Posted on May 28, 2008 by Amol Chavan

One should maintain an investment diary. It should have details of investments, their maturity date, dividend date, photocopy of the application form, and others. If you don’t know how much you earned from particular investment, or when it will mature, it could lead to complications.

Be clear about goals. Financial experts say, one of the main reasons why people lose out of the opportunities to earn better returns is that they are not always clear about the difference between savings and investment.

Have realistic expectations. Hoping for the best is good. However, it doesn’t mean you choose any stocks. Many people believe they can pocket 100 returns from the stock market every year. They get into the market with this hope and the moment of market down, they get scared and pull out the money.

Get good advice. There are dubious characters among advisors. Nevertheless, you can keep away them if you do your homework properly. Make sure you get good reference and always go to a qualified professional. Don’t just go for the one who charges the lowest fee.

Getting good advice, staying clear about goals, having realistic expectations and maintaining investment diary can be useful you to be satisfied about your investments.