Everyone wants to be financially secure in life, especially when we get to the point of retirement and no longer have a full-time job where a steady income comes from. 

Many people start investing in their future at a young age by setting some money aside. But, there are other ways to be financially secure that do not require you to work odd jobs and set that money aside!

There are several long-term investments that you can start investing in from today that your future self will thank you for! Let’s get started!

Buying Stocks

Before we dive into which stocks you should invest in, choosing a reliable broker is an important first step that should not be skipped. 

Since there are so many brokers on the internet claiming to be ‘legit’ and ‘safe’, it’s important to take the time in choosing the correct one. You can easily buy stocks on business2community.com since they have a list of the most reliable brokers there are.

However, make sure to read up on the broker and see if other customers had a pleasant experience with them or not.

Now that you know where to buy stocks, let’s talk about what kind of stocks you should be buying!

Growth Stocks

Growth stocks are the A-lister Beyonce of the investment world. They guarantee high growth rates, and along with that, significant returns on investments. Growth stocks are generally associated with tech companies, however, they are not limited to such companies only.

Since they frequently reinvest all of their profits in the company, they do not typically issue dividends, at least not until their rate of expansion begins to slow down.

Who Are Growth Stocks Good For?

If you are going to invest in specific growth stocks, you will need to conduct comprehensive research on the company beforehand, which might take a significant amount of time. In addition, due to the high degree of volatility that characterises growth companies, you either need to have a high tolerance for risk or be willing to commit to holding the stocks for a period of at least three to five years.

Risks Associated

Growth stocks carry a greater potential for loss than other types of stocks since. This is because investors will pay a high price for the stock in comparison to the earnings of the underlying company. 

Therefore, when a recession begins, the value of these stocks may drop significantly and rather suddenly. It’s almost as though their popularity vanishes in the blink of an eye. However, over the course of these past years, growth stocks have been among the greatest performers overall.

Stock Funds

A stock fund is a combination of stocks that are linked together by a common theme. The fees associated with these stocks are relatively low. 

Who Are Stock Funds Good For?

If you don’t have the time to go over each individual stock, then a stock fund is ideal for you. These kinds of funds are excellent for people who want to be more aggressive with their investment, but don’t want it to turn into a full-time hobby.

Risks Associated

While there is less risk associated with buying a stock fund rather than individual stocks, it is still possible for it to change a significant amount from one year to the next, with some of the more extreme years possibly resulting in a loss of up to 30 percent or even a gain of 30 percent.

You increase the risk of an investment succeeding whenever you borrow a sizable sum of money. However, even if you pay cash for real estate, you’ll still have a lot of money invested in just one asset, and a lack of diversification might lead to issues if the asset is damaged. You’ll also need to continue paying the mortgage and other maintenance expenses out of your own pocket even if you don’t have a renter for the property.

For example, if you invested in a fund that focuses on the automobile industry, the fund you bought might have a significant amount of exposure to changes in oil prices. If the price of oil continues to climb, it is possible that a significant number of the companies held by the fund may experience a decline in value.

Real Estate

Investing in real estate is the literal definition of a long-term investment. 

It requires a significant amount of capital to get started, the fees are rather high, and the returns are typically tied to the length of time an asset is held rather than being generated in a short period of time.

However, real estate may be a lucrative investment, in part because you can borrow money from the bank to fund most of the purchase and then pay the money back over a period of time. 

Who Is Real Estate Investment Good For?

Investing in property is great for those who want to feel like their own boss and with so many luxurious houses around the world, it’s hard to pick just one property!

However, since real estate is often considered as a passive investment, it would be great to rent out the property as well.

Risks Associated

When you borrow a lot of money, there is more pressure on the investment to perform well. You will still have a sizable sum of money invested in a single asset even if you merely pay cash for the real estate. In the event that something unfortunate happens to the asset, this lack of diversification may be detrimental.

Even if you are unable to locate a tenant for the property, you will still be liable for paying the mortgage and any other maintenance expenses out of your own pocket.

What If You Want To Leave It To The Professionals?

Believe it or not, you can leave it up to a robot to make investments! A robo-advisor will invest in stocks based on the goals you wish to achieve, how much you want to spend, and the risk you are willing to take.

You don’t have to scour the market in search for the perfect stock since the robot will do that for you!

In Conclusion

Whether you are doing the investing yourself, or having a robot do it for you, it’s important to research the stocks you will be placing your money in. The purpose of these investments is to make money, so be careful where you’re putting your money and how much you’re spending.