where wouldyou invest 150,000?

Answer 1

If you don't know anything about investing,I would say a balanced fund from Vanguard.

Answer 2

Market index funds. I would put half in the total stock market index mutual fund and half in a total bond market index mutual fund. You'll end up making about 10 to 15 percent without much risk. And you don't have the stress associated with worrying about your investments. Here's an article that explains it. It's referred to the "couch potato investing". Worked for me. I'm a millionaire right now and living in Barbados.

'Couch Potato' investing requires little attention



By HANK EZELL
Cox News Service

The "Couch Potato" portfolio is one of those too-good-to-be-true investment plans, like buying only growth stocks, or following the recommendations of a newsletter writer or astrologer, or buying stocks only in months that contain an "R."

The difference is that the Couch Potato, more than a decade old now, seems to do all the right things.

It is understandable and easy to put together. Its returns regularly are higher than what you could get from most comparable mutual funds. It doesn't cost much.

Indeed, the hardest part of the Couch Potato may be self-discipline: Putting it together and then leaving it alone, despite what the market is doing or what the pundits are saying.

Here's how to build a Couch Potato portfolio: Invest half of your money in the Vanguard 500 Index fund. Invest the other half in the Vanguard Total Bond Market fund. Step back and forget about it until this time next year.

"The basic notion is that you have a sure shot at beating 70 to 75 percent [of the] professional managers simply by lowering expenses," says Scott Burns, the Dallas journalist who thought up the Couch Potato and has been championing it ever since.

The accompanying chart tells the story. The Couch Potato yielded a higher total return than balanced mutual funds in almost all of the last 11 years. The data, from Morningstar, include annual operating costs that are taken out of each shareholder's assets. (Expenses average 1.3 percent for the balanced funds, vs. 0.16 percent for the two Vanguard funds.)

The Couch Potato has other good points. A big one is that it stops you from making bad decisions. That includes impulse buying and panic selling — which are a lot more common than most people want to admit.

Another plus is that risk is relatively low, in part because diversification dampens the ups and downs of the market. It's also because you're not guessing — as actively managed mutual funds must do — what's going to be hot tomorrow or the next day.

There is one big drawback: These are index funds, which means that they are, by definition, average performers. The best managed mutual funds, or individual stocks for that matter, will blow them out of the water. You pay your money — 1.3 percent for those balanced funds — and you take your chances.

It is worth noting that the Vanguard Group has been subpoenaed in the ongoing mutual fund scandal stirred up by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Vanguard was not named in Spitzer's complaint, and there is so far nothing to indicate underhanded trading practices at Vanguard. But Spitzer has demanded to see information and documents.

On the other hand, Burns has suggested some alternatives to Vanguard. Schwab offers similar index funds, tracking the S&P 500 and the broad bond market.

And there are exchange-traded funds — second cousins to mutual funds that trade like stocks — that will do the job. On the bonds side, Burns named the iShares Lehman 7-10 Treasury Index.

One other note: Burns follows his own advice. "All the accounts I have control over are in index funds," he said. He is a little heavy in stocks, he added, to balance out other parts of his retirement package, including a pension and a 401(k) with limited choices.

Answer 3

I would invest it in three places.

1. Gold - The US dollar is weak, as it starts to depreciate gold will actually appreciate.

2. High yield CD - You can make close to 6% without doing anything. Considering hedge funds average 6% returns you could make as much as them without any risk.

3. IMAX - This is an equity. I think investing in IMAX theatres is a great investment. Its more risky but I'm already up 15% and I think this will hit $5 per share by the end of the year which means I'll make an additional 20% on the investment.

Answer 4

Probably put 50k into a china mutual fund, put another 50k into some bonds and then put another 50k into a good savings account. If you have a 5/3 around you they have a 5.25% savings account not money market then you can take it out whenever... Now if you want to work a bit for the money, buy some rental properties in a bad area and ask for HUD assistance at least 20% return easy.

Answer 5

Personally, I would buy $750k - 1 million worth of commercial property, but I am big on real estate. What are you comfortable with?

My mom is a nest egg type of person, so she would pay off her mortgage and/or put the money into a long term CD (5%ish)

You could also consider mutual funds and/or Blue Chip stocks.

Answer 6

If you don't have already a house then it would be wise to buy one with the smaller down payment possible at the longest term possible with the lower fixed rate possible and invest the rest in the stock market with the help of a Financial Advisor.

Answer 7

Divesify, invest some 60% in corporate bond funds, 30% in stock funds, 5%in high yield bond funds, 5% Treasury bonds.

Answer 8

Right now I would put it all in the stock market.

NWACQ is cooking up something so that is where I put my money... The stock market is not for the faint at heart so if you are a pansy, please stay out of it. All I know is that I sure make alot of money in it but that works for ME and ME only.

If you need this money then put it in a bank savings account and kiss any interest worth while good bye, but at least you will have your money.

Answer 9

You can buyin to a bar or restaurant by providing the money for a liquor license, making you a partner, I've seen this turn out good for some people.

Answer 10

In my new European style/taste ice cream deli parlors.
http://www.hoppelpoppel.com