For women, as with all individuals, investments form an integral part of financial planning; they generate returns for the future and take care of financial needs. This is especially necessary in light of the big question - 'What if'? 'What if' your husband has not planned your finances well? 'What if' there was an eventuality in your family? 'What if' your child's career plans cost you a packet? After all, it's the child who decides on his future, not the parents. And importantly, investments play a key role in making today's woman financially independent.

Education has also played its part in driving women towards the corporate world. More women are taking to education. Armed with a degree, they want to put it to good use by taking up a job. The past few years have seen a steady rise in the number of working women. On the other hand, the goods and services at the consumer's disposal have only increased. With women taking to work, disposable incomes of households have increased. And naturally, alongwith surplus income comes the responsibility of investing.

Apart from working women, homemakers too should take to investing. They can save from the monthly allowance they get to run the house. Not only will this enable them to plan better for the family's future but the savings will be handy on a rainy day. After all, women are considered to be better savers than men!

Like all of us, women also have to deal with an increase in cost of living (inflation). Vegetable prices have been rising consistently. A gas cylinder, which was available for around Rs 70 ten years back, costs almost Rs 300 now. And of course, there's the issue of rising medical bills as the years roll by. So women must have an investment plan in place to secure themselves against inflation. These are just some factors that should compel women to think on the need to invest. And of course, drive them towards actually investing money on a regular basis into various investment avenues.

But just what are these investment avenues that we are talking about here? And how do women go about the task of investing their money 'smartly' to yield a desired return on their investments? In the subsequent articles, we have answered all these questions and more so as to empower women with the necessary advice and guidance to help them secure their financial future.

By Personalfn.com, a financial planning initiative
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