Investing 101 - Module 1.1

Basics of Stocks - Stocks, also known as shares, represent ownership in a company, providing partial claims to its assets and earnings [1][2] - Companies issue shares to raise capital, often through an IPO (Initial Public Offering), which lists the company's shares on the stock market [2] - Stock prices are determined by supply and demand, with investor demand largely based on the expected future performance of the company [3] Investment Principles - An investment is anything expected to gain value or generate income over time, with stocks achieving this through capital appreciation and dividends [5][6] - Capital appreciation occurs as a company grows in value, increasing the value of its shares; dividends involve companies distributing excess profits to shareholders [7][8] - Reinvesting returns generates further returns, creating a compounding effect that significantly increases wealth accumulation over time [12] Investing vs Saving - Investing allows for returns that can outpace inflation, building wealth over time, unlike saving which may lose value due to inflation [11][12] - Compounding is a powerful effect where investment returns generate their own returns, leading to substantial growth over time [12][13] - Starting to invest early is crucial, as it allows more time for money to compound and grow [15]