I have $580,000 in cash. I'm 34 and single. House is paid for. How should I invest it?

Question

Would consider buying a business also.

Answer 1

The optimal answer will depend on your time horizon. Different time horizons will dictate different strategies. The longer you have before you need the funds (i.e. retirement) the more risk you can/should take.

First and most importantly, you should take the time and read as much as you can, and educate yourself. Think of it as a job in and of itself that will pay you millions in the future, and plan accordingly. Yahoo finance section is excellent for this sort of thing. (see link)

If you got this cash from an inheiritance, make sure you pay the right amount of taxes on it.

Remember that the most basic rule of finance is RISK=RETURN.
Second rule of finance and investing:
Diversify your risk. The old adage of not putting all your eggs in one basket applies to any investing.

Buying a business offers a huge potential for profit, but a huge potential for loss as well.

If you choose to buy a business, "leverage" it. That is, use PART of your cash, and borrow the rest. You can form a corporation to shield your remaining personal assets in case the business tanks. You will have to pay some interest, but that is simply the cost of spreading your risk. Take the rest and invest as follows.

Pay off any high-interest debt. Never forget about investing in that FIRST.

Next is cash. Ben Stein wrote a good article about this recently. Keep a good six months to year or so in liquid investments, such as money market funds or CDs for various purposes. Figure your monthly expenses and multiply that by 6 to 12.

Next is bonds. Bonds are a good way to get some cash flow headed your way, no matter what the stock market does.

Next is stocks. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a great way to really diversify your investments.
Invest some in the US and some in foreign-exposed companies. This spreads your risk even further.

Personally:
I would invest a good chunk in companies that make wind turbines, and companies that refine silicon. Both are used in renewable energy (silicon=solar power), and both are experiencing double digit growth in demand for their products and will likely do so for some time. BUT, I have a LONG time horizon before I retire, so this risky investment strategy would not be for everybody.

BOTTOM LINE:
Educate yourself, and don't be afraid to hire a good qualified professional for advice. Think of it as insurance against doing something unwise. Yes it is expensive, but so are mistakes. Diversify, diversify, diversify. You have enough to spread around, so do so.

Lastly some personal advice that I subscribe to:
Live beneath your means, and buy and hold for the long term. This is the surest way to not go broke, and increase your wealth.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

If I were you and have a lifestyle that gives me time in my hands... I would attend courses to learn about stocks/options and Forex trading. These are skills and knowledge that no one can snatch from you and what's more!...U don't need an office or a rented retail space to make $ from these skills, like a motor repair mechanic or a cook.
All done in the comfort of your home.

Why learn these skill?... So that you don;t have to depend on some Tom Dick or Harry for investments and end up being screwed my Tom's Harry Dick! Haha.

Take my advice..pick up these skills and then use a comftable sum to trade on line.

You are young and still have a bright mind...can act and react faster than someone at 60 in general.

So trading at this age would give you a better opportunity for success than a 60 year old person, who may have more fear of loosing the little bit in his hands.

Good luck

Answer 3

Go for preservation of wealth. $580,000 will get you $2 million in a money market account when you turn 65. While you are waiting, you can take that mutual fund money during a stock crash and buy the bluechip ETFs SPY and DIA. During a ressession buy anything housing related, because a housing boom has followed resessions in recent times. If you can get 12% compounded, you will have $17.3 million when you hit 65.

Answer 4

You are doing Great.....Don't take any foolish Risks with this money. Keep $80,000 to $180,000 short-term an liquid.

The Balance put in Safe Money Places:

You should place your money into the safest companies in the world. Insurance companies! The way to do this is in Fixed Annuities. Do Not Use Variable Annuities: Total fees in Variable Annuities are 2.00% to 3.50%. Plus all the Investment Risk is Yours and Not the Insurance Company.

Safe Money Places with Tax Advantages for non-qualified money.

Safe Money Places for Qualified Dollars: IRA's, Pension Plan Rollovers, etc.

Only place where you can make Dollars and NOT Lose Dollars trying!

ONLY Annuities are The Best SAFE MONEY places! The three best are the following:

1. Fixed Index Annuities ------Where your account does NOT Decline in Value. -----Where the Interest you earn along the way does NOT Decline in Value. -------Where the interest you earn each year is based ONLY on the Upside of a Stock Index (You would accept a limit on the Upside of say 50% participation in exchange for not having your account decline in value at any point in time, wouldn't you???? I know I would!!!!). Example: S&P 500 Index goes up 30% you Earn Interest at 15% that year. S&P 500 Index goes down 30% you Earn interest at 0% that year and your new index Start Point RESETS at the S&P 500 depressed level. Multiple Indexes and other interest crediting methods are also available. Various Time Periods are Available from 4 Years to 14 Years (The longer you allow this to compound and grow, the higher the Rate of Annualized Return, this is true for any instrument only here you have No Risk of Loss.). To Learn more Visit: http://www.jdsannuities.com/index_annuities


2. Fixed Rate Deferred Annuities - Where you have a wide selections of multi-year guaranteed rates or for 2 years, 3 years or 5 years, most are 5 to 10 year products. To Learn more and see most of the rates for yourself visit: http://www.jdsannuities.com/annuity_rates


3. Immediate Annuities / Income Annuities - For Guaranteed Monthly Income for Life, Joint Life or for a Period of Time: Go here to learn more - http://www.jdsannuities.com/immediate_annuities


Joe The Expert

Answer 5

play the market. but be careful. i made a gain of 58% last month in foreign markets alone. you just have to know wht to do. but if i had that much money i would invest in real estate. try to buy an apartment building. or just buy a small apartment in manhattan (the market will never pop) and either let it sit or rent it out. you could even buy a townhouse in brooklin for that much, and that would be a fantastic investment. you actually have enough to just let it sit in CD's. but make sure you ladder them.

Answer 6

No business, as it could go belly up. Invest in a portfolio of mutual funds. My mother did this, and you would not believe the money she made. It takes time, but the return will be worth it. I wouldn't play the stock market, as my ex-husband lost $95,000 in one day.

Answer 7

in case you reside in that section you will desire to have a number of domicile coverage. this could not be a contemplate whether you reside in a piece companies to organic disaster. the only federal help i'd desire to believe is probably nutrition and tents for some days yet that's it. Even then the state/communities/individual would desire to fend for themselves. i don't understand if i could take the money on one hand theory on the different hand take the hand outs to deliver down the gadget.

Answer 8

Open a brokerage account at Fidelity and drop me a line.

I will help you for FREE for a while.

I am a Portfolio Manager with over a decade of experience in the Stock Market.

Answer 9

Hi,

Main rule is diversify your fund. Don't put all your eggs into one basket.

Invest some amount in conservative way and some amount in agressive investment form like shares trading and forex.

Good luck!

Answer 10

I would say real estate but u should really find a girlfriend whats having all that money and no one to share it with but if u find a gf dont tell her that u have all that money cause there are a lot of gold diggers out there. Oh and put that money in the bank u might as well get some intrest off of it