Investing is inherently risky. There is no guarantee that you will get the return you expected or even get the original investment back. That is why it is advisable to understand various types of investment options available and their risk vs. reward profile. In general, your reward in any investment is proportional to the risk you are willing to take. The key is to balance the portfolio such that your risk is distributed. In order to determine which would be the best investment option for you, you will first need to understand the characteristics of several types of investments in the market. Below we provide an in depth guide to various types of investments to help you make determination of how they align to you investment objectives.