Investing is the act of assigning resources, usually money, into assets with the hope of earning profits. Types of investments range from savings accounts and fixed-term deposits to property and shares on the stock market.

People choose investments according to their personal needs, goals and interests. There are factors which need to be considered before making investment decisions. These ensure that your money is put to its best use, and that it yields the best returns with a minimal likelihood of incurring loss.

List of Factors to Consider When Making Investment Decisions

What are the things that you should think about before deciding on an investment? Here is a list.

  1. Return on Investment (ROI)
  2. Risk
  3. Investment Period
  4. Liquidity
  5. Taxation
  6. Inflation Rate
  7. Volatility
  8. Investment Planning Factors
  9. Budget

Image with List of Factors to Consider When Making Investment Decisions. Business Studies Grade 12 Exam Preparation, Investment Securities

Explanations of Factors that Must Be Considered Before Making Investments

Now, what do the above factors mean, and how do they influence your investment? Let us take a look.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on investment is the benefit that the investor gains after deducting the cost of the investment.

  • It can be in the form of interest, dividends or capital appreciation (an increase in the value of assets).
  • The return on investment should be expressed as the net after-tax income.
  • The net after-tax return should be higher than the inflation rate.
  • There is usually a direct link between risk and return on investment.

Risk

In finance, risk refers to the possibility of losing money due to unforeseen circumstances.

  • The higher the potential return, the higher the potential risk of losing money.
  • For example, investing in shares has a higher risk than investing in a fixed deposit, but it also promises higher returns.

Investment Period / Investment Term

Investment period is the duration (length of time) of the investment, which can influence the return on investment.

  • The investment can be short, medium or long term.
  • Long-term investments must be held for more than a year, while short-term investments are held for one year or less.
  • Long-term investments generally yield higher returns than short-term investments.
  • The investment period depends on the personal needs of the investor.

Liquidity

Cash is considered a liquid asset because it can be easily accessed and used to buy almost anything. Liquidity, therefore, refers to how quickly and easily an investment can be converted to cash.

  • In case of emergencies, there should be an amount of capital allocated to an investment that can be easily converted to cash.
  • A savings account is more liquid than property because it is easier to convert to cash, while property takes time to sell.
  • Many shares on the stock market are considered fairly liquid because they can be easily sold to other traders in the market.

Taxation / Tax Implications

Tax is a compulsory fee that citizens must pay to the government.

  • Different investments have different tax rates.
  • The investor must consider income tax implications in order to secure a high net after-tax return.
  • A good investment must produce a good after-tax income.

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Inflation Rate

Inflation is the continuous rise in the prices of general goods and services, which leads to a decrease in the value of money. The inflation rate is a percentage that is calculated annually to measure the rise of the average price of goods and services in the economy.

In South Africa, the inflation rate has been around 4% for the past few years. A good investment should, therefore, generate an interest of 6% or more in order to beat inflation and produce visible returns.

  • When the inflation rate rises, the purchasing power of consumers decreases.
  • A good investment should have a return on investment that is higher than the inflation rate.
  • Some investments such as property and shares are positively impacted by inflation. Their value can increase as inflation rises.

Volatility / Fluctuations on Investment Markets

Volatility is a rise and fall of market prices. If a market goes through frequent swings or fluctuations, it is seen as highly volatile. Low volatility means that the investment, market or economy is stable.

  • Before making an investment, the investor should consider the fluctuations in national and international economic trends.
  • The level of volatility will have an impact on the amount of returns that the investment yields.
  • Market volatility is usually associated with investment risk.

Investment Planning Factors

When planning investments, you should consider the safest possible investment opportunities. Although some investments offer low returns, they can be safer than those that offer higher gains.

  • Explore opportunities that have a history of good returns.
  • To minimise risk, you should divide investments between the different investment options.
  • The method of calculating interest should also be considered.

Budget

The investor’s budget is the amount of capital that the investor has.

  • Investors must budget for unexpected costs.
  • The budget should provide for emergencies, savings and investments.
  • Investors can decide how much of their surplus money can go to investments.

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Test Yourself

Now it is time for you to test your knowledge. Download the quiz cards below and practice answering these NCS exam questions. Share them with your friends and test each other online. You will find more images like this, and other Grade 12 Business Studies notes, on my Facebook page: Nonjabulo SA.

1. Name FIVE (5) factors that could be considered when making investment decisions. (5)

Test yourself quiz card Question – Grade 12 Business Studies exam preparation. Name FIVE (5) factors that could be considered when making investment decisions. Investment Securities

Test yourself quiz card Answer– Grade 12 Business Studies exam preparation. Name FIVE (5) factors that could be considered when making investment decisions

2. Explain the following factors that must be considered when making investment decisions: Return on Investment, Investment Period. (8)

Test Yourself Exam Question – Explain the following factors that must be considered when making investment decisions: Return on Investment, Investment Period

Test Yourself Exam Question – Grade 12 Business Studies exam preparation. Explain the following factors that must be considered when making investment decisions: Return on Investment, Investment Period

3. Discuss the following factors that investors must think about when making investment decisions: Liquidity, Volatility. (8)

Test Yourself Exam Question – Discuss the following factors that investors must think about when making investment decisions: Liquidity, Volatility

Test Yourself Exam Question – Grade 12 Business Studies exam preparation. Discuss the following factors that investors must think about when making investment decisions: Liquidity, Volatility

4. Discuss following the factors to be considered before making an investment decision: Risk, Taxation. (8)

Test Yourself Exam Question – Discuss following the factors to be considered before making an investment decision: Risk, Taxation

Test Yourself Exam Question – Grade 12 Business Studies exam preparation. Discuss following the factors to be considered before making an investment decision: Risk, Taxation