<human>:  Help me understand the basics of investing.
<bot>: Investing is a way to set aside money while you are busy with life and have that money work for you so that you can achieve your financial goals. It is important to understand the basics of investing, including what investments are available, how they work, and how they can help you meet your goals. Different types of investments include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. Each of these investments have different risks, costs, and rewards associated with them. To understand these investments better, it is important to understand concepts like diversification and asset allocation. Diversification is the idea of spreading out your investments across different types of assets, and asset allocation is the process of matching your investments to your financial goals. Finally, it is important to understand investment terms like initial and recurring investments, liquidation, and returns. Investing can be a powerful tool to help you build wealth, but it is important to gain a good understanding of the basics before diving into the market.