can invest and earn a return is a very wide one.
Risk and return go hand-in-hand in investing; low risk generally means low expected returns, while higher returns are usually accompanied by higher risk. At the low-risk end of the spectrum are basic investments such as Certificates of Deposit (CDs); bonds or fixed-income instruments are higher up on the risk scale, while stocks or equities are regarded as riskier. Commodities and derivatives are generally considered to be among the riskiest investments. One can also invest in something practical, such as land or real estate, or delicate items, such as fine art and antiques.
Investments within the same asset class can have vastly different risk and return expectations. For instance, a well-established, large-cap company listed on a major exchange like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) will generally have a lower risk and return profile compared to a small, lesser-known company trading on a smaller exchange.
The returns generated by an asset depend on the type of asset. For instance, many stocks pay quarterly dividends, whereas bonds generally pay interest every quarter. In many jurisdictions, different types of income are taxed at different rates.
The return on an investment can be broken down into two main components: income and capital appreciation. The total return from an investment can be viewed as the sum of these two components. According to Standard & Poor’s, dividends have accounted for approximately 30% of the total return for the S&P 500 since 1926, while capital gains have made up the remaining 70%. Therefore, capital gains play a significant role in the world of investing.
Economists view investing and saving to be two sides of the same coin. This is because when you save money by depositing in a bank, the bank then lends that money to individuals or companies that want to borrow that money to put it to good use. Therefore your savings is often someone else’s investment.
Different Forms of Investments
In the present day, investments usually refer to financial tools that enable individuals or companies to procure and utilize funds for businesses. These businesses subsequently take in that money and utilize it for expanding or income-generating endeavors.
While the universe of investments is a vast one, here are the most common types of investments:
Stocks
A buyer of a company’s stock becomes a fractional owner of that company. Owners of a company’s stock are known as its shareholders and can participate in its growth and success through appreciation in the stock price and regular dividends paid out of the company’s profits.
Bonds
Bonds are debt obligations of entities, such as governments, municipalities, and corporations. Buying a bond implies that you hold a share of an entity’s debt and are entitled to receive periodic interest payments and the return of the bond’s face value when it matures.
Investment vehicles known as funds are managed by professionals and allow individuals to invest in various assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities. Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are two common types of funds. Mutual funds are not traded on exchanges and are valued once a day, while ETFs are traded on stock exchanges and are valued continuously throughout the trading day. These funds can either aim to mirror market indices, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or be actively overseen by fund managers.
Another popular type of collective investment is Investment Trusts, with Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) being a well-known example. REITs invest in property, such as commercial or residential buildings, and generate income through rental payments. They then distribute a portion of this income to their investors on a regular basis. Additionally, REITs are listed on stock exchanges, allowing investors to easily buy and sell their shares.
Alternative Investments
Alternative investments is a catch-all category that includes hedge funds and private equity. Hedge funds are so-called because they can hedge their investment bets by going long and short on stocks and other investments. Private equity enables companies to raise capital without going public. Hedge funds and private equity were typically only available to affluent investors deemed “accredited investors” who met certain income and net worth requirements. However, in recent years, alternative investments have been introduced in fund formats that are accessible to retail investors.
Options and Other Derivatives
Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from another instrument, such as a stock or index. Options contracts are a popular derivative that gives the buyer the right but not the obligation to buy or sell a security at a fixed price within a specific time period. Derivatives usually employ leverage, making them a high-risk, high-reward proposition.
Commodities
Commodities include metals, oil, grain, and animal products, as well as financial instruments and currencies. They can either be traded through commodity futures– which are agreements to buy or sell a specific quantity of a commodity at a specified price on a particular future date– or ETFs. Commodities can be used for hedging risk or for speculative purposes.
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Contrasting Investment Approaches
Investing can be approached in two different ways: active and passive. Active investing involves actively managing a portfolio with the goal of outperforming the market, while passive investing involves a more hands-off approach, such as investing in an index fund, recognizing that it’s difficult to consistently beat the market. There are pros and cons to each approach, but ultimately, few fund managers are able to consistently outperform their benchmarks, making passive investing a more cost-effective option.
Another investing consideration is whether to focus on growth or value. Growth investors look for companies with high growth potential, which often have higher valuation ratios, while value investors seek out companies that are undervalued and have higher dividend yields.
When it comes to executing your investment strategy, you have the option to be a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) investor or have your money managed by a professional. Many DIY investors prefer discount or online brokerages due to their low commissions and user-friendly platforms.
DIY investing is sometimes called self-directed investing, and requires a fair amount of education, skill, time commitment, and the ability to control one’s emotions. If these attributes do not describe you well, it may be smarter to let a professional help manage your investments.
Investors who opt for professional management of their investments often engage the services of a wealth manager. These wealth managers typically charge a fee based on a percentage of the assets they manage. While this approach is more costly than self-management, many investors find the convenience of having a professional handle research, decision-making, and trading to be worth the expense.
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy urges investors to confirm that their investment professional is licensed and registered.2.
Roboadvisor Investing.
