What are some ways that a recent college graduate can use to invest?

Question

I have just started working and instead of wasting my money buying an Ipod and other gadgets I am looking for a way "to make my money work for me." Any ideas?

Answer 1

First, pay off all short term debt. If you have a credit card interest rate of say, 21%, that's an instant tax-free return of 21% per year on your money.

Next, if your company has a 401(k) with matching funds, fund your 401(k) to the maximum match amount. Free money is good.

If your company doesn't have matching funds, then fund your Roth IRA to its maximum ($4,000). Tax-free growth is good. I'd go with a no-load, low cost mutual fund company, like Fidelity, Vanguard, or T Rowe Price. If you have money left over after you've funded the 401(k) to the maximum match, do this step with the extra money.

If you *still* have more money for long-term investing, go back to the 401(k) and invest in that up to what you can afford.

And get yourself an elementary education in personal finance. You're going to get a lot advice here, and you won't know who to believe. Well you can believe this: no one is going to care as much about your money as you are. No one is going to watch it as closely as you are, especially someone who's got multiple accounts to look after. So get yourself a foundation, so you'll know if someone is actually giving you good advice or not. Personally, I recommend "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias. It'll give you an overview of everything you need to know (stocks, bonds, real estate, insurance, etc.). Then you can decide if you need a deeper education in anything. Good luck!

Answer 2

You could buy $7,000.00 in Apple stock and hold it for a few decades until you have $700,000.00

Most teens have already spend more than that on Ipods. First they bought a 512 MB, then 1 GB, then 5 GB, then 10 GB, then 20 GB, then 30 GB, then 60 GB and so on.

Eventually they will buy an Ipod with 1 TB.

Did I mention Apple is the largest stockholder in the Walt Disney Company?

It's only a matter of time before every film ever made by Walt Disney, Miramax, Hollywood and Touchtone will be released on ITunes.

Also in the future your Ipod will have an output to plug it to your HDTV and that would make the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Players obsolete.

Why buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray at Wal-Mart for $19.99 when you can download a 50 GB file to your Ipod at night for just $14.99?

I suggest you to open a brokerage account at Scottrade and then you can drop me a line.

Of course, if Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! or Ebay decide to compete against Ipod with a similar device with 2 TB for half the price your stocks could be worthless in the future.

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Answer 3

401Ks, other investment plans by employees, etc

If you are interested in doing your own investing on the side too, I use Sharebuilder.com. Their basic account lets you buy shares of stock for only a $4 commission. You don't wanna use this if you wanna do day time trading though because its like 16 bucks when you go to sell. Its definitely for long time investing.

Another route, open an account at INGdirect.com. It links to your checking account so you can transfer money online. They offer higher interest rates than most banks and have no fees and no minimum balances. They also offer great CDs and aggressive, moderate, and conservative investment programs.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Yeah:

1) Pay off all debt. If debt is higher than your return on investing then you should be paying off any debt first (school/credit cards/auto).
2) 401 K. Put in the max amount.
3) Fund investing. Find an aggresive fund and inquire from the source. I have invested with several Fidelity funds and am averaging about 12% returns the last 7-8 years.

Answer 5

First you need to work out a budget, calculate your fixed monthly expenses, then estimate your monthly variable expenses. When you’ve figured this out, you’ll realize what free cash flow you have to invest. A 401K is very important. Contribute as much as they’d match you. I would then establish a Roth IRA and a regular brokerage account. I would consider investing in mutual funds, about 3 to 4 different funds, using a growth, growth and income, equity income, and a bond portfolio. At the time of retirement, considering that tax laws wouldn’t change, you’d be able to withdrawal money from your 401K at your current income tax rate, withdrawal money from your Roth tax free, and withdrawal money from your brokerage, which would be considered income, it would be considered a capital gain.


EX. You withdrawal 30000 from your 401K and 30000 from your ROTH. Your tax bracket currently would be 15% (considering that you’re single), however you’d be living like someone in the 25% tax bracket. The Roth being tax free makes the difference.

I would shy away from individual stock trading and seek the help of a professional. Most banks offer free advice.

Answer 6

If you distrust Social Security as much as I do, then you should invest in a Roth IRA. It's a retirement fund you can set up that the gov't cannot tax till you are 59 and a half -- then again neither can you. You can contribute up to $3k per year, and the interest tends to be decent. I started my Roth IRA when I got out of HS, and now that I'm a yuppie, I put money into it whenever I can.

I also like putting my money into CDs and money market accounts.

Answer 7

First open an account at 2 banks, in a unmarried have a bank account and a small operational price reductions account, in the different only a cost reductions account. Any corporation could be in a position to split your direct deposit between both banks. Take 10% of your gross income and performance it deposited into the economic corporation with the solo price reductions account. Use the different 2 money owed to pay little while period and medium time period prices. never set foot in the 2d economic corporation, and do not study the balances on your statement. you may't spend what you may't see. for better protection make the 2d economic corporation a difficulty to get to, like it really is in reality branch is fifty miles away and closes at 3:00. And do the full 10%, you'll thank me once you purchase your first domicile...believe me.

Answer 8

Best idea is put more of that extra money into your 401K. Or you can buy your own stocks going thru Ameritrade, E-Trade, etc. thats what i did when i got out of college 4 yrs ago, and i am starting to see returns already.

Answer 9

Buy GOLD, Silver, and more Gold. Buy as much as you can spend your dollars on. You will be a millionaire within the next 10 years if you do.

Answer 10

Open a 401k. If your company has a matching program, they will add additional money to your retirement fund.