6 Best Investments For Beginners Bankrate

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6 best investments for beginners

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Best investments for beginners

1 High-yield savings accounts

This can be one of the simplest ways to boost the return on your money above what you're earning in a typical checking account. , which are often opened through an , tend to pay higher interest on average than standard savings accounts while still giving customers regular access to their money. This can be a great place to park money you're saving for a purchase in the next couple years or just .

2 Certificates of deposit CDs

are another way to earn additional interest on your savings, but they will tie up your money for longer than a high-yield savings account. You can purchase a CD for different time periods such as six months, one year or even five years, but you typically can't access the money before the CD matures without paying a penalty. These are considered extremely safe and if you purchase one through a federally insured bank, you're per depositor, per ownership category.

3 401 k or another workplace retirement plan

This can be one of the simplest ways to get started in investing and comes with some major incentives that could benefit you now and in the future. Most employers offer to for retirement out of your regular paycheck. If your employer offers a match and you don't participate in the plan, you are turning down free money. In a traditional 401(k), the contributions are made prior to being taxed and grow tax-free until retirement age. Some employers offer , which allow contributions to be made after taxes. If you select this option, you won't pay taxes on withdrawals during retirement. These workplace retirement plans are great savings tools because they're automatic once you've made your initial selections, and allow you to consistently invest over time. Often, you can even choose to invest in , which manage their portfolios based on a specific retirement date. As you get closer to the target date, the fund's allocation will shift away from riskier assets to account for a shorter investment horizon.

4 Mutual funds

give investors the opportunity to invest in a basket of stocks or bonds (or other assets) that they might not be able to easily build on their own. The most popular mutual funds track indexes , which is comprised of around 500 of the largest companies in the U.S. Index funds usually come with very low fees for the funds' investors, and occasionally no fee at all. These low costs help investors keep more of the funds' returns for themselves and can be a great way to build wealth over time.

5 ETFs

, or ETFs, are similar to mutual funds in that they hold a basket of securities, but they trade throughout the day in the same way a stock would. ETFs do not come with the same minimum investment requirements as mutual funds, which typically come in at a few thousand dollars. ETFs can be purchased for the cost of one share plus any fees or commissions associated with the purchase, though you can get started with even less . Both ETFs and mutual funds are ideal assets to hold in tax-advantaged accounts like and .

6 Individual stocks

Buying stocks in individual companies is the riskiest investment option discussed here, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. But before you start making trades, you should consider whether makes sense for you. Ask yourself if you are , which generally means at least five years, and whether you understand the business you are investing in. Stocks are priced every second of the trading day and because of that, people often get drawn into the short-term trading mentality when they own individual stocks. But a stock is a partial ownership stake in a real business and over time your fortune will rise with that of the underlying company you invested in. If you don't feel you have the expertise or stomach to ride it out with individual stocks, consider taking the more diversified approach offered by or ETFs instead.

Why should you start investing

Investing is crucial if you want to maintain the purchasing power of your savings and reach long-term financial goals like retirement or building wealth. If you let your savings sit in a traditional bank account earning little or no interest, eventually inflation will decrease the value of your hard-earned cash. By investing in assets like stocks and bonds, you can make sure your savings keeps up with inflation or even outpaces it. Short-term investments like high-yield savings accounts or money market mutual funds can help you earn more on your savings while you work towards a big purchase such as a car or a down payment on a house. Stocks and ETFs are considered better for long-term goals like retirement because they are more likely to earn better returns over time, but they carry additional risk.

Important considerations for new investors

Risk tolerance: Before you start investing, you'll want to understand your own tolerance for risk. Volatile investments such as stocks can make some people very uncomfortable when they decline, which can cause you to sell at the worst possible time. Knowing your risk tolerance will help you choose which investments are best suited for you. Financial goals: Establish both short- and long-term goals that you want to achieve through saving and investing. Understanding your goals will help you develop a solid plan. Active or passive: You'll also need to decide if you'd like to be a passive investor or an active one. A passive investor typically owns an asset like diversified mutual funds or ETFs that charge low fees, while an active investor might choose individual investments or mutual funds that aim to outperform the market. Studies have shown that passive investing tends to outperform active investing over time. Do-it-yourself or hire someone: You can also choose to manage your own investments through an , or hire a financial advisor (or ) to help you out. You'll likely incur lower costs if you do it yourself, but an advisor can be helpful for those just starting out. Taxes: If you own investments in an individual or joint account, you'll likely need to pay taxes on the interest, dividends and you earn. You can avoid these taxes by owning investments in tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as an IRA.

How much money is needed to start investing

The good news is that you don't need much money to start investing. Most online brokers have no account minimums to get started and some offer for those starting with small dollar amounts. For just a few dollars you can purchase ETFs that allow you to build a diversified portfolio of stocks. will even let you round up purchases made through a debit card as a way to get started with investing.

Bottom line

If you're just starting out in the investment world, make sure to consider your risk tolerance and what your financial goals are before committing money to an investment. Some investments, like high-yield savings accounts, allow for quick access to money if emergencies come up. Meanwhile stocks should probably be part of a long-term investment plan instead. , where an algorithm automatically selects and manages a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds for you, based around your individual financial needs and appetite for risk. Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation. Written by Brian Baker Investing reporter Bankrate reporter Brian Baker covers investing and retirement. He has previous experience as an industry analyst at an investment firm. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can plan for their financial futures. Edited by Senior investing and wealth management reporter Reviewed by Professor of finance, Creighton University

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6 Best Investments For Beginners

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6 best investments for beginners

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How We Make Money

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Why you can trust Bankrate

Why you can trust Bankrate

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Editorial Independence

How We Make Money

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Best investments for beginners

1 High-yield savings accounts

2 Certificates of deposit CDs

3 401 k or another workplace retirement plan

4 Mutual funds

5 ETFs

6 Individual stocks

Why should you start investing

Important considerations for new investors

How much money is needed to start investing

Bottom line

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