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How do I Choose the Best Investments?

Laura M. Sands
By Laura M. Sands
Updated May 17, 2024
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Choose the best investments by first setting an investment goal and determining how much money you can afford to invest. Next, learn about the options available to you. Discussing your goals with an investment adviser will help you learn more about different investment vehicles. Before deciding on the best investments, however, you will have to determine the level of risk you can afford to make. Ultimately, the best investments will be the ones that align with your goals, your interests and the ones that you can most comfortably afford to make.

Investment goals can include paying for a college education, purchasing real estate to create an income or planning for retirement. There are many different ways to invest in each of these, but not every investment vehicle is right for every person. In order to assess what your best investments are, visit a financial adviser who can help you shape your plans and create sound investment strategies for achieving your goals.

While seeking investment advice, one of the first things an investment adviser will help you determine is the level of risk you are able to afford. This essentially means determining how much money you can afford to lose if your investment does not bring you the return you are hoping for. Whether you are a low-risk or a high-risk investor, it’s important to know this before you begin your personal financial planning and investment journey, as this information is crucial in determining which vehicles are good investments for you and which ones are not. An investment adviser will also help you define whether a short-term investment or a long-term investment strategy is more to your liking. After clarifying these important factors, an adviser will help guide you toward the best investments for your expectations, goals and risk level.

For many people, the best investments are those that they have a natural interest in. For instance, when learning about the stock market, it helps to first monitor a few stocks for items you are already using or interested in. These may include your favorite coffee brand or a particular technology company whose products you regularly use. When learning how stocks are traded, focusing on items that you’re somewhat familiar with can make the process a bit more interesting and you may discover that a few of these may even be some of the best investments for you. Ultimately, choose the best investments according to which ones you clearly understand, which ones you can afford to comfortably make and which ones will bring you the greatest rewards within your expected time frame.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

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