I have $100,000 cash...what is the best way to invest?

The answer is there are no easy answers when it comes to investing.

I manage a lot of money for people on a daily basis (see my bio), and it would not be prudent in my industry to say basically, put all your money on "black or red" (Vegas metaphor, cause that is what you are asking.

If you are looking to gamble and can afford to loose 100K and have no financial dent in your financial picture, then Vegas is your game. If not, the case I'd suggest being more prudent to build wealth if you want to keep it.

I strong AVOID following any tips, or on-line buying or selling recommendations, or phone services, etc. that are not backed by leading Wall Street firms. I don’t put a ton of weight on the top research firms because they are usually late in making buy/sell calls too.

Over the last 19 years I tell people they need to have an investment plan, a strategy in place before they invest a dime.

Questions:

(1) What is my risk tolerance? How would I feel about a 30% or greater decline in my in investment?

(2) Do I need this money within the next two years? If yes, it should not be in the market. It should be in US Treasury Bills (Federally tax exempt), bank CD’s, or FDIC backed cash (savings accounts). Not much interest, but you don't lose money you are going to need.

(3) Is this money earmarked for retirement? If Yes, consider IRA or ROTH IRA account.

(4) Does my job offer a 401(k) or other retirement plan? If yes, sign up and if the company has matching contributions, be sure to at least contribute up to the match. Pre-tax items such as 401(k) contributions lower the amount of tax that is taken out of your pay check.

(naturally pls no post answers to these Q's, but just for your info):

(5) What is your debt situation right now?

(6) What are your assets and income?

(7) Do you have expenses coming up?

(8) Do you have job stability?

(9) Your age?

(10) Dependents? married/ single?

There are many question I ask people which can take several hours to go over before we put a dime into any investment. Beware of people who sell you on some hot tip, or trend, or who have no financial qualifications to provide advice. They may be right once or twice or in the short run, but long term they often blow up (RE: the 1995-2000 amateur day traders).

A basic investment strategy I share with many people.

Consider indexing part of your investment portfolio, and if you don’t have much to start (Under $5,000), then index it all. I don’t suggest putting it in all at once. Take the total dollar amount and put maybe 5-10% in now, and the rest over the next 12 months in even dollar amounts on the exact same day. This is called, dollar cost averaging.

About dollar cost averaging

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_cost...

Without knowing you specific situation I cannot officially make any recommendation. In general terms, I might look at the S&P 500 Index (SPY) and NASDAQ 100 Index (QQQQ).

S&P 500 Index (SPY)

http://finance.google.com/finance?q=spy&...

NASDAQ 100 Index (QQQQ)

http://finance.google.com/finance?client...

With a little money you can own 500 of the largest companies in the S&P 500 Index – diversified, and the same goes for owning the largest 100 stocks listed on the NASDAQ index.

Historically 80% of mutual fund managers underperform the indexes so, I tell people to own the major indexes as part of your long term investment strategy. They are low cost to maintain. I would not buy an index fund.

By buying the index stock, you own shares in the index, and ongoing costs are often lower than most mutual index funds. They are simple, and you don’t have to watch them every day.

I expect the market to be under continued pressure (likely go lower), but dollar cost averaging over the next year in a couple major indexes and a 10+ year time horizon, I think you shall be pleased.

Save $

Use a ROTH IRA for after tax money and put cash in that account and buy your index stocks.

Roth IRA FAQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roth_IRA

Good Luck!

Suggestive reading

Wall Street Journal

Barron’s

Benjamin Graham

http://books.google.com/books?id=wXlrnZ1uqK0C&dq=B...

TV

CNBC (all day).

News websites:

Reuters.com

Bloomberg.com

Disclaimer: News and data herein are derived from sources believed to be reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed. The information herein is not intended to be investment advice, and is for reference purposes only. Always seek a professional tax adviser when making tax-related decisions.

Well, first off I would not follow the financial advice of anyone on here. Have you seen some the questions asked and answers given. If I fell out of the sky and the only thing I had to learn about the human race was from Yahoo answers I would think that everyone was retarded.

So, contact a qualified investment advisor and go from there. But it is much like going to the doctor...so get a second opinion also.

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

I have $100,000 cash...what is the best way to invest?

I want to know how the rich make fast money, not the usual crap about growth funds and high cap stocks.

Hello,

I also had a similair problem as you have.

I had a good amount of money, and wanted it to grow.

So I looked around on the internet to find something that is:

1) giving me great returns towards a relatively small risk

2) Professional people who know what they where doing with my money.

I'm glad to say I finally found a moneymanager who is capable of giving me good returns and give me a great support.

On this blog you can follow up all the results that he is making:

http://my-robottrader.blogspot.com/

My money is working for me, in a little over two months I already have a ROI of 62%.

So you don't hear me complaining!

Annyway if you would like to get in touch with my moneymanager to have some more information feel free to contact me you can send an email to me at derrekmay at gmail.com.

Then I'll give you the email adress of my moneymanager

Hope this has helped you!

Sorry but it sounds like you want gaurantees and there just aren't any. But on the other hand if your willing to believe someone can give you something like that you deserve everything you get. There is a basic tennant of investing ---more risk equals more reward---- and by the same token if someone offers you a great reward maybe you should stop and think about the risk.

the rich get rich by investing in a good idea, you think you can find one company that needs money now and cash that has a good idea, if yes invest in them by buying 10% of the company if they agree that is and they are worth $1000,000 with an opt out option in five years and you might see your money work puff wonders

go on you tube and watch dragons den! and you will see how the rich do it.

doesnt work always for the little guy, but your not that so it might!!

ETFs are cheaper than mutual funds. ETFs have very low annual expenses, nearly 20 basis points or 0.2% less. As against this, actively managed mutual funds show average expenses exceeding 135 basis points (1.35%). This does not include the extra 2% - 5% as loads, 12(b)-1 marketing fees, transactions costs, and soft dollar expenses mutual funds, passed on to you but never informed, except in very fine print that nobody cares to read.

http://debts-to-wealth.com/category/Why-Invest-in-...

Hold off for a few weeks or even a month and watch the Russel 2000 small cap. When you see them turn and start up, then you can jump in. Right now is a good time to be in cash on the sidelines.

BUY a lot of e-book and software

Secret of Trade and study a lot of secret,

I think Best invest IS education.

It is tough to even think of that a book can help people to alter their fates but } countless guys and women, individuals that they have benefitted in a big