:Smart Investing … Online Investing.

While we understand the benefits of investing but often do not give enough importance to this process due to the hassles involved and the feeling of ‘it is not my cup of tea’.

Ketan Trivedi, Head, Marketing IDBI Capital Market Services explains how investing online can be a very easy, convenient and an informed experience.

Online Investing. Say bye to hassles of investing offline …

With the pressures of time and the sheer choice of options, the entire process of investing can be a very daunting experience for most of us. One faces several issues while investing offline like maintaining of bank and de-mat accounts separately and manually, lack of proper information, tools and advice, constant struggle with the paperwork that is generated (for example: try filling an IPO (new issue) form manually), pressures of time to plan for investments systematically and finally to keeping track of your investment portfolio and net-worth. This either leads to a situation of too much dependency on someone, total inactivity or sometimes even taking wrong decisions while planning your investments.

Fortunately, help is at hand through the online investing platforms that are available to the investors. Today technology enables you to completely plan your investing needs in the comfort of your home and at the time you like, all at the click of the mouse. All you need is a computer, net connection and a subscription to a 3-in-1 online investing account with any of such service providers. Online mode of investing largely eliminates all the major hassles of investing: - it provides a wealth of information, analysis and tools that enable you to take more informed decisions, virtually no paperwork involved as all transaction records are online and statements available in digital form, invest anytime and from anywhere at your time and convenience (yes, even at night), integrated operations between your bank account, de-mat account and trading accounts and tracking of your investment portfolio and net-worth online anytime. Today, the online mode allows you to invest across different asset classes like equity shares, Mutual Funds and IPOs amongst others. You can be your own master in planning your investments through the online mode. The online mode provides you the benefit of getting up to date information and analysis, which is often sourced and compiled, in an investor friendly format, from some of the best information providers in their respective fields.

Your advantage therefore:- not only are you able to take more informed decisions for your investing needs but in the process also reduce the probability of risk and improve probability of earning better returns on your investments.

Getting started and services to look out for…

To start investing online you would need to register as a member for an integrated 3-in-1 online trading account with any of the service providers like www.idbipaisabuilder.in. The 3 accounts are: (1) trading account, which enables you to transact online, (2) an internet enabled bank account for online money transfers through internet, with any of the banks with whom the online service provider has a tie-up with and (3) your demat account, where your shares will be deposited.

Issues you can consider while choosing your online investing account :

· Credibility and credentials of the service provider. While there are several service providers, for any retail investor like you, the backing of a reputed bank or financial institution can always provide that additional safety & surety that you seek.

· Which investments can you make online – are you allowed to invest in equity shares, Mutual funds and IPOs fully through the online route or in only one of them? To derive the full power of online investing it is important you get to invest in all of them online.

· Quality of information and content. Ensure you are getting the best of information, research support and tools, which is provided to you in an easy & reader friendly manner. This would be very important in taking informed investing decisions.

· Speed of order execution – are you able to place your equity orders and receive quick order confirmations during peak hours or are you going to struggle with getting access just when you need it most.

· Are you getting a choice of products to choose from – a few service providers provide a choice of products starting from the basic (classic) account to more advanced (trading platforms with live and streaming market information on equity markets).

· Safety – check for the security features inbuilt into the system.

· Customer Care – does the service provider have a dedicated customer care cell to take care of your queries and problems ?

· Additional features – besides the above criteria there are a combination of several additional features provided, whose importance for yourself can be determined based on your own investing needs e.g. ability to sell shares next day before receiving delivery, sms alerts, intra day trading in equities, etc.