Understanding your investment options may be simpler than you think. All investment opportunities can be placed into one of four categories. Where you should invest money to make money depends on your financial objectives. Do you want to save money or do you want to invest it? Here are your four choices, starting with the safest.
SAVE MONEY: If you are not in a position to invest money and accept even a moderate level of risk stick with cash equivalents and savings plans. Examples include T-bills, money market accounts, money market funds, Savings Bonds, CDs, and the fixed or stable account in 401k and similar retirement plans. All of these investment options pay interest and your principal (the money you invested) is safe.
BONDS: The financial objective when you invest money here is to earn more interest than you normally do in savings plans or in cash equivalents. Risk is at least moderate since bond values are not fixed and the price of bonds fluctuates. Examples include T-bonds, corporate bonds, municipals, and bond funds.
STOCKS: Investment opportunities in stocks involve more risk than the two general investment options above. Stocks are the primary growth investment for most investors, and stock prices can be volatile at times. But if you want to make money over the long term and stay ahead of inflation and income taxes, you should invest money here. Examples include domestic (U.S.) equities (stocks), foreign equities, growth stocks and value stocks.
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS: If you are looking for growth investment opportunities outside of the stock market and/or want to offset the risk of owning equities consider other (alternative) investments. Examples include real estate, precious metals, foreign investments, and natural resources like oil. When you invest money here risk can be significant and so can the profit potential.
That’s it. Those are your four basic choices if you want to save money or make money investing. Don’t expect to make big profits in savings plans or in bonds under normal circumstances. And don’t expect to get safety if you pursue bigger profits in stocks or alternative investments.
Smart investors take advantage of investment opportunities and are willing to accept a moderate level of risk. They invest in all four of the above investment options.
A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.