Investing is for everyone

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net

How do you teach your children or even yourself to be financially prepared for life?  Can you count on social security or pensions to carry you through your golden years?  Unfortunately, no one has a crystal ball to see into the future, but historically speaking there have only been decreases in the amount of support from these sources.  So how do you ensure a secure financial future?  Make your money work for you by investing.

It does not matter if it is individual stocks, mutual funds, options, REITs, ETFs, IRA, ROTH, 401k, TSP, etc.  Each person should have a portion of their portfolio invested in the stock market and discover the amazing effects of compound interest.  At today’s interest rates at the bank with money markets hovering at 1%, it is an impossibility to get your money to grow.

If you aren’t investing yet, get curious, start learning about the stock market, and teach your children to ensure both your futures.  Of course, make sure you are debt free except for your home loan before you start investing.  Then learn all you can and reap the rewards!

Click like if you are currently investing in the stock market.

Invest in real estate without the leg work

Image courtesy of hywards at freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of hywards at freedigitalphotos.net

Nervous about buying a property, rehabbing it then either selling it or renting it out?  Just not cut out to be the big, bad landlord or seller?  What if you could just invest in real estate without the leg work?  You can!

The vehicle for this type of investment is called “real estate investment trusts” or REIT.  A REIT can buy, develop, manage and sell assets in real estate.  It is similar to other security offerings but instead of investing in a single company, you are purchasing a portion of a managed pool of real estate.

This pool of real estate can generate income through renting, leasing and selling of property.  Then fund distribution occurs regularly to the REIT holder.  Some very good news is that REITs MUST distribute at least 90% of their yearly taxable income, to their shareholders in the form of dividends.  Nice!

Investing in REITs is a good way to get diversification without the leg work.  Sit back and let someone else do it!

Please comment your thoughts on REITs.