Startup Investment: Which type is really suitable for people with no experience

Most people are afraid of investing, thinking it is very risky and requires a lot of money. But the truth is, there are many types of investments ranging from very safe to high-yield options. The problem is most people don’t know how to choose, so they avoid investing altogether.

Let’s see how many types of investments there really are and who each one is suitable for.

What are the different types of investments?

1. Stocks (Stocks)
2. Bonds (Bonds)
3. Mutual Funds (Mutual Funds)
4. ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)
5. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) (Certificates of Deposit - CDs)
6. Retirement Plans (Retirement Plans)
7. Options (Options)
8. Annuities (Annuities)
9. Derivatives (Derivatives)
10. Commodities (Commodities)
11. Hybrid Investments (Hybrid Investments)

Summary: All 11 types have different ways to make money and different levels of risk.

Stocks: Making money through buying and selling

What exactly are stocks?

Buying stocks means purchasing a share of a company listed on the stock exchange. If the company makes a profit, you receive dividends. If the stock price increases, you can sell for a profit from the difference.

Risk? Very high. Also, the returns can be high too.

Main strategies:

Technical Analysis (

• Analyzing price patterns on charts
• Frequent trading to profit from price differences )Capital Gain(
• Example: Buying Tesla )TSLA( at $200 for 100 shares )cost $20,000(. When the price rises to $270, selling yields a profit of $70 per share = $7,000 total.

Fundamental Analysis )

• Viewing stocks as representatives of company profits
• If the company grows rapidly, stock prices tend to rise long-term
• Monitoring company news and financial data

( How to start for beginners

Step 1: Read books and articles about stocks, study technical and fundamental analysis

Step 2: Create an investment plan, decide which companies to invest in and for how long

Step 3: Open an account with a securities company, choose one with reasonable fees

Step 4: Practice with a demo account )Demo Account### before investing real money

Bonds: Investing with interest income

( What are bonds?

Bonds are “debt securities.” You lend money to the government or a company in exchange for fixed interest payments as per the agreement.

) How to make money in two ways

Method 1: Coupon ### Invest 1,000 baht in a bond paying 5% interest for 3 years. You receive annual interest, and at maturity, the principal is returned.

Method 2: Capital gain If you sell a bond at a higher price than you bought, you profit; if lower, you incur a loss.

For beginners

• Understand bond types: long-term, short-term, government, corporate
• Choose bonds based on your goals: regular income or risk protection?
• Higher interest rates usually come with higher risks

Mutual Funds: Investing managed by professionals

( Want to migrate your assets?

Mutual funds pool money from many investors. The fund management company )Asset Management Company (AMC)### manages the money for us.

Advantages:

• Small starting amounts ###Some funds start from 1,000 baht(
• Higher returns than bank deposits
• Wide options: domestic stocks, international stocks, bonds, gold

) How to make money in 4 ways

1. As a savings account with returns
2. Diversified investment policies = more opportunities for returns
3. Buying funds that generate steady income (Passive Income)
4. Tax deductions ###SSF/RMF(

) How to start

• Study fund types: equity funds, bond funds, mixed funds
• Choose funds based on your goals
• Open an account with a bank or fund management company
• Deposit money and monitor regularly

ETFs: Funds traded like stocks

( What is an ETF?

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an index fund traded on the stock exchange, like regular stocks, with real-time price changes.

) How to make money in 2 ways

1. Capital gain: buy low, sell high
2. Dividends: from companies in the index group

Example: Investing in an ETF tracking the S&P 500 ###US economy@. You profit from the US stock market growth.

For beginners

• Select ETFs based on your goals
• Open an investment account
• Buy ETFs according to current exchange rates
• Monitor and adjust your portfolio

Certificates of Deposit (CDs): The safest investment

What is a CD?

A savings account with higher interest, but with a “lock-in” period.

( How does it generate income?

Fixed interest rate higher than regular savings accounts. If you withdraw early, you pay a penalty.

) Features of CDs

• Fixed term: from several months to several years ###Popular 6 months - 5 years(
• Fixed returns: know your yield from the start
• Low risk: considered a very safe investment

) How to start

• Understand the terms of the CD
• Choose the term length
• Compare interest rates from different banks
• Deposit money and wait until maturity

Retirement plans: Investing for the future

When should you start retirement planning?

Retirement plans help ensure you have money after leaving work. Letting your money grow with interest is even better.

How to calculate retirement funds

Required amount = Monthly expenses after retirement × 12 months × expected years of life

Example: Person A, age 35, wants to retire at 60 ###25 years(, expecting to live 20 more years. Monthly expenses are 30,000 baht. Assuming 70% of that, 21,000 baht, after retirement.

Total savings needed = 21,000 × 12 × 20 = 5,040,000 baht

) How to prepare

• Set retirement goals and target age
• Estimate expenses
• Create a budget and savings plan
• Choose investment methods within your risk tolerance

Options: Advanced investment

What are options?

Buying the right to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price in the future.

Two main types

1. Call Option: right to buy, profit when prices rise
2. Put Option: right to sell, profit when prices fall

How to make money

On the day SET50 Index is at 930 points, Person A expects it to rise, so buys a call (Option) with a premium of 17.1 points. If the index rises to 1,000 points, they profit from the difference.

Risks

Options are high-risk investments for beginners. Deep understanding is necessary.

Commodities (: Investing in resources

) What are commodities?

Investing in oil, minerals, metals, wheat, and agricultural products.

How to make money

Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Example: OPEC reduces oil production from 22 million barrels per day to 15 million, decreasing supply and raising WTI oil prices from $80 to $83.

Pros

• Diversification: commodity prices do not always follow stocks and bonds, helping protect your portfolio
• Inflation hedge: commodities tend to increase in value during high inflation

Cons

• High volatility: commodities are among the most volatile assets, potentially doubling or quadrupling stock and bond fluctuations.

Hybrid investments: Diversify risk

( What is hybrid investment?

Investing in multiple asset classes simultaneously to reduce risk and seek better returns.

) How to make money

Invest in stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash at the same time.

How to start

• Set goals: short-term or long-term? Need regular income or capital growth?
• Assess risk: what to invest in and in what proportions
• Monitor and adjust: review your portfolio regularly

Things to know before investing

🔹 Define your purpose: Why are you investing? For daily profit, retirement, or risk protection?

🔹 Understand risks: How risky is each investment? Can you accept that?

🔹 Calculate returns: What is the expected return? What are the fees?

🔹 Study deeply: Read books, articles, and learn from experienced investors

🔹 Create a financial plan: Control expenses and save regularly

🔹 Manage risks: Have a Stop Loss plan to prevent major losses

🔹 Set timeframes: Short-term, medium-term, or long-term?

🔹 Monitor and adjust: Regularly check performance

🔹 Consult professionals: If unsure, seek financial advice

Summary

How many types of investments are there really? 11 types.

But you don’t need to invest in all 11. Each person should study and choose only those suitable for themselves, with enough understanding and lower risk.

The more investors understand, the better they can profit and diversify risk effectively.

Investing is not as risky as it seems. With understanding and a plan, it’s a way to build wealth without cheating anyone easily.