Now that the government have given permission to several banks to issue dollar cards to Nepali citizens, Paypal might start looking at supporting Nepali market as well. However, being a small country, a tiny market for Paypal and strict NRB policies, it could not be possible anytime soon.
Before we get into how to become an investor in Nepal, it’s important to understand who an investor is. An investor is someone who puts money into something with the hope of profiting in the future. A return is the benefit derived from such an investment. Investors are always on the lookout for high-yielding investment opportunities.
Based on a book written by Robert Kiyosaki Rich Dad Poor Dad, people can be divided into four distinct categories in terms of generating income. They are:
1. Employee (Salary-based) are those who work for others in order to meet their needs. They are paid at the end of the month for their work. Job holders are included in this category. Employees benefit from security because they know they will be paid at the end of the month. The main disadvantage of being an employee is the lack of freedom.
2. Self-employed are individuals who work for themselves. They have more freedom than salaried employees, but they must work like salaried employees to meet their demands.
3. Businessmen are the owners of the company Business owners hire others to work for them. They create products and services in order to make money.
4. Investors invest in businesses and stocks for profit.
According to the book, in order to become wealthy, you must be either a businessman or an investor, or both.
Not all of your money can be considered an investment. There are a few factors that distinguish between spending and investing. The following are the two most important characteristics that every investor should possess:
The principal is your machine, which can print money for you. It is in your best interest to keep your machine in good working order. When you lose your principal, you can’t make money off of it. As a result, the safety of the principal should be your top priority.
When you put your money into a good business, you get something in return. Your return can take the form of cash, shares, or stocks. What you should remember is that your principal earns you some level of return. You should not expect a return on your investment that is exponential or even out of the realm of possibility. Investing with a non-realistic expectation of return is gambling. Never put your principal at risk. It is all you have.
Inflation is a term used to describe the gradual decline in the purchasing power of money. A popular saying goes, “A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.” As an investor, you have the ability to outperform inflation and keep your money’s value constant. You should always keep an eye on inflation and strive to outperform it. Your investment return should always be greater than your country’s inflation rate.
It is yet another advantage of being an investor. You can own as many and as varied businesses as you want. What you should have are some investing principles that you can use before you start investing. After you’ve established your investing principle, the world is yours to explore.
There are three main popular fields of investing in Nepal. They are:
Real estate is and has always been the best investment opportunity. Real estate investment generates income from two sources: renting and selling real estate. It can be both active and passive investment. You can actively buy and sell properties, or you can simply invest in real estate and let time do the work of calculating your income. You can always expect your property’s value to rise over time. In the meantime, you can use the money you earn from renting to cover your day-to-day expenses.
Banks in Nepal offer competitive interest rates on fixed deposit savings. You can protect your principal by using fixed-deposit schemes offered by commercial banks or development banks in Nepal. While cooperative companies in Nepal have high rates of return, they have a bad reputation for fraud or scams. It is not a good idea to put all of your money in cooperatives.
In Nepal, there is also peer-to-peer lending. It pays a higher interest rate on your money than institutions, but it also carries a higher risk.
Interest-bearing deposits are one of the best passive income ideas in Nepal, regardless of where you choose to invest.
Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is the country’s sole stock exchange. If you are new to this, you can read the NEPSE beginner’s guide. Investing in stocks provides you with two significant benefits. You can be a shareholder in any company you want, and you will receive an annual return. Alternatively, you can sell your stocks if the price rises. Stock investing, like real estate investing, allows you to be either an active trader or a passive investor. Stock investing can begin with as little as 100 rupees. Stocks could be the next best small business in Nepal for you.
Furthermore, the best investment you can make is in yourself. Always seek to broaden your knowledge. Read books, websites, and news to stay current. One thing that all of the best investors have in common is that they are voracious readers. As the saying goes, the more you learn, the more you earn.
It is not easy to become an investor. To become a good investor in Nepal and other countries, a certain set of principles and hard work are required. However, it is not as difficult as learning rocket science. Anyone can become a good investor with careful planning and dedication. There are a few things you should never forget and a few things you should never forget. Best wishes for your investment.
