When it comes to markets and trading, there is always a moment of confusion and ambiguity. We have heard the words ‘subject to market risks’ so much that we think it’s a huge risk. But truth be told, trading in shares is not as hard as it seems. If you learn and understand the basics, you can invest in equity shares and reap its said benefits.
Here are five things to check and keep in mind before investing in a stock.

Educate yourself with the basic details
Stock market is an ocean and there is so much to fish in. But before you pick yours, get to know everything you can about the company whose stock you’re buying. The understanding of ground reality is a must, be it the company or the current market and economic conditions.

A proper investment goal and plan
You needn’t necessarily be involved in equity trading for a long time to be able to do it well. The key is planning. You need to get your financial planning in order before you start trading in shares. You can hire a financial planner or advisor to do it for you or if you are up for the challenge, you do it yourself.

Only buy what you believe in
Given current economic conditions, the stock market is still trying to get back on track. It is important to completely understand what’s at stake. Yes, the higher the risk you take, the higher the returns you reap. Which means you are betting on companies to also take the leap of faith. Believing completely in your financial product is the key to understanding it too.

Don’t think big, go small and go wide
Don’t hedge your bets with one company when it comes to trading in shares. You need to diversify your portfolio and invest in equity shares across the board. While doing so, keep in mind your long-term goals. Stock markets are here to stay, but if you lose all your money today – where will you invest tomorrow? Go small from the start.

Consistency gets you progress and results
Most of the time you won’t reap the benefits overnight or a fortnight for that matter. You shouldn’t get too obsessed and you shouldn’t also forget that being up to date with current affairs of the stock market will help you with your planning and decision making. The stock market is volatile and you should quit because of your short term losses that you incur.

Conclusion
To invest in equity is a smart way to get returns but it’s not the only way. Understanding both your financial conditions and current economic conditions is very important. A government policy change can impact your return in multitudes or in cases of a pandemic, the stock market can crash overnight. There are too many factors involved when it comes to trading in shares and stocks. Yes, it is complicated but you needn’t know everything, just about the financial product you are buying, the company, the sector and where the industry stands in the current economic conditions. The rest, you will learn as you go; and that’s what financial advisors are for.