Some investors opt to invest based on suggestions from automated financial advisors. Powered by algorithms and artificial intelligence, roboadvisors gather critical information about the investor and their risk profile to make suitable recommendations. With little to no human interference, roboadvisors offer a cost-effective way of investing with services similar to what a human investment advisor offers. With advancements in technology, roboadvisors are capable of more than selecting investments. They can also help people develop retirement plans and manage trusts and other retirement accounts, such as 401( k) s.
A Brief History of Investing.
While the concept of investing has been around for millennia, investing in its present form can find its roots in the period between the 17th and 18th centuries, when the development of the first public markets connected investors with investment opportunities. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was established in 1602, and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1792.
Industrial Revolution Investing.
The Industrial Revolutions of 1760-1840 and 1860-1914 resulted in greater prosperity as a result of which people amassed savings that could be invested, fostering the development of an advanced banking system. Most of the established banks that dominate the investing world began in the 1800s, including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.
20th Century Investing.
The 20th century saw new ground being broken in investment theory, with the development of new concepts in asset pricing, portfolio theory, and risk management. In the second half of the 20th century, many new investment vehicles were introduced, including hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, REITs, and ETFs.
In the 1990s, the rapid spread of the Internet made online trading and research capabilities accessible to the general public, completing the democratization of investing that had commenced more than a century ago.
21st Century Investing.
The bursting of the dot.com bubble– a bubble that created a new generation of millionaires from investments in technology-driven and online business stocks– ushered in the 21st century and perhaps set the scene for what was to come. In 2001, the collapse of Enron took center stage, with its full display of fraud that bankrupted the company and its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, as well as many of its investors.
One of the most notable events in the 21st century, or history for that matter, is the Great Recession (2007-2009) when an overwhelming number of failed investments in mortgage-backed securities crippled economies around the world. Well-known banks and investment firms went under, foreclosures surmounted, and the wealth gap widened.
The 21st century also opened up the world of investing to newcomers and unconventional investors by saturating the market with discount online investment companies and free-trading apps, such as Robinhood.
Investing vs. Speculation.
Whether buying a security qualifies as investing or speculation depends on three factors:.
The amount of risk taken on: Investing usually involves a lower amount of risk compared with speculation.
The holding period of the investment: Investing typically involves a longer holding period, measured quite frequently in years; speculation involves much shorter holding periods.
Source of returns: Price appreciation may be a relatively less important part of returns from investing, while dividends or distributions may be a major part. In speculation, price appreciation is generally the main source of returns.
As price volatility is a common measure of risk, it stands to reason that a staid blue-chip is much less risky than a cryptocurrency. Thus, buying a dividend-paying blue chip with the expectation of holding it for several years would qualify as investing. On the other hand, a trader who buys a cryptocurrency to flip it for a quick profit in a couple of days is clearly speculating.
Example of Return From Investing.
Assume you purchased 100 shares of XYZ stock for $310 and sold it exactly a year later for $460.20. What was your approximate total return, ignoring commissions? Keep in mind, XYZ does not issue stock dividends. The resulting capital gain would be (($ 460.20 – $310)/$ 310) x 100% = 48.5%.
Now, imagine that XYZ had issued dividends during your holding period, and you received $5 in dividends per share. Your approximate total return would then be 50.11% (Capital gains: 48.5% + Dividends: ($ 500/$ 31,000) x 100% = 1.61%).
How Can I Start Investing?
You can choose the do-it-yourself route, selecting investments based on your investing style, or enlist the help of an investment professional, such as an advisor or broker. Before investing, it’s important to determine what your preferences and risk tolerance are. If risk-averse, choosing stocks and options, may not be the best choice. Develop a strategy, outlining how much to invest, how often to invest, and what to invest in based on goals and preferences. Before allocating your resources, research the target investment to make sure it aligns with your strategy and has the potential to deliver desired results. Remember, you don’t need a lot of money to begin, and you can modify as your needs change.
What Are Some Types of Investments?
There are many types of investments to choose from. Perhaps the most common are stocks, bonds, real estate, and ETFs/mutual funds. Other types of investments to consider are real estate, CDs, annuities, cryptocurrencies, commodities, collectibles, and precious metals.
How Can Investing Grow My Money?
Investing is not reserved for the wealthy. You can invest nominal amounts. For example, you can purchase low-priced stocks, deposit small amounts into an interest-bearing savings account, or save until you accumulate a target amount to invest. If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401( k), allocate small amounts from your pay until you can increase your investment. If your employer participates in matching, you may realize that your investment has doubled.
You can begin investing in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds or even open an IRA. Starting with $1,000 is nothing to sneeze at. A $1,000 investment in Amazon’s IPO in 1997 would yield millions today. This was largely due to several stock splits, but it does not change the result: monumental returns. Savings accounts are available at most financial institutions and don’t usually require a large amount to invest. Savings accounts don’t typically boast high-interest rates; so, shop around to find one with the best features and most competitive rates.
Believe it or not, you can invest in real estate with $1,000. You may not be able to buy an income-producing property, but you can invest in a company that does. A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that invests in and manages real estate to drive profits and produce income. With $1,000, you can invest in REIT stocks, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds.