Alright, so you’ve decided you want to take a shot at buying and trading stocks. The only problem is, you really don’t know how. Where should you begin? And do you even know what a stock is and the significance of stock for companies?
This article will serve as a dummies guide for trading and buying stock.
A stock is actually partial ownership of a company. Some companies consider stocks as certificates so the more stock a person owns of the company, the larger portion of the company they own. Along with owning a bigger part of the company, they also have greater influence in running the company. This influence is referred to as equity investment.
There are other important terms you should become familiar with before getting into the stock market. Get to know about leverage, price-earnings ratio, earnings per share, margins and options before you dive in and invest your hard-earned money.
Next you need to figure out where and how to purchase those stocks. Basically, there is only one way to buy shares and stocks. Through your stock broker.
Online exchanges let investors have access to stocks from all around the globe. Without the need for a broker, investors can purchase and sell stocks online. Some banks also give you the ability to set up your own stock portfolio. You can use the money you have invested with these banks to purchase and sell stocks online right away.
Brokers render brokerage services and they are the middlemen who do the work on your behalf. Brokers give advice, research the current stock market and buy and sell stocks in accordance with the requests of their clients. From buying and selling these stocks, the brokers earn a commission.
When you decide on how you prefer to purchase and sell stocks, you need to open an account. Exchanges will allow you to monitor and control your individual stock portfolio yourself. If you decide to enter into the stock trade with a bank, discuss the specifics of setting up your own account with the bank you choose. For conducting trades through a broker, you need to find a reputable broker to deal with and then ask them to open and manage your account.
Once you set up an account successfully, start studying the stock market to plan your strategy. Do you want to be conservative when making investments? Do you like to aggressively invest? How many investing years do you have? Are you a day trader or will you be investing on a long term basis?
When you determine your personal plan, do your research on the current stocks offered in the market. If you have a broker, it becomes easier because they do much of the research for you. However, it is still best to study the market on your own.
Remember, the stock market is a volatile place so be ready for explosive activity when trading and buying stocks. Like life, there are many ups and downs before you reach your goals.
The covid19 pandemic is not only putting millions of people’s lives in peril, but it is also devastating the global economy. Our government has proclaimed general vacations and imposed a travel ban on the general public in order to combat the spread of Coronavirus. Nobody knows how long it will take for things to return to normal. Meanwhile, some huge organizations are downsizing their workforces, while small and mid-sized businesses are being forced to lay off employees. As a result, a large number of people are losing their employment or their salary. At this vital juncture, we’ll highlight several quarantine income opportunities, both online and offline. Keep reading to learn how you can make money during the lockdown!
If you are a graphic designer with experience utilizing popular graphic tools such as Adobe Photoshop and/or Adobe Illustrator, you can get hired online and earn big money. Graphic designers are hired by many overseas platforms to work on little to large projects including logo design, business card design, banner design, brochure design, and so on. Here are some job vacancies in distribution.
https://www.freelancer.com/jobs/graphic-design/
https://www.behance.net/joblist
https://99designs.com
https://www.upwork.com/ab/find-work
Do you like to use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from time to time? Why don’t you complement your income with those sources? Any online social media channel that allows you to generate links or followers can be utilized to promote a product (made by another company). You may easily earn an affiliate fee if a viewer purchases your offered goods through your provided link. A variety of local businesses offer affiliation programs as well. Let’s have a look at some options.
https://www.daraz.com.np/wow/i/np/help-pages/daraz-affiliate-program
Affiliate marketing is a safe and secure way to earn money online. More people are choosing to affiliate marketing as a full-time career because of the attractive affiliate commission arrangements given by numerous companies. If you have good writing and/or video-making talents, as well as some SEO knowledge, you may generate a consistent income conducting affiliate marketing on your blog or YouTube. Take a peek at some of the various international affiliation channels.
