Say someone has $30,000. what do you think would be the best way to invest it?
959290
With real estate prices still high, I think the best place to invest is the stock market.  If you decide to invest in stocks, the first thing to do is see what the best traders are buying and selling.   This is the idea behind the site http://www.top10traders.com - this is a free site that lets you create a portfolio of stocks with $100,000 in "play" money.  Each day the site ranks the best performing portfolios, so you can see how your picks perform compared to other investors.  You can also read posts on investing from the best traders, as well as share your own investing ideas.\n\nHere are this month's best traders:\n\nhttp://www.top10traders.com/Top10Standings.aspx\n\nGood luck!
543654
You can invest it in many different things. Bonds, stocks, mutual funds, CD's, T-bill, gold, silver, land, rare coins, art, antiques, baseball cards, to name just a few. \n\nIt would be perhaps better to ask, "How would you invest $10,000?"  At least that way you would get different points of view. \n\nIf all I had was $10,000 to invest and I did not have any outstanding debts to be paid off, I would put $3000 in oil stocks, $3000 in a mutual fund investing in China, and $4000 in T-bills or a mutual fund investing in foreign debt because the dollar is not a healthy place to be right now.
1130120
The best way for you to invest depends on a lot of things.\n\nFirst, if you don't have an emergency fund worth 3-6 months of expenses, establish one first, maybe in a money market fund so you can get at it in an emergency. It won't pay back much, but it's better than having to borrow money in an emergency and getting into debt because your money is locked up.  Nor do you want to sell your investments during a temporary downturn to pay for something like a new roof.  Then you'll have lost that money permanently.\n\nNext, if you haven't done the 401(k) thing and the IRA thing, do it. Tax-free or taxed deferred savings are good.\n\nFinally, if you've already done all those things and still have $400K left to invest, there's still more stuff to think about. Long term, stocks will grow faster than anything else, but can be very risky short term. They're a terrific investment if you're young and have a long time line. If you're older, you have to think more about safer investments, because you don't have as much time to recover from a downturn in the market.\n\nAnyway, there is no "best" way to invest a sum of money. What's best depends on a lot of different circumstances. If you really want a good investment, go buy a book on investing so you can decide what makes sense for you. Sure, you could give your money to a financial advisor but how do you know he's not just in it for the fees and commissions he charges you? How do you know his advice is any good? You need at least a foundation so you can make an informed decision. Personally, I like "The Only Investing Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias. It'll give you the basics. Good luck.
789969
This is not going to be a popular answer, but I believe that this is the best recommendation... sell and put into a diversified mutual fund.   \n\nYou said that the $30,000 is a "small fortune" to you - meaning that this is a relatively large amount of money to you.  This means that you are relatively undiversified in your large "bet" in Sempra.  \n\nWill Sempra continue to go up? Good question.  Nobody knows. Sempra is a natural gas conglomerate that has done quite well, rising steadily and resisted the drop that other natural gas companies have due to the collapse in the price in natural gas this autumn. It is fairly defensive given its heavy utility dependence, but has some riskier elements to it. \n\nAsk yourself...  Are you willing to take this large, undiversified company-specific risk?  Are you counting on this money?  What would you do if the stock went down 30%?  Do you have needs for the cash flows in the near future?  Would this mess up your retirement plans?  Do you need to take on extra risk to boost you to your retirement goals because you're a bit behind? Are you so convinced of Sempra that you are willing accept the company specific risk, forego the benefits of diversification?  \n\nOnly you and your spouse can answer that, but I think your spouse is right.
590996
That depends on whether you need the money right now or in the near future, or not.\n\nIf you need it, best to put it in a high earning liquid account. Go online to bankrate.com and see the various rates offered with some of the highest rates.\n\nIf you don't need it, investing in something that will make you money over time is a good idea. Suze Orman has great books on money, investing and wealth, I suggest you take a look at her books. Any good advisior will tell you do diversify, meaning don't put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure at least 1/3 is in something completely different than the next 1/3 and that is different from the other 2/3.  \n\nIf you are young (under 30) you can be more aggressive with your money, put it into more growth.  If you are older (over 45), best to be a little more cautious. If you are even older (over 60) you need to start thinking about being in safer investments since retirement is just around the corner.
47967
It depends on how much risk you want and how much you are hoping to gain. \n\nThe safest would be CDs. Check ingdirect.com, Their 18 month CDs are yielding about 4.5%\nhttp://home.ingdirect.com/products/products.asp?s=OrangeCD\n\nIf you are willing to take some risk you can invest it in mutual funds or even stocks. Investing in the market is more risky but can provide greater returns.
