Income comes from a number of sources, the most obvious one being employment. There are a number of other ways we can increase income and wealth. Saving is one way to achieve our goals, but simple investments can help achieve goals in the long term.

It is important to remember that investments that offer higher returns often come with higher risks, and that investments with lower risks may deliver lower returns. There are a number of benefits of investing for the long term, as stocks typically outperform other investments. Many people think of stocks just as pieces of paper. Wrong! A share of stock represents real ownership in a company. If you own a share of your favourite shop, you literally own a piece of the company.

If your favourite clothing store introduces a new range of t-shirts and they are literally flying off the shelf, then the company will make more money and will be worth more money. If this happens, your share will be worth more, too.