https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
http://www.cj.com/
https://shareasale.com/
Earn a comfortable living by teaching online. You can write courses based on your experience and advertise your profile on social media platforms like linkedin.com. Begin by enrolling in some low-cost or no-cost basic level courses. Consider offering some paid advanced-level skills classes if the audience responds well. Here are some local and worldwide resources for looking for online teaching employment and/or submitting your online course:
hhttps://www.udemy.com/teaching/
https://sellfy.com/sell/courses-online/
https://www.skillshare.com/teach
Do you have an innate desire to write? Yes, you can work as a freelance writer for a range of local and online publications if you answered yes. There are a range of freelance assignments accessible, including translation, guest writing, blog post writing, essay writing, academic writing, book writing, and study, whether you’re a newbie writer or a seasoned researcher. It will enable you to teach people while also allowing you to earn money. Take a look at the resources listed below.
https://solidgigs.com/
https://remote.co/remote-jobs/writing/
https://www.freelancewriting.com/jobs/
Do you enjoy working with computers? You can get hired online if you know any programming language, including PHP, Python, C#, Java, and others. Based on your degree of education and experience, you should apply for freelance programming employment. Here are a few areas where you might look for work as an internet programmer.
https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/database-programming/
https://www.peopleperhour.com/freelance-programming-jobs
https://www.indeed.com/q-Online-Programmer-jobs.html
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Online-Programmer
Don’t be concerned if you aren’t a designer, editor, or programmer. The Internet is a huge ocean of possibilities for a wide range of occupations. If you have experience in a specific field of knowledge, such as business proposal preparation, project management, or digital marketing, you should hunt for freelance employment in foreign marketplaces.
Here are some useful links:
One of the riskiest ventures is investing your money in the stock market. But along with the extreme risk involved, is also has the potential to make you a lot of money. In fact, investing in the stock market can turn out to be one of the most profitable business decisions you’ll ever make if done right.
With so many variables to consider, it is expected that you may have hesitancy to risk your hard-earned cash on a speculative venture in the stock market. The best course of action is to hire a reputable stockbroker to handle your stocks in the beginning. A trained stockbroker can give you dependable stock tips and solid professional advice.
Another good idea is to discuss stocks with an associate or friend with a bit of experience investing in the market themselves. Talking with educated friends and acquaintances can be a good way to get stock advice and knowledge for free.
A well-known stock move is investing in variable annuities using the premium of your insurance. Variable annuities are actually insurance contracts that allow you to invest your premium in mutual fund type investments. While this may seem like a good idea, when you review it more closely, it might be a poor investment.
The following are 4 potential problems with annuities:
Another thing to keep in mind is that timing is a key element to successful stock investing. There are specific times that are good to invest and other times that are poor. During times of hardship or national duress, the prices of stocks may be driven down to a discounted rate, but there is no reassurance that such stocks will recover to realize a significant profit. Educating yourself on the company is key in this situation.
The bottom line with regards to investing in the stock market is diversification. The best decision is to diversify where and when you invest your money so you can always realize some type of profit to offset potential losses.
And you should always hire a reputable finance professional to help guide you through the stock market.
We have noticed that people have been searching for a download link to Mero Kitta Application on Google Play Store and Apple Appstore.
Mero Kitta App is not currently available as mobile phone apps.
We will update our website with information on the launch of Mero Kitta App for mobile.
For now, Mero Kitta can be accessed at: https://merokitta.dos.gov.np/application/main
Ex-pat Nepalese who send money to NIC ASIA Bank accounts in Nepal using World Remit would receive a bonus of Rs 400.
The scheme will run from Aswin 11 to Kartik 10, 2078, with just the first transaction eligible for the bonus.
The bank now has 356 branches, 472 ATMs, 70 extension counters, and 81 branchless banking units across the country.
Additionally, receive $20 bonus if you send money to Nepal using Word Remit by clicking on the link below.
We already know how to send freelancing revenue to Nepal because we are successful freelancers. There are a variety of options to choose from. However, we must choose which option is better for us.
Let’s look at Upwork earnings as an example. In this article, we’ll compare practically every payment method available on Upwork. So far, there are four alternatives available for everyone. Only Nepali freelancers should use Direct to Local Bank (NPR), according to Upwork. For each withdrawal, they levy a little fee of $0.99. However, their currency exchange rate is HORRIBLE. They offer a rate that is 3-4 rupees lower than Nepal’s daily foreign exchange rate. To evaluate which option is the best, we’ll use simple math to transfer $1000 using the exchange rate of 20/12/2019 ( NPR 1 = USD 113.89).
