Investments are major building blocks in wealth-building and achieving long-term goals.
However, an important and ongoing question in investing is where is the best place to invest money right now. Especially if you are a first-time investor, as a single uninformed decision can cause you to lose your money.
Updated 29/4/22
There are many different places where you can invest your money right now, but we will show you the most up to date places to invest your money. These investment options are "hot" in today's world, many novice investors are making good returns from them.
#1. High-Yield Savings Accounts
A high-yield savings account is a type of savings account that pays higher interests than the standard savings account. Aside from offering higher interest rates, a high-yield savings account also allows seamless access to your funds.
Hence, it is one of the most secure places to invest your money right now, but it is most appropriate for short-term savings due to inflation.
To make the most of a high yield savings account, online banks may be preferable to traditional, physical banks in the UK due to less overhead costs.
It should also be noted that even so called high yield accounts, don't pay very much interest these days.
#2. Government Bonds
A government bond is a less-risky investment vehicle to invest your money right now. Government bonds also provide a steady flow of income for a fixed number of years.
It is a form of loan to the government to fund projects for a higher investment return.
Government bonds pay you interest on your loan over the agreed period, usually not more than 30 years. You are able to buy and sell them within the loan period if you wish.
#3. Dividend Stocks
A favorite best place to invest money right now is among the most popular investment vehicles for building long-term wealth, i.e. stocks and shares. And, dividend stocks are still one of the best places to invest your money, especially if you are a first-time stock investor. These stocks are less volatile.
Dividend stocks are stocks that share their profit with investors in the form of a regular payment called dividends. As such, investing in dividend stocks can provide you with fixed income, usally paid quarterly or every 6 months.
Also, most dividend stocks are established and profitable companies. To optimize your stock investment, learn about stock investing.
#4. Mutual Funds
A mutual fund pools money from investors and invests them into high-yield investments such as stocks, bonds, or other assets for profit. The key benefit of investing in mutual funds is that you can have access to a diversified portfolio with a smaller amount of money. Hence, it is one of the low-cost investments.
Diversification that mutual funds provide reduces risks by spreading your investment across different asset classes. It is one of the best places to invest your money right now for long-term financial goals.
#5. Index Mutual Funds
Index mutual funds are another long-term investment vehicle and among the best places to invest your money right now.
This type of fund offers cost-effective investing as a result of the passive management style, the expense ratio is usually low. In addition, they offer diversification resulting in lower volatility.
A notable example is the S&P 500 which tracks the 500 largest(by market capitalization) companies in America including Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, etc. Investing in such an index can give your investment some level of stability as they are among the most established and profitable companies in the world.
#6. Exchange-Traded Funds
Although mutual funds are also one of the best places to invest your money right now, they have a minimum investment requirement. This means that if you do not have up to that amount you can't invest in them, hence ETFs become an alternative.
Just like mutual funds, ETFs pool cash from investors to buy a collection of securities. In an ETF, the minimum investment can be as little as the price of one share. However, in contrast, you buy ETFs just the way you'll buy shares for individual stocks. These funds also provide a single diversified portfolio since it buys a collection of securities.
#7. Real Estate
Real estate is last on the list of the best places to invest your money right now. The chances of losing out in a real estate investment are very low (low risk) due to capital appreciation. Therefore, real estate investment provides stable income in addition to low risk.
These days, you do not need to buy and own properties, there are many other ways to invest in real estate including REITs and Real estate crowdfunding.
Real estate investment trusts(REITs) are companies that own properties - office complexes, hotels, rental homes, and pay investors dividends.
Real estate crowdfunding platforms pool investors' funds and invest them in real estate projects to generate profit. Investing in any of these options entitles you to share in their profit.
They also provide a low-cost and passive option to investing in real estate. However, buying a rental home is not outdated, although it's a capital-intensive goal, you can learn how to effectively save for a house.
Best Place to Invest Money Right Now - Conclusion
With the knowledge of the best places to invest your money right now, you can start earning in no time.
You only need to start making moves right now. And, if you are new to investing, our guide to investing for beginners and books for investing for beginners may be of help.