What kind of investments are the best for newlyweds?

Question

My husband and I have been married for almost six months now. I think that we should start saving for our childrens college expenses but I don't know what the best investment vehicle would be at this time. We would want to start out small until we felt comfortable. The plan is to start having our own children (I have one from someone other than my husband) and plan accordingly for all of their futures. How should we invest and / or what would you recommend in our situation?

Answer 1

Index funds.

Invest for your retirement and let the kids pay their own way through college.

Answer 2

Good grief! I really wonder why some of these people respond to investment questions when they appear to have zero education on finance or investing.

Gold and siver? Are you kidding me? Who cares if it's done well the last three weeks? Do you always make investments based on what's done well lately? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. She wants the best investment for the next 20 years down the road.

Point blank answer: Stocks have outperformed any other investment vehicle over any 20 or 30-year period.

The person that suggested investing in index funds is spot on. It provides diversification without making several investments. The S&P500 has averaged 12% annually since 1926. You won't get that long-term annual return from gold, silver, or real estate.

Answer 3

Start with financial intimacy and eduction. Start by reading some books such as Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson or similar. This will prove the best investment long-term.

Until you feel comfortable investing in certain areas of the stock market, I suggest either a tax-advantaged 529 plan for junior or simply start saving in a high-yield guaranteed account such as those offered by ING Direct, HSBC, etc etc...

For the 529 plan, you can contact Charles Schwab, Fidelity, or similar brokerage.

Other things you may consider would be making sure you are carrying adequate life and health insurance. You will want the life insurance for yourself and your partner to ensure that junior is taken care of in the unlikely event of your passing.

Prepare now for home ownership. This is one of the best investments you can make.

Also learn to run an economically productive household, reduce your debt and tax liability, and save a 3-6 month emergency cash cushion to prevent fallout from an unlikely hospital bill or other unexpected emergency. Implement a retirement plan and make your savings goals automatic. Have funds direct deposited to a savings account so that you learn to live without it. The URL below explains this a little further.

Be blessed,

(I just got married in September. Yeah, us!)

Answer 4

Good for you for thinking ahead! I recommend reading David Bach's "Smart Couples Finish Rich." Great easy read with good advice for organizing and tracking your finances.

1. Set your goals. I'll give you a few suggestions:

1A. Prepare adequately for your retirement. Each of you should contribute enough to get your 401k match. Later, once you complete the other goals, open Roth IRAs and max those out. Then add more to your 401ks.
1B. Build an emergency fund in cash (make sure you get around 5% interest right now) equal to 3 months expenses (not income--expenses; if you lose your job you won't be paying income taxes, for instance, so your expenses are probably lower than you think.
1C. Own a home. Continue to add to that emergency fund until you have enough for closing costs and a downpayment.
1D. NOW start saving for your kids' education. Only AFTER you provide for yourselves. College loans are cheap and easy to get--you can't borrow to fund your retirement though. Your kids will thank you when they don't have to take care of you in your old age. (The Utah 529 plan is best--it utilizes low cost high quality Vanguard index funds so you can accumulate tax advantaged savings for your kids' education. But check your own state's 529 plan too; you'll want the tax break unless the plan offers really poor investment choices).

2. Set up a budget to reach these goals. Think of a budget as a goal setting and goal-accomplishing tool. Figure out how much you need to save/invest in order to meet your goals by whatever deadline you set. Then make those investments/savings automatic and list them in your budget FIRST--before any other fixed expenses. Next, list all your fixed costs and see how much you have leftover at the end. That's how much you two can spend on gas, food, going out, shopping, etc each month. If you don't have enough, lower your fixed expenses--not your savings goals!

Good luck--you'll be rich in no time!

Answer 5

Read some of Dave Ramsey's books. He talks about staying out of debt, saving for a house down payment, and saving of investing. He has a radio program that is heard everywhere. Give him a try!

Answer 6

Try investing in a home. It is the biggest investment you will make.

Answer 7

If you have spare money, invest in shares and look again in 10 years. Bank shares should do! You wont loose your money, but you wont be millionaire!

Answer 8

Low risk, go to your bank and see what is available they can give you the best answers. Just make sure you check at other banks as well to compare.

Answer 9

Condoms and birth control.

Answer 10

INVEST IN TO GOLD!!!! IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS GOLD AND SILVER HAS GONE UP IN VALUE SO IT WOULD BE WISE NOW TO GET GOLD!!!