Direct to Local Bank (BDT)
Let’s assume that the bank’s rate is NPR 2 less than the forex rate.
$0.99 per withdrawal to Nepal.
$1000 – $0.99 = $999.01 X 111.89 = NPR 111,779.23
Normally it takes one or two days to arrive at your bank account.
So the ultimate rate for $1 is NPR 111.78
Payoneer
$2 USD per withdrawal from Upwork.
Normal Delivery:
$1000 – $2 = $998 X 113.89 = NPR 113,662.22
Normally it takes three to four days to arrive at your bank account.
Fast Delivery:
$1000 – $2 = $998 – $2.5 (Payoneer Quick Load Fee) = $995.5 X 113.89 = NPR 113,377.50
Normally it takes two to three days to arrive at your bank account.
So the ultimate rate for $1 is NPR 113.66 with normal delivery and NPR 113.38 with faster delivery.
Wire Transfer (USD)
It is not suitable for Nepal. It charges $30 for each transaction and takes a long time with various difficulties.
Direct to U.S Bank (USD)
Free payments to U.S Bank account in USD.
It is also not suitable for Nepal. Most of the Nepali freelancers don’t have U.S Bank account.
Final Consideration
By Direct to Local Bank (BDT): $1 = NPR 111.78
Via Payoneer: $1 = NPR 113.66
Conclusion
Finally, we can take a fair decision to determine that Payoneer is the best way to send freelancing income to Nepal. And hopefully, we will find the same results in other marketplaces too.
Please note that Cryptocurrency transaction and mining is illegal in Nepal as per the notice issued by Nepal Rastra bank. This article is only for information purposes.
Money has evolved and changed shape over time. Today, digital currencies are best suited to the needs of the digital world. Digital currencies are focused on decentralising the currency in order to facilitate private transactions. Cryptocurrency is a decentralised digital money that can be used to transfer assets from person to person. They are not governed by banks or other central agencies. All of these coins are digital and have no physical existence. Cryptocurrencies can be purchased on exchanges and kept in wallets, exchange wallets, or physical storage discs. They are also spread throughout the network, so that even if one component fails, no data is lost. Pi coin is also the first and only cryptocurrency that can be mined on your phone.
The “Pi Network” is an intelligent network that enables users to earn Pi cryptocurrency from any mobile device. Three Stanford students launched a beta version of the app in March 2019. And two of them have doctorates. They want to build a digital currency that is secure, unchangeable, non-counterfeitable, and interoperable. They intend to accomplish this through the use of distributed ledger technology and the stellar consensus mechanism.
One of the primary differences between Pi Network and other blockchains is that rewards are distributed on a daily basis. They are not paid out per block and are distributed around the network, so as long as you interact with the network, you will receive a reward at the end of the day. The white paper goes with the availability of free transactions in relation to network congestion. When the network becomes overcrowded, miners will be able to sort through transactions using a fee system, with greater fees being handled with first and everyone else having to wait based on the amount of fee they want to pay.
There is currently no fixed supply, and the overall amount is uncertain. The overall supply will be determined after the initiative is officially launched. The tokens that individuals are earning right now serve as a faucet and are a visual representation of tokens that will be created in the Genesis block when the main net goes live.
The Pi network is fast growing, with over 800,000 active users as of right now. For all we know, it could be the next big thing. Because it is free to join, there is nothing to lose by downloading the app. However, it is strongly advised that you conduct preliminary research before proceeding. For additional information, follow the Pi network on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Choosing a reliable router is critical for getting the best WiFi performance out of your home network. Discover how to choose the best wireless router for your home WiFi.
In Nepal, we have routers ranging from low-end to very high-end for various customer classes. TP-Link, Nokia, NETGEAR, Digicom, and other brands are available. When you setup a new internet connection, you are given a default router that meets the most basic criteria. However, if you want to ensure optimal performance as well as improved security for your home network, you must consider a number of variables.
More antennas (MIMO) correspond to improved signal direction and allow you to receive the maximum bandwidth equitably across all of your devices. Using numerous antennas generates numerous streams of data packets over radio channels, increasing data speed to the devices.
