Despite its skyrocketing popularity and proven wealth creation record, investing in stocks, for some, still seems a challenging activity. The risk inherent in stock market investing unfortunately deters people from diversifying their portfolios beyond fixed deposits, gold and real estate. This fear is grossly unjustified because equities are extremely well-regulated by authorities and mutual funds offer a safe way to invest with zero hassles. For medium- (3-5 years) and long-term planning (5, 10 years beyond), there is no financial asset like stocks/equities that can give a solid boost to your hard-earned money. By effectively managing your risk tolerance, investing in stocks can be vital in maximizing your investments and aid in driving your financial freedom plan towards its goals.