If you want to become financially independent, investing part of your funds is one of the best methods to reach this goal. It provides you with a ton of flexibility, as there are numerous types of investments on the market that are worth getting into.
Furthermore, it does not require you to commit to it full-time, leaving you with more than enough time to make a living through other, more conventional means.
Nevertheless, becoming an investor in 2023 might look unconvincing. For example, rising inflation and unsettled funds in Robinhood could make you hesitant to place your hard-earned money into this highly volatile market. Still, if you are willing to search long enough, you can find some excellent opportunities to take advantage of.
Besides high-yield savings accounts and I-bonds, other investments worth looking into include index funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), and dividend stocks.
Let’s go through them one by one to determine which is the most promising.
I-Bonds
I-bonds are very attractive for savers. Not only do they provide a fair interest rate, but they also ensure that your money is shielded from inflation. It’s a win-win situation!
However, it’s worth noting that there is a limit to how much you can invest in I-bonds each year. Namely, you can only purchase $10,000 worth of I-bonds per year. Besides, you cannot keep all the interest you earn until you hold them for at least five years.
High-Yield Savings Accounts
High-yield savings accounts are a great way to invest your money, especially if you are looking to make a short-term investment and earn some quick cash.
It is the simplest type of investment, as it does not require you to keep tabs on any of the stocks in the market, nor does it require any special knowledge. Everything is done for you, and all of your funds are secured in a high-yield savings account.
Like with any type of investment, however, there are some downsides. For instance, high-yield savings accounts generally do not offer any interest rate protection plans or insurance on your deposits. Therefore, you may want to consider a more secure savings account instead.
Index Funds
The index fund is a type of mutual fund that passively tracks the performance of an underlying index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It means that index funds aim to replicate the returns of these indexes as closely as possible.
One of the main advantages of investing in index funds is that they are extremely low-cost. In fact, the expense ratios of most index funds are well below 1%, which is much lower than the fees charged by actively managed funds.
Furthermore, because they are passively managed, index funds do not require a lot of day-to-day oversight, making them a relatively hands-off investment.
Certificates Of Deposit (CDs)
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are a type of fixed-income investment that offer a guaranteed return over a fixed period of time. For example, you might invest in a CD that pays 2% interest per year, which means you would earn 2% on your investment every year for the duration of the CD.
One downside of CDs is that they typically have a low yield, meaning you won’t earn a lot of money on your investment. However, they are a relatively safe investment, as they are backed by the FDIC insurance protection.
Dividend Stocks
Dividend stocks are a type of stock that pays out a regular dividend to its shareholders. For example, Coca-Cola is a dividend stock that has paid out dividends every year since 1964.
One advantage of dividend stocks is that they provide a steady stream of income, which can be helpful during times of market volatility. Additionally, many dividend stocks offer a high yield, meaning you can earn a significant return on your investment.
Dividend stocks are an attractive choice for both new and experienced investors. That is because they have several advantages over other types of investments, including:
- Accessibility — You can invest in dividend stocks through your 401k or IRA. Additionally, they are easy to purchase through any brokerage or investment platform.
- Low risk — Dividend stocks are known to be among the least volatile investments on the market. Thus, you can be sure that you will not lose much of your money if you choose to invest in them.
- High returns — Dividend stocks tend to provide higher yields than other types of investments. Furthermore, they have a great return on investment (ROI), which means that most of your money can be recouped.
Still, keep in mind that some companies might offer unsustainable dividends to encourage investors to buy in. So, take your time and shop around before allocating your funds into one of the available dividends.
Alternative Investments
Alternative investments are investments that do not fit into traditional asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. They can include things like hedge funds, venture capital, and private equity.
One advantage of alternative investments is that they offer the potential for higher returns than traditional investments. However, they also come with higher risks, meaning you can lose more money if things go wrong. Additionally, it can be difficult to access these investments, as they are typically only available to accredited investors.
Conclusion
We have established that the stock market is a volatile entity, and you need to be careful when committing your funds to it. Nevertheless, the benefits of investment are simply too numerous to ignore. While not all stocks are created equal, those that are bound to increase are worth investing in.
You can invest in one of the many stock market indexes in order to keep up with the current trends and make some money on them. Alternatively, you can go for dividend stocks and other types of securities that offer secure interest payments. It all depends on you as an individual, as not every investment is perfect for everyone.
Lastly, don’t neglect high-yield saving accounts and I-bonds. Both of these are secure investments that do not require you to invest a lot of time in the markets. You can even keep your funds in these investment platforms for years without worrying about market volatility or any other exterior influence.