Routers with only one antenna are a thing of the past. All ISPs now provide their clients with dual antenna routers. However, if you want greater confidence, you can purchase a router with three additional antennae if necessary. However, there are more performance criteria than just antennas, which brings us to frequency bands.
As our internet requirements grow, so should the functions of routers. We require routers that provide continuous connections while using the same bandwidth. This necessitates the use of a dual-band router capable of delivering a continuous connection. Routers operate on two frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. A 6 GHz model is on the way.
Another important element for modern companies or even households is the USB port. We can connect hard drives, printers, and other devices to the router and use them to run prints, examine data, and update software. If you have a USB C connector, you can charge your phone while making critical calls.
Currently, most routers that come included with ISPs include a USB 2.0 port. If you want to go a step further, get your new router with USB 3.0 and USB-Type C capability.
In recent years, the concept of smart houses has grown in popularity. Although the definition of a smart home is hazy, it includes the use of IoT, Alexa, Chromecast, Sensors, and other devices that require a stable internet connection with a high bandwidth speed.
A router that is linked with Alexa or Google Assistant is required to supplement the demands for a Smart Home connection.
Having a router with smart home integration will allow you to run many apps and devices at the same time, resulting in a domestic eco-system. You can control the router by speaking commands to Alexa. You can enable or disable WiFi, switch off the router’s LED lights, and so forth.
If you want to buy a router that works with Alexa, you can go with the TP-Link Deco Voice X20 or look for others available in Nepal.
An extension is good for one or two rooms, but if you want a full WiFi network solution, a mesh router is your best alternative.
It is possible to infiltrate a greater area with a mesh Wifi router, such as the balcony or the basement, to the poolside.
Mesh routers use two or more connected devices to provide a consistent WiFi signal throughout your area. It’s similar to configuring a slew of routers at home. Mesh router settings will provide you with a flawless WiFi connection in any room or region of your home.
Mesh WiFi routers can easily found online.
Security features are critical for protecting your home network from hackers and spies. Routers do include security measures such as antivirus software, VPNs, and other extensions to help safeguard the connection. The issue is that these features are not properly supported by routers with low-cost hardware.
The image above depicts a typical menu of a Wifi Router that comes standard with Ntc FTTH.
Allow yourself some time to research a specific router if you have your heart set on it. You should look at its performance, dependability band, and security features to see if it meets your needs.
You may find professional reviews on reputable websites, as well as consumer evaluations on YouTube. You can also read the buyer reviews and learn from their experiences. It does aid in determining whether the router you desire will satisfy your expectations. Learning ahead of time will save you money and help you avoid future regrets.
So those are the guidelines we prepared to assist you in determining your next best router. However, it is entirely dependent on your needs and budget. Most default routers provided by ISPs have a single band that operates at 2.4GHz. They have one or two USB 2.0 ports as well as basic security measures and a restricted network range.
We have compiled a list of critical elements that will ensure you get the best performance out of your router. However, the following critical question is which one you would require. Do you require a WiFi router with a 5GHz band, or do you require a WiFi Mesh router for a greater area? Or would you be OK with a standard router with a 2.4GHz band?
The solution is in your goals. If you’re looking for a router for a large workplace with a lot of employees who use a lot of bandwidth, the default router from your ISP might not be the best option. Furthermore, network congestion may not be beneficial on a standard router. For constant performance, you may need to purchase a 5GHz router.
Meanwhile, if you’re only using it for your little family, any basic router will suffice. Spend less on specifications and more on dependability and ease.
In Nepal, you may purchase routers ranging in price from NRs. 2,000 to NRs. 15,000 or above. The major brands that offer numerous routers in various classes include TP-Link, Digicom, NETGEAR, and others. Mesh routers and repeaters are also available from several online retailers. As a result, first decide what features you want in a router before parting with your money. Having the greatest Wifi router is one strategy for increasing your internet speed.
