Investing in long-term assets can potentially lead to a future that allows you to enjoy more and worry less. If you want to learn about some of the best investments you can consider making, keep reading.
Disclaimer: This information is meant for educational purposes only. For financial advice, please consult a licensed advisor and always do your own research.
#1 Index Funds
Index funds are mutual or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track or mimic certain financial market indexes such as the S&P 500.
Potential Benefits of Investing in Index Funds
More Low Risk
Because index funds are comprised of a variety of stocks rather than a single stock, they are less volatile. However, all investments come with potential risks, so keep that in mind.
Low Fees
Index funds are passively managed funds, which may make them cheaper to operate than actively managed funds. For example, an index fund may only have a 0.2% fee versus an active fund which typically charges over 1%. These fees represent the expense ratio for the investors handling the funds.
Lower Taxes
Index funds typically have lower taxes because they are passively managed and don’t change their stock or bond holdings as often. As a result, they produce less taxable capital gains than actively managed funds. (*Remember to always consult your own licensed tax professionals)
Where to Learn More About Investing in Index Funds
- Financial Websites
- Financial Magazines
- Books on Investing
- YouTube Videos
- Online Courses
#2 Real Estate
Real estate is one of the best investments you can make.
What is Real Estate Investing?
Real estate investing is when you purchase a piece of real estate, leaving you in charge of the management and sale of the property.
Since you’re the owner, you can charge people to rent the property, giving you a more consistent monthly cash flow.
Benefits of Investing in Real Estate
More Steady Cash Flow
Investing in real estate allows you to rent out your properties to tenants who will pay you monthly, potentially resulting in passive income.
More Long-Term Security
Real estate is a long-term investment, which means you can keep it for a long time as it appreciates in value.
Growing Business
You can hire contractors and managers to manage your properties, allowing you to maintain the passivity of your investment and turn your investments into a business that has the potential to make a monthly income.
Return on Investment
Typically, real estate appreciates or increases in value over time, making it a great return on your investment.
Protect Against Inflation
Inflation generally increases the cost of rent, allowing you to make more monthly income to compensate for rising prices.
Where to Learn More About Investing in Real Estate
- Real Estate Websites
- Books on Real Estate Investing
- YouTube Videos
- Online Courses
#3 Side Hustles
Side hustles are great investments because you can potentially build multiple income streams. By creating multiple income streams, you can diversify your income.
Benefits of Investing in Side Hustles
You Can Diversify Your Income Streams
Instead of solely relying on your job to generate income, you can build a few side hustles that bring in extra monthly income. So, if you were to have your job impacted, you’d still have income coming in.
You Can Create a Full-Time Business
If one of your side hustles takes off and starts to generate more income, you could potentially turn it into a full business.
Examples of Side Hustles
- Writing
- Website Building
- Flipping (furniture, vehicles, houses, etc.)
- Affiliate Marketing
- Posting Content on Social Media Platforms
You can start doing these skills for fun for yourself or other people, scaling up as you go. One side hustle I’m particularly fond of is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing was the first successful business I started.
One side hustle I’m particularly fond of is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing was the first successful business I started.
#4 Knowledge
Knowledge is one of those investments that can continue to pay you forward year after year.
The most successful people in the world have vast amounts of knowledge simply by reading books, articles, newspapers, etc. Investing in knowledge consists of purposefully learning skills that will work to enhance your life.
Benefits of Investing in Your Knowledge
It Can Provide Different Perspectives
Investing in your knowledge can provide different perspectives by teaching you something you didn’t know before.
It Can Potentially Lead to More Opportunities
Increasing your knowledge could potentially lead to more opportunities because you know more about a subject. This influx of knowledge may lead you to make certain decisions or improve certain skills that could lead you to more growth.
It Can Strengthen Your Skills
Investing in your knowledge can strengthen your skills by learning how to do something or how to improve a certain aspect of a skill.
Resources for Expanding Your Knowledge
- Books
- Websites
- Podcasts
- YouTube Videos
- Online Courses
- Live Events
#5 Yourself
Investing in yourself is another one of the best investments you can make.
What Does It Mean to Invest in Yourself?
Investing in your personal, professional, and physical development is the foundation from which you can build success. Each area of development supports one another to help you on your path to the best version of yourself.
Investing in your personal, professional, and physical development is the foundation from which you can build success. Click To Tweet
Types of Investments You Can Make In Yourself
Personal Development
Personal development might include improving time management, decision-making, and active listening skills.
Resources for Improving Your Personal Development
- Personal Development Books
- TED Talks
- Online Courses
- Live Events
Professional Development
Professional development might consist of increasing your responsibilities at work, learning new skills related to your field, and continuing your education.
Resources for Improving Your Professional Development
- Live Events
- Online Courses
- Skills Tests
- Asking your boss for more responsibility
- Taking on new challenges at work
- Going back to school (online or in-person)
Physical Development
Physical development might include improving your physical health through diet and exercise, practicing meditation, or simply moving more.
Improving Your Physical Development
- Eating more whole foods
- Eating out less
- Walking everyday
- Standing up at your desk at work
- Practicing daily meditation
- Starting an exercise routine
Thanks Jeff, for another great post. Do you teach affiliate marketing at Entre? Do you think it’s possible for someone who’s penniless, to buy a rental property with OPM? Or is this tantamount to swimming across an ocean channel with nothing but a knife clenched between my teeth? Much❤️, Aly
Hi Aly! Yes, affiliate marketing is one of the topics we teach at ENTRE.