There are various opportunities open for individuals to invest their money. It is the decision of the individual to invest his money by selecting the best option after analyzing the pros and cons of the different investment platforms. Financial guidance to invest in suitable avenue can be obtained from financial experts, investment journals and newspaper supplements on financial affairs.
Following are the various investment options extensively available for Indian investors:

• Postal Savings Schemes
  
• Investment in mutual funds
  
• Investment in different types of Shares, Bonds and Debentures issued by public and private sector organizations
  
• PF, NSC, NSS, PPF and LIC
  
• Fixed deposits and Recurring deposits
  
• Investment in Silver, Gold and other precious metals

People invest in share markets with high expectations of rise in share prices. Liquidity and flexibility of shares are the major benefits of capital growth for investors owning shares in an organization that has increasing share price. The cost effectiveness involved in purchasing and selling or deciding to free the invested cash or restructure the portfolio or just take in the profit; all depends on the decision taken by the investor. It is easy to invest in share markets as there is no ongoing expense, stamp duty or conveyance cost involved during the period of investment.
Return on investment is the ultimate expectation of investors. The primary intention of an individual investing in share markets is to derive return. Market Demand, Maturity Period and Nature of Investment form the base for the expectation of return on investment. Similarly, safety is an important factor that an investor wishes for from investment. Every investor aspires to obtain the initial capital without delay and loss upon maturity. The safety of investment can be identified with the assurance of obtaining the return without loss of money or time.

Investors convert the share values into money by trading their shares which they invested in the market. However, there is no guarantee of the shares invested in share market. It might be challenging for an individual to find a buyer to sell the shares at a profitable price when the company that he invested performs poorly. As a consequence of this, the sale price of the individual’s shareholding might go down compared to the original price. Thus, there is a capital loss risk involved in investing shares in a company that has poor financial performance.
It is essential for every investor to comprehend the fact that share prices keep fluctuating. Once a company is delisted, then the shares are distributed with respect to the liquidator and shareholders receive their shares with the sales of assets of the company. Nevertheless, in case of liquidation of the asset, it is the shareholders who are last in the list to receive the released funds. Subsequently, only a meager or no part of share will be received by the investor, facing the loss of time and money.

It is crucial to learn about the risks and its impacts on investments. Investors have to keep in mind to frequently monitor their investment shares, the industries and the companies in which they have invested. The company owners must provide relevant information to the individuals investing in their company. Investors can also avoid risk by choosing the investment avenue wisely and diversify their funds to get higher rate of interest. Thus, it is the responsibility of both investors as well as the companies to build responsible portfolios. Perhaps, investment decisions become less complicated on gaining experience and learning more about the components that affect the investment.