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Investment Planning – Meaning & Importance

Is keeping money in a locker "Investing"? No, that's Hoarding. Investing means putting money to work to generate more money. Investment Planning is the roadmap for this journey.


1. Savings vs Investing

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2. The Risk-Return Trade-off

In finance, there is no free lunch. Higher return always demands higher risk.

Asset ClassRisk LevelExpected ReturnIdeal Time Horizon
Fixed Deposit / PPFLow6% - 7% (Stable)1-5 Years
Corporate BondsMedium8% - 9% (Moderate)3-5 Years
Real EstateHighVariable (Illiquid)10+ Years
Equity (Stocks)Very High12% - 15% (Volatile)7+ Years

Insight: You cannot get 15% return with "Safe" FD safety.


3. Case Study: The Inflation Trap

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4. The Investing Process

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5. Exam Notes: Writing the Answer

Question: "Distinguish between Savings and Investment." (5 Marks)

Key Points:

  1. Objective: Saving is for safety; Investing is for growth.
  2. Risk: Saving is risk-free; Investing carries market risk.
  3. Liquidity: Saving is highly liquid (ATM); Investing is less liquid (Lock-ins).
  4. Protection: Only Investing protects against Inflation in the long run.

Summary

  • Necessity: Investing is not optional. It is the only way to maintain purchasing power.
  • Asset Allocation: Don't put all eggs in one basket.
  • Horizon: Match the product to the time horizon (Stocks for long term, FD for short term).

Quiz Time! 🎯

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