5 Wise Investments: Once you start a job and start getting a regular income, it is time to think about investing. With many options in the market, it is easy to get confused regarding where you should invest your money.
Most investment options can be categorised as either short-term investments or long-term investments. Short-term investments are typically on the high-risk side, but they offer high-returns in the short-term. The returns may reduce in the long-term, or the risk might be too high in the long-term.
On the other hand, long-term investments help you save money for the long run. They are usually low on risk and offer moderate returns. However, they are a great way to plan for your retirement.
The best part about long-term investments is that they help you in gaining financial stability and, thus, a secure future. You only need to put a small amount aside every month to create wealth in the long-term. The tiny drops of savings will add up to a mighty ocean of wealth many years down the line
If you are keen to invest in your future, then here are the top five wise investment options that you must consider.
Stocks
One cannot talk about investment options without mentioning stocks. Even if you haven’t started considering investment options, you would have heard about stocks.
Stocks are essentially ownership in the company. When you purchase stocks from a company, you are purchasing a part of the company. Investing your money in stocks in the long-term is a great way to build your wealth.
However, you have to do a fair bit of research before you start investing in stocks. Even though stocks give good returns in the long run, you do not want to put all your eggs in one basket.
You must diversify and buy stocks from various companies. This way, you do end up making a handsome profit overall.
The best part of investing in stocks is that you have complete control over how much you want to invest, where to invest and when. You can start investing minimal amounts in getting a feel of the market and then increasing your investment.
Not only do stocks protect you against inflation and help you grow your wealth, they are highly liquid. If you have a sudden emergency and need some money urgently, you can sell your stocks to get cash immediately.
Real Estate
Real estate is yet another tried and tested investment option. There are multiple benefits of investing in real estate, whether it is commercial or residential. While real estate is a considerable investment, the pay off is equally good.
Even though you will have debts to pay off for a while, the value of your real estate will increase manifold over this time. If you choose to sell it, you can get a really high return. Even if you don’t sell it, you can continue to live there and save on rent.
Just as with stocks, investing in real estate requires a little bit of research. The returns in real estate depend on the location. You have to look for a location that is still developing.
The prices may be low now, but the developments are sure to boost the price in the future. The only downside is that real estate is not very liquid.
Bond Funds
Bonds are loans taken by the company. You can think of it as if many investors are getting together to give the company a loan. The company will pay you interest at set intervals and returns the principal upon maturity.
Bond funds include both government and corporate bonds to create a balanced portfolio. Bonds are stable and do not experience significant changes in value like stocks. This makes them a highly secure investment option.
Bond funds are a low-risk investment that can also double up as your retirement fund. Since bond funds do change with the market, they may not offer high returns when stocks are doing well.
However, they offer better returns when stocks tumble. Investing in both stocks and bond funds will help you get the best of both worlds.
Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are funds that pool in money from a large number of investors and use it to buy stocks and bonds. Since there is a large sum to be invested, mutual funds are highly diverse.
You also have complete control over how much risk you are willing to take. You can choose to put all your money in high-risk, high-return funds or split it between high, moderate and low-risk funds. You can change it according to your need.
Unlike stocks, you are not responsible for choosing which stocks and bonds to invest in. Mutual funds are managed professionally. They take away the stress of researching various stocks and leave it to professionals.
Mutual funds are also highly accessible. You can start investing small and if you think you can only spare a small amount each month, then you only need to invest that. You will still be able to see good returns.
Precious Metals
The allure of shiny metal continues to live through generations, and rightfully so. The price of gold has been increasing over the last few decades. Even if you adjust for inflation, the price of gold has increased exponentially.
The reason precious metals are alluring is that their availability is limited. There is a limited amount of precious metals that can be mined, and that is available for trading.
Many governments around the world invest in precious metals. You can reap these benefits, too, if you start investing soon.
The key is to buy when the price is low. You can then choose to sell it as the price increases or wait for a longer duration.
Precious metals are also highly liquifiable. You can sell them and get cash in return within a short period.
Bottom Line
Investing your money early is the key to building your wealth for the future. While all the investments mentioned above are great, you should try investing in more than one of them to maximise your gains. Diversifying your investments helps you create a secure future.