Which WiFi router are you currently using? Are you happy with its signal range and performance, or do you intend to replace it? What features in a decent wireless router are most important to you? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Are you a college student? Do you wish to supplement your pocket money with a little additional cash? We understand that working a 9-5 office job will interfere with your studies. However, you can undertake an online job in your leisure time without investing any money. You can make good money from an internet job if you work hard. Many Nepalese people work full-time from their homes doing online work. There are no headaches from the 9-5 office job, and there are no headaches from the boss. You have the option of being your own employer. You can work whenever you wish. You’ll make some extra money in your spare time, and it won’t interfere with your studies.
But first, you should be aware that there are numerous scams involving online jobs on the internet. You must be aware of the deception. “Earn $1000 a day,” “$100 per hour,” and “earn $100 while you sleep” are some of the advertisements. They’re all con artists. You must be aware of their existence.
Yes, you can make the money mentioned above, but it will take a lot of commitment, time, knowledge, and hard work. You should make it a full-time job. However, for a student whose primary attention should be on their studies, earning $100 or $1,000 every day without a significant time or financial investment is nearly difficult. However, as in Nepal, $100 a month is sufficient for students’ pocket money, which they can earn completing internet jobs in their leisure time without investing.
To do the online work, you’ll need decent computer skills and access to the internet. So, let’s get started.
1. YouTube
YouTube is the finest and simplest way to earn money online without having to invest any money. You must have just used YouTube to look for videos. However, did you know that YouTube compensates the video’s publisher for each view? You can also make money using it. You don’t need a professional video camera to do this. It will be done for you via your smartphone. Make a video using your smartphone that is amusing, entertaining, or interesting. Make a video that you think people will enjoy. Create a YouTube channel, monetize it with Adsense, and when your videos go viral or receive a lot of views, you’ll be able to start making money right away.
2. Blogging
Blogging is an online diary in which one or more people publish articles in chronological order on any topic and keep it updated on a regular basis. You can create your own blog if you are an expert on any subject. There are numerous platforms from which to launch a blog. Blogger.com, on the other hand, is the greatest blogging platform for beginners or students. You can start writing articles on a blog without spending any money. Use social media to spread the word about this article. Once you have a good number of visitors, you can monetise your site with Adsense. After that, you will be compensated when someone views your blog and clicks on your advertisements.
3. PTC (Paid To Click)
PTC is another option to make a small amount of money without having to invest anything. We used the word “little” because it only pays a small amount every click. If you search the Internet for PTC websites, you will find a plethora of them, however the most of them are scams and fakes. So, before joining such a website, you should check the website’s review on the internet or ask me. If you wish to work on PTC sites, we propose Clixsense.com or Neobux.com. After you join the website, they will send you adverts to click, and they will pay you as little as 0.01$ (about NRs) for each click. Worst of all, there is a daily limit on the number of advertising you can receive. So, we wouldn’t encourage it, but if you’re lazy and don’t want to put in the effort to write or upload videos to YouTube, it’s worth a go.
4. Facebook
In both the United States and Nepal, Facebook is the most popular social networking site. It is Nepal’s most viewed website, ranking first. You must have a Facebook account if you are reading this post; if not, you may establish one. The majority of students’ time is spent on Facebook. So, you’re wondering how you make money on Facebook. Create a Facebook page for a certain topic, post updates on a regular basis, and grow the page. You can sell your Facebook page once you have a large number of fans. Many people purchase Facebook pages at a reasonable fee. All you have to do is put forth the effort. This does not necessitate any financial investment.
5. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a type of web marketing that allows you to promote a product from a variety of vendors. As a result, if you become an associate of a merchant and want to advertise their product, you will be given a unique link. You can promote the link for free on many forums and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. And if someone buys something through your link, you get paid a percentage of what the dealer offered. This is difficult, but if you put in the effort, you can make a lot more money with Affiliate Marketing. Though affiliate marketing can help you make a lot of money if you invest, it can also help you make a lot of money if you don’t.
These are the 5 internet jobs for students who want to make money without having to invest any money. We’ve just touched on a small portion of it. If you want to do any of the above-mentioned online occupations, please let us know in the comments section or contact us. We’ll provide you a step-by-step tutorial to get you started.
Everyone is looking for a quick and easy way to riches and happiness. It seems to be human nature to constantly search for a hidden key or some esoteric bit of knowledge that suddenly leads to the end of the rainbow or a winning lottery ticket.
