Isn’t it amazing how you’re able to put in a certain amount of money and within a monitored/fixed period, you get that amount back, only that it is multiplied, without you putting in more money? That is what investing is. When you invest, you put your money to work (money that makes more money), rather than save it somewhere without a guarantee of it growing, unless, of the cause, you regularly pay in more while it accumulates, which is what we know as savings.
Additionally, for every investment done, there is always a goal in mind: a new home, a dream car, an education, a comfortable retirement, medical or other emergencies, sustenance in unexpected periods of unemployment, caring for parents.
Whatever the goal is, we all need to invest at every point in our lives, should we want to achieve anything meaningful for ourselves within specific periods or life stages.
It is also noteworthy to mention that there are several Investment options to choose from. You are better off knowing the best and most suitable type of investment that is appropriate for a particular goal you may have.
That said, here are four types of Investments to consider.
1. Real Estate: If securing your money and your future is what you’re most interested in, then this is considered the best option. Investing in Real estate allows you to grow more wealth over time since landed properties only appreciate with time. You can either buy land, house, apartment, or rent/lease them out to get monthly income.
2. Mutual Funds: It is a pool of investments done by investors to make extra money. This type of investment is relatively one of the easiest to do. All you need is a selection of better performing Mutual Funds to choose from, which are available at different Nigerian financial institutions like Stanbic IBTC, based on your business goals and timeline.
3. Stock Market: This type of investment is one of the most common forms which involves buying and selling stocks (securities), which is done using cash, automatically meaning that there are no hidden charges. That sure sounds like a good deal, right? With this type of investment, investors can also buy and sell their stocks.
4. Bonds: Simply put, Bonds are a way of lending out money to institutions or agencies. When you buy a Bond, you indirectly lend money to the borrower, and the Federal Government of Nigeria is one such institution, as well as Federal or State agencies. The Federal Government and many businesses issue bonds to ready investors to raise money.
So, if you have a goal in mind, and you’re seriously considering investing, make sure to start early, invest regularly, track your investments, and have realistic expectations.
