Don't play it safe always, take risks after all that is what makes us human

Most people are taught to play it safe. Does success come without risks? History has anecdotes of many men and women who seized the opportunity, took the risk and made it big. There is no making it big without the risk.

Geeta Padmanabhan has a interesting take on living life the risky way after all she says "It is the craving for risk(not playing it safe) that makes us human". Read her column on Hindu.

If your the kind that likes to make 'carefully considered risks' then know what your doing and take those risks - as some would call it 'calculated risks'.

Getting started with Personal Finance

It would be prudent to diversify your money in various forms of investment like real estate, stocks, funds, bonds and deposits. Investing is easier than most people think start small and if you need help getting started here a few pointers:

The Wall Street Journal. Complete Personal Finance Guidebook

This little book is a quick read and will help you get started on personal finance. The content is brief and too the point so pay close attention to the text.





If you prefer to get the basics for free online, take a look at:

CNN Money 101
http://money.cnn.com/pf/101/
Basics of investing, personal finance and real estate.

Investopedia
http://www.investopedia.com/university/buildingblocks.asp
Investing 101 and has a large easy to read financial glossary.

After you've done reading the basics you would need some spare cash and an online broker to trade on the exchanges. There are plenty of online low-cost brokerage firms. Motley Fool provides a comparison of major firms at:
http://www.fool.com/dbc/tables/compare.htm?ref=edfeat2

If your non-US person read the terms carefully not all online-brokerage let non-US residents trade using their system.

Have fun investing! start small and carefully invest after all it is still gambling!