While some people do buy winning tickets or a common stock that quadruples or more in a year, it is extremely unlikely, since relying upon luck is an investment strategy that only the foolish or most desperate would choose to follow. In our quest for success, we often overlook the most powerful tools available to us: time and the magic of compounding growth. Investing regularly, avoiding unnecessary financial risk, and letting your money work for you over a period of years and decades is a certain way to amass significant assets.
Here are several tips that should be followed by beginning investors.
Everyone is looking for a quick and easy way to riches and happiness. It seems to be human nature to constantly search for a hidden key or some esoteric bit of knowledge that suddenly leads to the end of the rainbow or a winning lottery ticket.
While some people do buy winning tickets or a common stock that quadruples or more in a year, it is extremely unlikely, since relying upon luck is an investment strategy that only the foolish or most desperate would choose to follow. In our quest for success, we often overlook the most powerful tools available to us: time and the magic of compounding growth. Investing regularly, avoiding unnecessary financial risk, and letting your money work for you over a period of years and decades is a certain way to amass significant assets.
Here are several tips that should be followed by beginning investors.
1. Set Long-Term Goals
Why are you considering investing in the stock market? Will you need your cash back in six months, a year, five years or longer? Are you saving for retirement, for future university expenses, to purchase a home, or to build an estate to leave to your beneficiaries?
Before investing, you should know your purpose and the likely time in the future you may have need of the funds. If you are likely to need your investment returned within a few months, consider another investment; the stock market with its volatility provides no certainty that all of your capital will be available when you need it.
By knowing how much capital you will need and the future point in time when you will need it, you can calculate how much you should invest and what kind of return on your investment will be needed to produce the desired result.
Remember that the growth of your portfolio depends upon three interdependent factors:
Ideally, you should start saving as soon as possible, save as much as you can, and receive the highest return possible consistent with your risk philosophy.
2. Understand Your Risk Tolerance
Risk tolerance is a psychological trait that is genetically based but positively influenced by education, income, and wealth (as these increase, risk tolerance appears to increase slightly) and negatively by age (as one gets older, risk tolerance decreases). Your risk tolerance is how you feel about risk and the degree of anxiety you feel when risk is present. In psychological terms, risk tolerance is defined as “the extent to which a person chooses to risk experiencing a less favourable outcome in the pursuit of a more favourable outcome.” In other words, would you risk NPR 1000 to win NPR 10,000? Or NPR 10,000 to win NPR 10,000? All humans vary in their risk tolerance, and there is no “right” balance.
Risk tolerance is also affected by one’s perception of risk. For example, flying in an aeroplane or riding in a car would have been perceived as very risky in the early 1900s, but less so today as flight and automobile travel are common occurrences. Conversely, most people today would feel that riding a horse might be dangerous with a good chance of falling or being bucked off because few people are around horses.
The idea of perception is important, especially in investing. As you gain more knowledge about investments – for example, how stocks are bought and sold, how much volatility (price change) is usually present, and the difficulty or ease of liquidating an investment – you are likely to consider stock investments to have less risk than you thought before making your first purchase. As a consequence, your anxiety when investing is less intense, even though your risk tolerance remains unchanged because your perception of the risk has evolved.
By understanding your risk tolerance, you can avoid those investments which are likely to make you anxious. Generally speaking, you should never own an asset which keeps you from sleeping in the night. Anxiety stimulates fear which triggers emotional responses (rather than logical responses) to the stressor. During periods of financial uncertainty, the investor who can retain a cool head and follows an analytical decision process invariably comes out ahead.
3. Control Your Emotions
The biggest obstacle to stock market profits is an inability to control one’s emotions and make logical decisions. In the short-term, the prices of companies reflect the combined emotions of the entire investment community. When a majority of investors are worried about a company, its stock price is likely to decline; when a majority feel positive about the company’s future, its stock price tends to rise.
A person who feels negative about the market is called a “bear,” while their positive counterpart is called a “bull.” During market hours, the constant battle between the bulls and the bears is reflected in the constantly changing price of securities. These short-term movements are driven by rumours, speculations, and hopes – emotions – rather than logic and systematic analysis of the company’s assets, management, and prospects.
