New Delhi, July 1 -- Many first-time investors often enter the world of investing with unrealistic expectations about the returns they can earn. A common assumption is that investments will consistently deliver double-digit returns and that wealth creation is always a smooth, hassle-free journey, no matter where the money is invested.

In reality, investing does not work that way. Every asset class has its own advantages, limitations, and risk level. Naturally, the returns generated by each of them also differ. For instance, equities tend to be more volatile and carry higher risk than traditional options such as bank fixed deposits. However, because of this higher risk, equities can offer better returns over the long term.

To better unde...