You should invest in stocks, bonds, and money market funds. You want to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, as individual stocks are too risky. For most folks this means buying mutual funds. I like Vanguard.com, other people like Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, and DFA. Buy no-load, low cost funds. If you are like most people you will invest part of your money aggressively in stock funds, and part conservatively in money market funds and bond funds. For the highest return, you should put as much in stock funds as you can tolerate. Vanguard.com has an on-line questionnaire which will give you an idea how aggressive you want to be.
If your company offers a 401K plan at work, try to invest the most you can. The money grows tax free, and some companies will match your contribution. Investing in a mutual fund IRA is also a good idea.
I like index funds. Because of their broad diversification, you are less likely to have a dramatic drop in value. They also have the lowest expenses. For stock funds, I would suggest putting ~70-80% of your money in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. and ~20-30% in a foreign stock index fund. However, there are many different opinions out there on what the best mutual funds are. Read the links below and form your own opinion
Buying a house instead of renting will save you a lot of money in the long run. You don't have to pay rent and you build equity in your house instead. Buying rental property can also be a good investment. However, being a landlord can be hard work, and many people are not good at it. If you don't know how to handle deadbeat renters, you can have trouble.
If you have high-interest debt, like credit cards, it is best to pay this off first before trying most of the investment ideas above. You should also have 3-6 months of salary saved up as an emergency fund in a bank or money market fund before trying more risky investments.
Believing advice you get on Yahoo answers can be risky, so read these websites for further information. If you find it too confusing, contact a professional financial advisor. They will charge you significant commissions, however.
Sources:
http://www.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/planningeducation
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/scottburns/columns/2007/vitindex.html
http://www.fool.com/school.htm
http://sec.gov/investor/pubs/assetallocation.htm
https://flagship.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/FundsInvQuestionnaire?cbdInitTransUrl=https%3A//flagship.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/planningeducation/education
2007-02-25 06:59:15
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Depends on how much time you have to invest before you need the money. As it has been 7 years since the "bubble burst" in March 2000 and the S&P 500 is not yet back up to its old highs, if you need the money in 10 years or less, bonds or CDs may be "best" (considering risk and total returns). If you have 10 years or longer, the odds are "best" by investing in equities.
2007-02-25 14:59:48
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answer #2
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answered by gosh137 6
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For the very highest return it is very difficult to beat cocaine. With highest returns come highest risks. Do you think you can handle the risks?
2007-02-25 14:13:53
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Dude
you can invest your 50 grand here http://www.eaindex.com/CMGK2058
The return 1.8% to 2.3%.
You must try it!!!
2007-02-25 17:51:18
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I love it. Be careful now, they are watching your money !
2007-02-25 14:36:23
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answer #5
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answered by cho 2
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