All about investing in shares

Published on: 3 June 2016

Modified on: 10 April 2023

Shares share an important space in the different media of investment such as bonds, cash and property.
Let’s start by defining shares.
Shares are basically miniature snippets of a company. By owning a share, you own a tiny segment of the company, and also a proportion of the company’s value
Research shows that shares have proven to be amazing long-term investments in the financial arena. They usually surpass government bonds, corporate bonds etc.
There are risks associated, but in the longer term, you get rewarded with benefits.
You can choose to purchase shares, or you can invest in mutual funds. Funds essentially buy a set of shares that are monitored and administered by a fund manager.
And when you own a share, then you are a shareholder for that company. This can mean that you have certain rights over the decision making in the company.
So essentially if you have a share with a company, then over the years, the investment value of it increases with the company’s progress and profit making.
Also, there are certain shares that allow you to reap the benefits together with the company. Meaning the profit gets shared with you as dividends.

Owning a share in big and small establishments
In case of fully established and renowned organisations, you get profits as dividends, however the progress is a not a very fast process.
These dividends can be a regular source of income for you, and you can even invest it for further monetary gains.
The income that you procure from dividends is taxed at a certain rate.
For smaller organisations, there are usually no dividends. However the growth is better there.
Also if you wish to sell the shares for that company, it doesn’t come easy. It is hard to find buyers, because of the lesser credibility of the company.
Analysing the growth of the company and predicting it accurately is also critical to us.
Big organisations like Infosys have a lot of happy employees owing to their shares in the company. Here the drivers, plumbers, attendants are all millionaires.
In today’s date, around 100 individuals in Infosys are billionaires, and around 2000 of them are millionaires. The management has a habit of rewarding it’s employees over the years for their dedication and hard work. With the progressing organisation the value of shares, and the benefits for shareholders (including the drivers, attendants etc) increased manifolds.

Risks associated with shares
The economic conditions of the company and it’s surroundings determine the boom or downfall of shares. If the share value decreases then the importance of your investment also fades away.
Holding shares in just one organisation is also very risky. You should spread the risk by owning shares in multiple organisations. Diversity is significant here. What if you own shares in only one company, and it drastically witnesses a degradation in it’s value, then you are at the risk of losing all your money.
Also diversifying helps in better returns with more stability.

Buying and selling of shares
If you intend on purchasing or selling of shares, then it is advisable to consult a traditional stockbroker. You can also consult an online broker or a financial adviser. A financial advisor can guide you well on what to buy and what to sell.
We hope you analyse well before investing in a share. Happy Investing!

Image Source:Ansi