Investing Unit 4: Summary

• Introduction
• Unit 1: Basic Building Blocks of Successful Financial Management
• Unit 2: Investing Basics
• Unit 3: Finding Money to Invest
• Unit 4: Ownership Investments

• Common Stocks
• Real Estate
• Equity Unit Investment Trusts
• Equity Mutual Funds
• Exchange-Traded Funds
• Collectibles, Business, Commodities
• Equity Investments
• Diversification
• Summary
• Action Steps
• About the Author

• Unit 5: Fixed-Income Investing
• Unit 6: Mutual Fund Investing
• Unit 7: Tax-Deferred Investments
• Unit 8: Investing Small Dollar Amounts
• Unit 9: Getting Help: Investing Resources
• Unit 10: Selecting Financial Professionals
• Unit 11: Investment Fraud

• Study Guide
• Action Steps
• Monthly Investment Messages
• Glossary

Equity investing means becoming a partial owner of a company or piece of property through the purchase of investments such as stock, equity mutual funds, and real estate. Capital appreciation over time is the primary objective, although some equity investments, such as REITs and equity-income mutual funds, also provide dependable dividend income. This unit has reviewed general characteristics of equity investments and "nitty gritty" details such as how to purchase them. Diversification and asset allocation, as they relate to equity investing, were also discussed. The unit concluded with a discussion of specific equity investments. Now you need to consider appropriate equity investments that will mesh with your personal financial goals.

Use the action steps and the Equity Investment Comparison Worksheet below to make investment decisions.

Equity Investment Comparison Worksheet