There are many investment alternatives available to investors including equity shares, debentures, bonds, government securities, money market securities, bank deposits, post office deposits, life insurance, mutual funds, and real assets. However, it can be difficult for investors to choose the best option due to lack of awareness about the different alternatives. The document then provides further details about types of securities, tax shelter saving schemes, advantages of life insurance, classifications of mutual funds, and examples of real assets.

2. Introduction
There are many ways by which a
investor can enter the market. It is
very difficult for the investor to
choose the best alternative because
he himself is not aware of
investment alternatives. It may be:

3. Negotiable instruments
• Equity shares
• Growth
Variable • Income
income • Defensive
securities •
•
Cyclical
Speculative

4. • Preference shares
• Debentures
Fixed •
•
Bonds
IVP and KVP
income •
•
Govt. securities
Money market securities
securities • Treasury bills
• Commercial papers
• Certificate of deposit

5. Non-negotiable securities
Bank deposit Post office deposit NBFC deposits
• period: 3 to 5 years
in current scenario
• Maximum limit: at
least 25 lakhs of
owned funds
otherwise not in
capacity to accept
deposits.
• Interest rates
• Security : % of
liquid assets is 15 %

6. Tax shelter saving schemes
PPF
NSS
NSC

7. LIFE INSURANCE
• Protection
Advantages • Easy payments
of life • Liquidity
insurance • Tax relief

8. Mutual funds
Open ended Closed ended Other
funds funds classification
• Growth
• Income
• Balanced
• Money market
scheme
• Tax saving
scheme
• Index scheme

9. Real assets
Gold
Silver
Real estate
Art
Antiques