You’ve probably seen investment ads promising “guaranteed returns of 20% per year.” While these investments might sound enticing, it’s important to remember that they come with significant risk. Instead of chasing high returns, focus on the long term. Taking on too much risk can seriously stunt your returns. Here are some investing ideas to help you get started.
Stocks
Stocks are a security that represents fractional ownership of a company. Companies issue stocks to raise money and grow their businesses. While investing in stocks can be lucrative, it can also be risky. However, there are ways to mitigate risks by diversifying your portfolio and by using robo advisors. Investors often invest in stocks to reach financial goals, such as retirement or homeownership. It can also be a way to keep up with inflation. For example, $100 saved under a mattress may only be worth $95 in ten years due to inflation.
There are many different investment accounts, including 401(k)s and traditional brokerage accounts. Choosing the right one will depend on your needs and goals. Ask your Morgan Stanley Wealth Management advisor about high-conviction thematic investment themes such as automation, health care innovation, cybersecurity and electric vehicles.
Bonds
A bond is a loan that investing ideas make to a government entity, corporation, or other organization. In return, they receive a stream of interest payments and the eventual return of their original investment at maturity. Because of this, bonds are often considered a safe and low-risk way to grow your savings over the long term. Bonds are also popular with retirees, as they provide a steady stream of income that can supplement other sources of retirement income, such as Social Security, pensions, and on-the-job earnings. They are also typically tax-free at the federal and state levels. However, bonds can still be subject to credit risk and interest rate changes, which can decrease their value. This is why diversifying your portfolio with a mix of investments is a smart strategy.
Real Estate
Many people view real estate as a risky investment, but it can actually be a great addition to a retirement portfolio. Most investment portfolios and IRAs are heavily invested in stocks and mutual funds, but real estate can provide diversification that improves performance over the long term. The most popular way to invest in real estate is through home buying and house flipping. These types of investments can be lucrative if done right, but they are also high risk and involve a lot of work.
Before making a real estate investment, it is important to have a clear plan and know what you are trying to accomplish. This includes identifying your goals, understanding the market and finding a team of professionals to help you succeed. Having this team will ensure you avoid common mistakes and make the most money possible.
Money Market Accounts
Money market accounts (MMAs) offer safe, liquid options to save short-term funds. They often earn competitive annual percentage yields (APY) and may come with check-writing privileges, ATM access and other features. You should carefully research different banks to find the best money market account for your needs. MMAs are great for shoring up an emergency fund and saving for short-term goals, such as a vacation or home purchase. You should use other accounts for long-term savings goals, such as retirement accounts that offer tax breaks.
Keep in mind that MMAs typically require higher minimum deposit and balance requirements than high-yield savings accounts, so you should make sure that you can meet these thresholds before opening one. It also helps to compare APYs and fees to determine the best option for you.
Spare Change
If you have a piggy bank or other small collections of coins, you might want to consider investing your spare change. Some spare change savings apps allow you to automatically invest your spare change by rounding up the amount of each purchase to the next dollar and depositing that difference into a savings account. Some of these apps, which are sometimes referred to as micro-investing apps, invest your spare change into stocks or exchange-traded funds based on your risk tolerance. These investments are a good way to get started with investing and can help you reach your financial goals more quickly.
However, it is important to remember that investing your spare change is not a guaranteed way to get rich. It is generally not enough money to earn significant returns, especially when it is invested in volatile investments.
Conclusion
The idea of investing can be intimidating, especially in a market downturn. But the short-term volatility shouldn’t stop you from taking the steps to invest money if you have the right investment approach and long-term financial goals in mind. Learn how you can make your money work for you using compound earnings. Depending on your investing style and risk tolerance, options include high-yield savings accounts, funds, and even bonds.