Financial Answer Center
Basic Principles of Investing
- Introduction
- Fund Your Retirement Plans First
- Liquidity Needs
- Deposit Insurance
- Money Market Funds*
- Savings Bonds
- Emergency Funds
- Goals and Time Horizon
- Defining Risk
- What's Your Risk Profile?
- Why Take Any Risk?
- Asset Allocation
- Dollar-Cost Averaging
- Portfolio Management
- Buying Investments
- Putting It All Together
Introduction
There are so many ways in which to invest your money: CDs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate... Even pork belly futures and gold coins are investments. And there are so many places to put your money: 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities, brokerage accounts, credit unions, and banks. What's right for you?
Well, there's a good financial planning answer to that question: It depends.
There are four main things you need to think about before you can decide how to invest your money:
- Liquidity Needs. How much money do you need to set aside for emergencies and other short-term goals?
- Goals & Objectives. What are you trying to accomplish? Do you want to retire early, send the kids through college, buy a house, or simply put some money away for a rainy day?
- Time Horizon. How long will it be until you need your money?
- Risk Profile. How much market risk can you tolerate?
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