You have many options of investing, including real estate and fixed interest yielding instruments. You can make a choice. But, the reason to invest in shares and stocks is that you can beat inflation. Let us give you an example. Let us say that fixed instruments give you a return of 8 per cent, whereas inflation is running at 7 per cent. What you gain is a real rate of return of only 1 per cent.
By investing in shares and stocks you can make much more money, thus boosting your real rate of returns. However, as we have mentioned that stocks are a risky proposition and unless you have the knowledge, you should refrain from investing.