You must be, at least at times, wondering about how your investments are performing.
Doing what many investors do, putting together profit-earning assets with the equity portfolio, you will see the complete combination of all bonds, mutual funds, equities, etc.
, and wonder why they're not giving you the income you expected.
You may feel that your investments are not growing in value.
This can be understood better by studying the investors.
A part of the problem is that most of the investors just don't realize the long-term implication of the decisions made about their investments.
Most decisions are based on short-term tax relief and earnings.

1. Always take into consideration the performance of fixed income independent of equity.
   
2. Try keeping equity accounts separate from your earning account to get maximum tax relief.
   
3. As fixed income securities are interest rate sensitive, their market price will differ inversely with the rate of interest.
   
4. It is better to hold fixed income securities for a longer time.
   
5. Try to buy fixed income instruments that are cost transparent.
   
6. Beware of markups in new issues; it can be 3 percent or more.
   
7. Look out for instruments that are investment grade and long-term.
   
8. Don't be overcome by temptation as the value of everyone's bonds will move in the same way.
   
9. The main reason for buying fixed income securities is a growth in earnings.
   

These nine investment rules will help you make investment decisions, which may get you tax relief.
To add to it, you won't have to keep guessing as to what to do.