Your main considerations as an investor, besides choosing which vehicles are right for you, lie in the areas of risk management, taxes and inflation, and asset allocation.

Risk

Risk is the possibility that you may lose some or all of your investment in real terms, or that your investment may not increase in value. Several factors may influence the amount of risk you can comfortably accept, including your age, family situation, income, and financial goals.

Before investing, it is important to determine your risk tolerance:

Are you willing to tolerate greater volatility for potentially higher returns, or
Do you place more emphasis on quality, with less risk?

Inflation

Inflation and taxes are two factors always on the minds of investors. Inflation is the persistent increase in the cost of goods and services, and the reason why the same loaf of bread that costs you Rp1000 today will probably cost you Rp1100 next year. For your purchasing power to grow in "real" terms, your returns must outpace the inflation rate.

Taxes

Additionally, taxes must be a consideration. There are investments available that are both taxable and tax-free; others are tax-deferred or tax-deductible. The differences are significant, but not as dizzying as they seem.

Asset Allocation

Asset allocation refers to the diversification of your portfolio across all the different classes of assets. The goal of effective asset allocation is to develop an appropriate mix of investments based on your specific investment objectives that maximizes performance potential with an acceptable level of investment risk. The goal is more consistent returns, lower volatility and a greater chance of achieving financial objectives.