Definition Dividend reinvestment is an investment strategy where dividends paid by a stock are automatically used to purchase additional shares of the same stock. This approach allows investors to capitalize on the power of compounding, where the reinvested dividends generate further dividends, ultimately increasing the total investment value over time. It is often facilitated through a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP), which many companies offer.
Key Components Dividends: These are portions of a company’s earnings distributed to shareholders.
Definition Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) is an investment strategy that involves regularly investing a fixed dollar amount into a particular asset or portfolio over a specified period, regardless of the asset’s price. This method reduces the impact of volatility by spreading out the investment over time, which can lower the average cost per share and reduce the risk of making a large investment at an inopportune time.
Importance of Dollar Cost Averaging Risk Mitigation: By investing consistently over time, DCA reduces the risk of making a large purchase when prices are high, thereby minimizing the impact of market volatility.
Definition ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, three critical factors used to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a company or business. These criteria help to better determine the future financial performance of companies (return and risk).
Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature.
Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and the communities where it operates.
Definition An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a type of investment fund and marketable security that tracks an index, commodity, bonds or a basket of assets like an index fund. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs trade like a common stock on a stock exchange. ETFs experience price changes throughout the day as they are bought and sold.
Importance of ETFs ETFs are important for providing investors with the flexibility of trading stocks alongside the diversification benefits of mutual funds.
Definition Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal finance management, budgeting, investing and understanding financial products. In today’s fast-paced financial environment, being financially literate is more important than ever. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions, avoid debt traps and plan for their futures.
Components of Financial Literacy Financial literacy encompasses several key components:
Budgeting: The process of creating a plan to manage income and expenses.
Definition Fixed income refers to a type of investment security that pays investors fixed interest or dividend payments until its maturity date. Upon maturity, investors are repaid the principal amount invested. Fixed income securities are typically used by investors seeking regular income and lower risk compared to stocks. These instruments include government and corporate bonds, treasury bills, municipal bonds and preferred stocks.
Characteristics Capital Preservation: Fixed income investments are often used by conservative investors to protect their capital, as they generally involve lower risk compared to equities.
Definition Growth investing is an investment strategy that focuses on identifying and investing in companies expected to grow at an above-average rate compared to other companies in the market. This approach typically involves targeting stocks of companies that show signs of accelerated growth in earnings, revenue or cash flow, even if their current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is high. Growth investors are less concerned with short-term profits and more focused on long-term capital appreciation.
Definition Income investing is a strategy designed to generate a steady stream of income from investments, rather than focusing solely on capital appreciation. This approach often involves investing in assets that pay regular dividends or interest, thereby providing a reliable cash flow. It is particularly appealing to retirees or those seeking to supplement their income without selling assets.
Key Components of Income Investing Income investing typically involves various financial instruments that provide returns in the form of cash flow.
Definition Index fund investing is a strategy where investors purchase mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to replicate the performance of a specific market index. This approach allows investors to gain exposure to a broad array of securities without needing to select individual stocks. Index funds are known for their low fees, tax efficiency and historically reliable returns.
Key Components of Index Funds Market Index: A benchmark that tracks the performance of a specific segment of the market, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Definition An interest rate is the percentage of a loan charged by a lender to a borrower for the use of assets. It is typically expressed as an annual percentage of the principal. Interest rates are crucial indicators of economic health, influencing various financial activities including savings, investments and consumption.
Components of Interest Rates Interest rates consist of several key components:
Base Rate: This is the minimum interest rate set by the central bank, which influences the rates charged by other financial institutions.