Introduction
Investors are always very cautious with their money as they always want to invest in the company that has the least number of risks as well as the highest profits. Investors are interested in the company that is well managed as can enable them recover continuous income on their invested capital.
As noted by Ramaswamy (2004, 241), investors are rational in their choices of investments as they always make rational decisions regarding investments that yield maximum income.
Most investors are safe investors as they always invest in ventures that they are likely to reap income on top of what they invested rather than investments in which they are likely to make losses. This study will seek to investigate the investment ventures undertaken by individual consumers and the decisions made by investors.
Objectives of the Study
As noted above, this study will seek to establish the decisions made by consumers in terms of investments in various assets including securities and other financial assets. Specifically, the study will seek to:
- Find out the type of investment decisions of investment in various investment ventures at their disposal.
- To establish the role of the financial services authority and the independent financial advisors regarding the investment decisions made by investors.
- To establish the role of the retail distribution review and the personal financial society in determining the financial decisions made by consumers regarding investment of their funds.
Research Questions
Investors always make rational decisions regarding the goods they purchase. Similarly, investors make rational decision regarding the assets they purchase with the expectation of making the highest returns. This paper will seek to answer these questions regarding the investment decisions made by consumers using their funds.
- What type of investment decision do consumers make regarding their funds and capital?
- What is the role of the financial services authority and the independent financial advisors regarding the decisions made by investors?
- Do the retail distribution review and the personal finance society have some significance regarding the choices of investment made by consumers?
Review of Literature
Investors are very cautious in their investors and they always like to invest in companies that perform well in terms of profitability. High profit for an organization means that investors would have an increased return on their investments. As noted by George and Frankfurter (2003, 63), most investors always monitor the financial performance of firms that they are interested n before making any move.
Some of the most important aspects of the financial records of an organization include the profit earned by the company, the stock [rice of the firm, the return on capital invested, the return on the company’s assets as well as the dividends share for investors.
In order to realize improved and brilliant financial performance, an organization needs to be well organized and endowed with good strategic leadership that can steer it to growth and development.
Independent Financial Advisors
However, not all companies have all these qualities and in fact some investors are unable to keep track of the performance of the firm for a continued period. They therefore rely on some of financial advisors that help them make the right investment that would capitalize on their invested capital.
Financial advisors are comprised of teams knowledgeable in the field of financial investment and financial accounting and they keep track of the financial performance of all companies (Sinha 2003, p. 211). They rely on their records in advising their customers on the best investments especially after examining the financial performance of the firms.
In some cases, consumers entrust them with managing their investments with the advisors investing consumer’s funds. Therefore, financial advisors help consumers maximize on the income from their invested funds (Koch & Shenoy 1999, p. 91).
However, in some unexpected business environments, consumers do make losses and even lose their invested funds. And this calls for an authority that regulates and monitors activities in the financial markets.
The Retail Distribution Review
The Retail Distribution review was established with the view of helping consumers realize profitability on their investments. The body is vital as it establishes the resilient, effective and attractive investment options that consumers can have confidence in and invest. The body advises consumers on investment and retirement planning.
The Financial Services Authority
The financial services authority is an important body in the financial market as it helps in regulating all organizations that provide financial advice to investors. The body was designed with the aim of regulating the market through setting up of guidelines to be observed by all organizations providing advice to investors.
The body has the authority and power to formulate policies as well as implementing them. This means that it can as well force organizations to abide by the formulated regulations.
According to Frank and Reilly (2011, p. 106), these bodies are necessary in the financial industry as they help in instilling confidence in the investors so that they can continue investing. Lack of confidence and trust in the market could lead to financial issues in various firms with spillovers affecting the entire economy. Therefore, it is important that investors are not scared so that the stability of operations in the market can be maintained.
In a surveys conducted by Thomas and Robinson (2008, p. 79), it was established that investors are rational and could also be grouped into risk averse investors and safe investors that invest in safe companies.
All these types of investors rely on availability of information regarding the various companies they wish to invest in. the information is availed by various intermediaries such as the financial services authority and financial advisors (George & Frankfurter 2003, p. 61).
Methodology
This study will involve utilization of qualitative research method, which will require utilization of primary data collected directly from investors using questionnaires. Qualitative method was selected for the study because it will help the researcher understand the behavior of investors regarding making of investment choices. Fast hand data will be collected using questionnaires form a selected sample of investors from the market.
The questionnaires will contain likert scale questionnaires, open and closed ended questions regarding the source of information for investors and the factors that determine their investment decisions. In addition, interviews will be conducted on the management personnel of the FSA, IFA and the personal finance society.
Expected Findings
It is expected that the study will establish that all consumer are rational in their choices and will often make decisions regarding investment based on various factors.
However, the most important factor in most of the decisions made is the profit that an organization makes and the expected income on their investment including the dividend that they expect to earn from the investment. In order to make a decision, consumers seek for information from financial advisors and always look forward to the financial services authority to regulate the market and eliminate any form of uncertainty.
List of References
Frank, K & Reilly, K 2011, Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, Cengage Learning, Mumbai.
George, M & Frankfurter, B 2003, Dividend policy: theory and practice, Academic Press, New Delhi.
Koch, P & Shenoy, C 1999, ‘The information content of dividend and capital structure policies’, The Journal of the Financial Management Association, vol. 28, no.4, pp. 16-35.
Ramaswamy, S 2004, Managing Credit Risk in a Corporate Bond Portfolio, Mumbai: Wiley.
Sinha, 2003, Financial Statement Analysis, London: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Thomas, R & Robinson, C 2008, International Financial Statement Analysis, Chicago, John Wiley & Sons.