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Investing Fundamentals

Learn the core principles of investing and build a solid foundation

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What is Investing?

Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating income or profit over time. Unlike saving, which involves setting money aside for future use with minimal risk, investing involves putting your money to work with some level of risk in the hopes of growing your wealth.

The primary goal of investing is to build wealth over time. By investing your money, you're making it work for you rather than simply saving it. This is important because inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time. A well-planned investment strategy can help your money grow faster than inflation, preserving and increasing your wealth.

Key Investment Principles

  • Risk and Return: Generally, higher potential returns come with higher risk.
  • Diversification: Spreading investments across different assets to reduce risk.
  • Compounding: Earning returns on your initial investment plus any accumulated returns.
  • Time Horizon: The length of time you plan to hold an investment before needing the money.

Average Annual Returns by Asset Class (1926-2022)

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