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$10,000. Age 22. What investments should I get with this $$$?

I'm not very investment literate, so I'll let the mob decide!

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13 Answers

  • 12849517g_small
    Reputation: 475

    Spend a few $ on a second hand copy of "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" (Andrew Tobias) - it's quite a readable guide to investing, and one of the better common-sense ones out there.

    Basic idea is to layer or tier your investments - you don't need to put the whole $10,000 in the same thing.

    First, make sure you have an emergency fund: keep some portion - say $2000 - in something that you can get your hands on quickly should an emergency arise. (May want to stash more or less, depending on what your monthly expenses are...) I think Money Market accounts are sometimes used for this; low interest, but fairly secure. CDs are the next layer; they pay a bit more, but you pay a penalty if you cash out too early. (I seem to remember that CD rates were kinda crap a while back, it may or may not be worth just holding onto the money in a savings account till rates improve a bit...)

    The remainder goes into long-term investing: as other commenters point out, index funds are likely the best way to go here. (Mutual funds may not be worth it; they charge additional management fees, and few if any beat the market in the long run.) The thing with the market is that it is *long*-term - think 10 years plus.

    As has been mentioned below, *never* invest in an individual stock unless you've got extra money to burn and/or you know what your're doing; think of that more as gambling or a hobby rather than actual investing.

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 49

    Toyota. Right now.

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  • 0prr6_small
    Reputation: 3429

    CD's are safe and not much of a commitment. Index fund - mutual funds are a good bet if you are willing to put the money away for awhile. www.vanguard.com is a trustworthy source for either of these.

    You can get higher rates for CDs if you shop around different banks. Often smaller banks give better rates in an attempt to get new customers.

    Please don't buy any individual stocks, even if its seems like an exciting idea. Stocks are for people with money to lose.

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  • N588570777_1660_small
    Reputation: 27

    Unless you need the money anytime soon throw some in savings and then dump the rest into a Roth IRA. Then continue to put as much as your pay allows into the Roth a year.

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  • Keith_gormezano_certified_quickbooks_proadvisor_in_seattle_small
    Reputation: 13

    If you don't need access to the money in the long term, I would recommend investing in Prosper or Lending Club .

    These are profit oriented microcredit social investing web sites like non profit Kiva where you loan money to individuals in $25 increments. Individuals are rated based on their credit score.It is a way of making money while doing social good as you are lending at a rate lower than most credit cards.

    You decide who you want to lend to or you can create a portfolio and let the company do it for you . People seeking loans are trying to consolidate credit card debt, remodel homes, pay for schooling or are waiting for the student loans to come through. A few want to take a vacation. Average payback period is 3 years.

    You can also form a Roth IRA on Lending Club which would let you sock the money away and let it grow tax free. Prosper doesn't seem to offer that. I believe that you can use that account for future education and maybe to buy a residence.

    Average return has been around 9-18% depending on the risk factor and credit score of the lendee. You will pay income tax on that income when it occurs unless you put it in a retirement account.

    ALWAYS READ THE PROSPECTUS.

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: -153

    If you have debt, pay it off.

    Start with the highest debt rate - credit cards. Then car loans.

    If you don't have debt, roll it over into a 401(k), 403(b) or Roth IRA.

    You can use any of these for further educational expenses and emergency funds too.

    After that, keep it in cash and roll it into a low-cost mutual fund. I'd recommend either Total Stock Market or S&P 500. Don't try to time it, but be aware of minimums and fees. It might be cheaper to buy $10,000 of a very low cost Vanguard Total Stock Market index and get a 0.15 percent rate with it.

    If you need to use this money in 1-2 years, keep in t-bills and money market funds. If you need to use this money in 3-5 years, keep it in bonds with $1000 in money market. If you need to use this money in more than 5 years, keep it in stocks with $1000 in bond funds.

    Never every buy any load fund. Ever.

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 1

    Open up a Roth IRA and allocate the money between no-load mutual funds or index funds. Find a fund that is earning at least 13%. Then, keep contributing to your IRA as often as you can each year (monthly). If you can afford at least a $150 a month, that will help you build momentum.

    With a start of $10,000 at age 22, you will most likely find yourself a millionaire by the time you are 45ish. Reason I suggest a Roth over a Traditional IRA is because most likely you will work for an employer who offers you a tax deferred retirement account. With a Roth IRA, you will never have to pay taxes on the earnings in your account.

    I am 32. I started investing at age 19. I have $3.6 million in real estate and am about ten years away from a million in my retirement savings.

    My favorite book is written by David Bach, and it is called Automatic Millionaire.

    GOOD LUCK!!!

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  • Scott_avatar_small
    Reputation: 27

    I'm surprised no one has suggested a college education (assuming you don't already have one). That $10k won't cover all of it, but it'd help a lot.

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 0

    Your best bet is to either invest it in a CD or start a Roth IRA. Here's an article that shows you an easy way to set up a Roth IRA . Don't put it in a traditional savings account because you won't get as high of a return since they have very low interest rates.

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  • Sacri_ordines_by_charism_small
    Reputation: 3723

    Go to Edward Jones or some such and talk to a rep there. Shouldn't cost you a dime for a first consult and they know their shit.

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  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 0

    Honestly, while it may seem like a lot, $10k in the "investing" world isn't shit.

    If your average returns are 20% you're only going to make $2k. On top of that you'll have your money tied up while it "invests", high falutin' taxes to pay when you cash out and a bunch of other "fine print." Squeezing 20% out of this market is highly optimistic - and with only $10k to spread around, you probably won't be able to realize the opportunities without wiping out your profits with the transaction fees.

    You could go into other forms of "investing" such as Mutual Funds (where one group does the stock buying for you, they take their share and give you an agreed upon return... but not guaranteed... and with the middle man fee's, you're not going to make a great amount here)

    For that amount of cash, you could figure out a small business that you can start to become self employed with.

    You could invest in yourself - go to college if you're not already... or take some classes in a specific skill and get the gear to go with it. $10k sounds like a nice way to pickup the guitar, complete with lessons. Learn how to drive like a cop or stunt car driver. Learn to scuba or something fun. The classes are out there and you can probably afford to do a week + hotel + plane flight. You could take a whole lot of cooking lessons and woo women with your skills in the kitchen...

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  • Cappa_small
    Reputation: 1045

    Submit an offer on an Escala penthouse.

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  • N16832972_3820_small
    Reputation: -2

    go to etrade.com open a cash or marginal account make a plan and earn money ;)

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