The Best Short-Term Investments

The best short-term investment helps you grow your wealth, without putting your money at undue risk. Here are the best short-term investments to consider.

Why Would I Consider a Short-Term Investment?

When it comes to investment plans, the buy and hold strategy is popular and espoused by monetary wizards like Warren Buffet. This strategy implies that an investor buys shares or other securities and retains them for the long haul, and irrespective of ever-changing market conditions. The most important benefit of the buy-and-hold strategy is that long-term investments can weather short-term changes on the market and finally muster. Subsequently, investors can typically expect steady returns over time.

While long-term investments such as a 401(k) must be part of your general financial story, the short-term investment provides real value for money you would like to grow and utilize in under five decades.

If you have cash sitting in your checking accounts, for example, you can transfer it into a short-term investment. Even in the event that you choose a very secure but low-return alternative, your money is still growing — it might never do by simply sitting in a checking account.

What Steps Should I Take Before Investing?

Do you have any high-interest debt sitting on your credit cards? It is going to be a lot better for the overall fiscal health to settle those debts instead of banking on the small returns from a short term investment.

Consider your unique financial situation before leaping to a short-term investment — these aren’t get-rich-quick schemes. Additionally, it is a good idea to understand your goals to your short-term investment.

What are the Best Short-Term Investments?

Deciding on the best, safest short-term investments means passing on investments that might offer higher yields, but in a significantly higher chance of losing your money. Below are a few examples of short term investments that can help you grow your riches, without putting your money at undue risk.

High-Yield Savings Accounts
Though a lot of banks don’t offer you any payment for maintaining your cash in a certain account, some provide annual percentage yields (APYs) as high as 2.5 percent. High-yield savings accounts won’t deliver the same kind of returns you may see stocks, but it is nonetheless growth for no risk up into the FDIC-insured limitation of $250,000.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Certificates of deposit or CDs have been FDIC-insured accounts where your cash must remain untouched for a set interval, in the few months to a few decades. The longer it takes for the CD to grow, the higher the interest.

In the end of this CD term, the lender opens a window to get your funds plus interest. In some cases, you’ll just have a short window of time to get your cash before it’s rolled into another CD. So, browse the terms and conditions to understand the timing. CDs arrive in various maturity spans, which means you can select one based on how long you want to park and grow your money.

Regrettably, stiff financial penalties apply if you withdraw your money early, so it is critical to avoid putting your emergency fund to one. Keep your rainy-day finance on your savings account, where you could use it at a minute’s notice.

Money Market Accounts (MMAs)
A money market account is like a high-yield savings account, but it requires a minimum deposit and limits withdrawals. Withdrawal restrictions vary but might limit just how much you can withdraw each month, how often, or even both. While MMAs don’t allow you to cash out all at once, you still have greater flexibility compared to a CD.

Short-Term Bonds
When it comes to short-term trades, you can buy a fund which invests in government bonds or corporate bonds. Government bonds are not FDIC-insured, but they are still considered quite safe.

While they also are usually safe, they do pose more credit risk than government bonds.

In general, short-term bonds usually have a lower interest rate risk because of their shorter maturity. Consequently, if the interest rate drops or raises, it will not affect the price of the finance radically.

Treasury Bills

Treasury bills are a sort of short-term bond offered from the U.S. Treasury with maturity periods which will be only a couple of days up to a year.

When you buy a T-Bill, you are purchasing it for lower than its face value. Consequently, if you buy a T-Bill that pays you $2,000 as it reaches maturity, you could purchase it originally for $1,900. The Treasury pays $2,000 when it matures. Unfortunately, these are among the lowest-paying short term investments, however, they still can conquer certain CDs, money market accounts, and savings accounts.

Short-Term Investing, One Dollar at a Time

Investing your money is a great way to grow your wealth. With choices like money market accounts or even high-yield savings accounts, there are a large range of choices for each kind of investor. With that said, it’s important to take some opportunity to come up with your financial literacy and understand the terms and conditions of the investment you choose. And do not just ignore your investment as soon as you’ve parked your money there. Read your statements, start looking for notifications, and keep tabs on maturity dates. By tracking functionality, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of your progress toward your financial targets.