Stock prices moving contrary to our expectations create tension and insecurity. Should I sell my position and avoid a loss? Should I keep the stock, hoping that the price will rebound? Should I buy more?
Even when the stock price has performed as expected, there are questions: Should I take a profit now before the price falls? Should I keep my position since the price is likely to go higher? Thoughts like these will flood your mind, especially if you constantly watch the price of a security, eventually building to a point that you will take action. Since emotions are the primary driver of your action, it will probably be wrong.
When you buy a stock, you should have a good reason for doing so and an expectation of what the price will do if the reason is valid. At the same time, you should establish the point at which you will liquidate your holdings, especially if your reason is proven invalid or if the stock doesn’t react as expected when your expectation has been met. In other words, have an exit strategy before you buy the security and execute that strategy unemotionally.
4. Handle Basics First
Before making your first investment, take the time to learn the basics about the stock market and the individual securities composing the market. There is an old adage: It is not a stock market, but a market of stocks. Your focus will be upon individual securities, rather than the market as a whole. There are few times when every stock moves in the same direction; even when the averages fall by 100 points or more, the securities of some companies will go higher in price.
The areas with which you should be familiar before making your first purchase include:
Knowledge and risk tolerance are linked. As Warren Buffett said, “Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.”
5. Diversify Your Investments
Experienced investors such as Buffett eschew stock diversification in the confidence that they have performed all of the necessary research to identify and quantify their risk. They are also comfortable that they can identify any potential perils that will endanger their position, and will be able to liquidate their investments before taking a catastrophic loss.
The popular way to manage risk is to diversify your exposure. Prudent investors own stocks of different companies in different industries, sometimes in different countries, with the expectation that a single bad event will not affect all of their holdings or will otherwise affect them to different degrees.
Imagine owning stocks in five different companies, each of which you expect to continually grow profits. Unfortunately, cirplusstances change. At the end of the year, you might have two companies (A & B) that have performed well so their stocks are up 25% each. The stock of two other companies (C & D) in a different industry are up 10% each, while the fifth company’s (E) assets were liquidated to pay off a massive lawsuit.
Diversification allows you to recover from the loss of your total investment (20% of your portfolio) by gains of 10% in the two best companies (25% x 40%) and 4% in the remaining two companies (10% x 40%). Even though your overall portfolio value dropped by 6% (20% loss minus 14% gain), it is considerably better than having been invested solely in company E.
6. Avoid Leverage/Margin Loan
Leverage/Margin loan simply means the use of borrowed money to execute your stock market strategy. In a margin account, banks and brokerage firms can loan you money to buy stocks, usually 50% of the purchase value. In other words, if you wanted to buy 1000 shares of a stock trading at NPR 100 for a total cost of NPR 100,000, your brokerage firm could loan you NPR 50,000 to complete the purchase.
The use of borrowed money “levers” or exaggerates the result of price movement. Suppose the stock moves to NPR 200 a share and you sell it. If you had used your own money exclusively, your return would be 100% on your investment [(200,000 -100,000)/100,000]. If you had borrowed NPR 50,000 to buy the stock and sold at NPR 200 per share, your return would be 300 % [(200,000-50,000)/$50,000] after repaying the NPR 50,000 loan and excluding the cost of interest paid to the broker (which is usually 16% and over).
It sounds great when the stock moves up, but consider the other side. Suppose the stock fell to NPR 50 per share rather than doubling to NPR 200, your loss would be 100% of your initial investment, plus the cost of interest to the broker [(50,000-50,000)/50,000].
A margin is a tool that can go extremely bad in a stock market like Bangladesh.
Final Thoughts
Stock investments historically have enjoyed a return significantly above other types of investments while also proving easy liquidity, total visibility, and active regulation to ensure a level playing field for all. Investing in the stock market is a great opportunity to build large asset value for those who are willing to be consistent savers, make the necessary investment in time and energy to gain experience, appropriately manage their risk, and are patient, allowing the magic of compounding to work for them. The younger you begin your investing avocation, the greater the final results – just remember to walk before you begin to run.