662445
The best way to own a precious metal is through a diversified metals fund, like the Franklin Gold & Precious Metals Fund or the Evergreen Precious Metals Fund. Another way is through a diversifed commodity fund, like the DWS Scudder Commodity Security Fund.\n\nAs for buying the bullion itself, good luck, you will never find a dealer that will give you it's true worth when it's time to sell, and anyway, why would near 30-year highs be a buying signal to you anyway?  Are you insane?\n\nBetter to buy a diversifed series of properly asset allocated high-quality, low expense mutual funds. That's how you should be investing, not jumping on some hot fad like metals.  Gold and other precious metals should only ever make up 5-10% of your overall portfolio, depending on your risk tolerance.  They are a good diversifer and an inflation hedge, not a way to get rich quick.\n\nHope this helps!
849853
Invest most of it.  $7 million (I'm assuming after taxes even) doesn't go too far anymore.\n\nI would give some to charity.  I would probably buy a modest home, a new car for my husband and I.  And I would make sure my home phone number is changed and unlisted!
328132
I agree with the mutual fund advice wholeheartedly. However, the advice to reseach on the web is probably not the best advice. \n\nGo to the bank and buy the fund they recommmend even if it has a load. THEN . .  . Stop the bank by once an month with new money to invest (even as little as $20) and talk with the same guy who sold the fund to you and ask him how it's doing . Make him earn his money by motivating you to continue investing, educating you, and building your confidence . . .  you'll get a lot out of that $60 (2% x $3000) that you paid him.
273119
beginnersinvest.about.com and earlyearners.com\nTwo websites you can check out. Best way to start investing is to just by setting aside a small about each week or month i.e. 25.00/week and letting it set in a savings account until you find a certain investment you would like. Whatever you do make sure that the investment is something you are comfortable with. And whatever anyone tells you nothing will guarantee a return except goverment obligations such as government issued bongs and banks. OTher than that there is risk. However risk isn't necessarily bad. Just research before you buy.
120722
It depends on whose money it is. Some people would say the best place is call options on the NASDAQ, other would say mutual funds, others would say bonds, others would say real estate, others would say GICs.\n\nIt depends on your goals and your understanding of investments. Don't blindly trust other people for advice like this. Learn to judge for yourself.
444126
If it will be 30 years until you use the money, you ought to have very high risk investments.\n\nI'm a big believer in index funds.  A mix of index funds beats 3/4 of managed mutual funds.  I think it is really advisable to read up on the "couch potato portfolio" and the "coffee house portfolio."  Scott Burns discusses these at his web site (free registration).  You can search Google.  They are simple mixes of index funds that only require rebalancing once a year.\n\nRead "Bogle on Mutual Funds."  It shows why index fund investing is the way to go.\n\nI have a couple articles on the couch potato and coffee house portfolios, including recommended funds.  If you'll e-mail me, I'll send them to you.  My address: 5azssqf02@sneakemail.com
202390
Whatever you can afford.  The best way to get started is to figure out how much extra money that you have at the end of the month.  Make sure that it is money that you plan on investing for the long term.  You don't have to invest a big lump sum.  \n\nThe best strategy for a beginner is to systematically, dollar cost average into a low cost mutual fund.  Find yourself a good no load, index or growth fund and set up an account to automatically take a fixed amount from your bank account every month.  When the market is low, you are buying more shares and when the market is high, you are buying less shares.  You will find that you won't miss the money and in a short period of time you will discover the power of dollar cost averaging combined with the compounding of money.  Good luck!!
923463
I would certainly invest in the stock market.  I think the best way to find good investment ideas is to look at what the best traders are buying.  This is the idea behind the site http://www.top10traders.com - this is a free site that lets you create a portfolio of stocks with $100,000 in "play" money.  Each day the site ranks the best performing portfolios, so you can see how your picks perform compared to other investors.  You can also read posts on investing from the best traders, as well as share your own investing ideas.\n\nHere are this month's best traders:\n\nhttp://www.top10traders.com/Top10Standings.aspx\n\n\nGood luck!
505866
1. Through a full service broker. This is the most expensive option, but you'll hopefully get some advice.\n2. Through an online broker (e.g. ETrade). Very inexpensive, no advice. You're on your own.\n3. Directly from the issuing company if they offer a direct investment/dividend reinvestment program.\n\nThere are many options available, and you can find brokers everywhere. You may want to check out the August 2005 Smart Money magazine article that did a review on the full service, discount, and online brokers.
905594
It depends on how risky you want to be.  Do you feel confident about your ability to play the stock market?  If so you could take a chunk and invest it there.  If you are more conservative then I would suggest an ING account or a CD with the highest return of investment.  Usually a 12 month CD will carry a higher return but you cannot access this money easily without paying a penalty.  So if you want a good return with access to your money either a money market or an ING account would probably work best.  Happy investing!
288128
I suggest stocks, mutual funds and ETFs.\n\nDrop me a line if you need more detailed information.