To a majority of investors looking at an investment, the rate of return is an important consideration. When presented with an investment opportunity, the first question they ask is the rate of return. The rate of return of investment is often examined with reference to a certain period of time.

All investors are confronted with the big question of how much the rate of return should be. What is the appropriate or ideal rate of return against which all investments can be measured? For example, your bank suggests you put your money into a time deposit account which pays 5% rate of return compounded annually, how can you tell if it is good investment with a good rate of return?

We need to take into account three important factors to answer that question properly: inflation, taxation and the highest rate of return for what is considered as the \”safest investment\”.

To start with, what is inflation? Wikipedia calls it \”a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time\”. Inflation erodes the value of money. Your P1,000 now may not be worth much 20 years from now because of the constantly rising prices of good and services. Three years from now and you probably may not be able to buy what you can buy with your P1,000 today.

Next, what is taxation? We all understand what it is. Taxation is what keeps the government ticking. How much tax we pay varies, depending on whoever is in power.

The third factor is the highest rate of return possible for what is considered as the safest investment – government bonds. Fully backed by the government, they should be very safe. Except when the country is in a political mess, it is unlikely for a government to go bankrupt and therefore, it is also unlikely that the government will turn its back on its obligation.

These three items will provide us with adequate information for the formulation of the ideal rate of return.

In the book \”Buffetology\”, Mary Buffett and David Clark elaborate on the interplay between these three factors. The author reports that Warren Buffett, one of the world\’s richest persons and greatest stock market investor, declares that the minimum rate of return of investment should not fall below 15%. In Chapter 25 of the book, the author wrote that just to absorb inflation and taxation, you need a 7.2% return on investment. Therefore, \”to have a real increase in your wealth, it is necessary that the return on your wealth be at least equal to the effects of taxation and inflation\”.

Discussing further the effect of inflation and taxation on the rate of return, the author wrote that investing in bonds with an annual compounding rate of return of 8% would probably net a rate of return of only 0.5% (8% less 31% income tax, less 5% inflation). Or zero rate of return even, should the inflation rate rise to 9%. For this reason, if the annual rate of return offered falls below 8%, it does not make sense to invest, government bonds or not.

Warren Buffet knows the importance of having a \”wide margin of safety\”. In keeping with which, he insists on 15% rate of return. Minus inflation and taxes, he is assured with a growth of about 8% rate of return compounded annually.

What is special about government bonds that we are seriously considering it? Not only are they known to be the safest investment but it can also give the highest possible rate of return. Thus it is the standard by which all other investments can be measured. So if in your evaluation, an investment can only give an 8% rate of return for your investment, you would be a lot better off investing in a government bond that guarantees 8% return on investment, rather than risking it in other investments. But if a certain investment has a rate of return of over and above 15%, then put your money in that investment rather than in government bonds.

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I had been writing several articles that gave a comprehensive introduction on how to invest in the Philippine stock market . Focus was given on the basic principles that each prospective investors should know. In this article the advantages of investing in the stock market will be given focus.

As I said mentioned previously, the stock market is just another vehicle of investment. You might be wondering what is the reason why you should invest in the stock market? Is there an advantage in investing in the stock market ?

The answer to such questions could be as follows. Note that the examples given refer to Philippine based companies and currency. Visit my blog if you want to view the entire article.

1.) The allure of great returns – Most financial expert would tell you that in a bull run the market really goes up. Average returns could be as low as 30 % and as high as 200 %+ per annum or even more. Profit is always expected when you invest in the long term. For example, In 1997, the Globe Telecom Inc. (GLO) stocks price per share was only P152.00. during that time you only spend P 1,520.00 to buy the minimum board lot which is 10 shares. Currently the price per share of Globe is P 1,620.00+. The value of those 10 shares that you previously bought is right now P 16,200, meaning in ten years time your money has grown ten times. This is translated to an average of 30 % return per annum. This is far better than putting your money in a time deposit account at less than 4 % per annum. It is interesting to note that the Philippine stock market is at its highest these days. For the next 2 to 3 years, they say the market will still be in a bull run. Make the best out of this situation.

2.) You become \”part owner\” of the company that you are investing in. – You might probably be thinking of franchising a Jollibee outlet. However doing so would cost you somewhere between 20 to 25 million pesos add to the fact that you have to put in time and effort to run the store. Why not buy stocks of Jollibee instead of franchising a Jollibee outlet in order to own your \”own\” Jollibee. You get to own 100 JFC shares (Jollibee Foods Corporations – JFC) for only P 5,000+. In so doing you \”indirectly own\” the more than 1414 stores in the Philippines and 175 in other countries including Red Ribon, Chowking, Deli-France, A popular fastfood chain – Yonghe King in China and popular teahouse chain from Taiwan called Chun Shui Tang including Jollibee\’s pilot restaurant \”Tio Pepe\’s Karinderia.\” Now that is so cool! The next time you eat at Jollibee you could proudly say to your friends and relatives that you like to eat there because you \”own\” part of it. You more be more prompt in paying your telephone bills if you own stocks of PLDT or Globe telecoms.

3.) Being part of a \”Special group\” -

When asked to join a multi-level marketing scheme, I always want to know when the company started. I ask this question because I believe that if it started a long time ago, my chances of recruiting other people will be lessened as most people that I know has already been recruited.

However take note that investing in the stock market is not mutli-level marketing. Whether the market is saturated or not does not matter. But it is always good to know that we are among pioneers to take advantage of the potential of the market.

Statistics released by the Asian Development Bank shows that as of 2005, only 600,000, out of the of the country\’s 87 million population, invest in the stock market. If you do the math that is only 1 % or roughly around 0.7 % Most of the market players are from the Class A and B segments.

Would you want to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he blogs about several interesting topics such as investments, financial management, business, making financial online and Stock market investing

This is part 2 of the four part series on the discussion of principles of investment in the stock market. In the first part, the first principle involved realizing that the stock market is just another investment vehicles and that before you start investing in the stock market, you must realize that there are other vehicles of investments. We continue by discussing the next two principles. If you wish to view the entire article, please visit my blog.

2.) You must know that investing in the stock market is a roller coaster ride – One of the advantages of the stock market is that there are times when it really climbs up then really big profits are made. However when it really goes down then really big losses are also made.

So when the market goes up we take advantage of the situation by selling and when the market goes down we take advantage of the situation by buying. When I first invested in the stock market almost 2 years ago, the Philippine Stock exchange index was only about 2000 + points. I\’ve seen it go up to 2500 points and drop back to the 2000 level in the middle of 2006. It then slowly and steadily climbed up to the 3200 level in the 1st quarter of 2007 and then drop in a very short period of time during the final days of the 1st quarter of 2007. It then climbed steadily to a high of 3700+ points in July 2007 but dropped below 3000 points a month after. It then climbed steadily to its highest at 3800+ points by October and dropped to its present 3600 points.

The conclusion here is that it is really a roller coaster ride. During those up and down moments of the market, profits and losses are made

3.) Know what type of investor you want to become – There are two types of stock market investors, long term investors and short term investors. This is a very vital question that each serious new investor should ask himself. This will ultimately affect whether you should buy or sell a certain stock.

Take note that If you are a long term investor, this means means that you hold your stocks from 5 to 10 years or more. This actually means that you believe in the company that you are investing in. Since you are putting in your money for a long period of time, you must be certain that such money you put in is considered already as extra.

The advantages of long term investing is that they do not have to worry about the cumbersome day to day technical analysis that has to be monitored. There is no problem if the stock is held for a long period of time because long term investors believe in the fundamentals of the company. On the other hand a short term investor cashes in within a months time to 6 months time. If you are a short term investor, one thing that has to be considered is the monitoring of the day to day activities of the market.

Short term investors have also to consider if they can afford to put in their money for a long period of time however the time element is not as long as that of the long term investor. This is so because during the short period wherein you buy and sell stocks, you might incur losses during this time so you may decide to wait longer a little bit more.

When I first invested in the stock market I said to by myself that I will be more of a long term investor. There are stock that I invest in that I consider as short term. However most of the stocks I hold are considered as medium and long term investments.

Would you like to know more about investment strategies ? Visit the blog of Zigfred Diaz where he blogs about several interesting topics such as investments, money management, business, making money online and Stock market investing