What is the best way to invest money for a long term (retirement)?

What ways can money be invested? I have savings bonds and savings account but I dont think it is enough.

First, pay off all short term debt. If you have a credit card interest rate of say, 21%, that's an instant tax-free return of 21% per year on your money.

Next, if your company has a 401(k) with matching funds, fund your 401(k) to the maximum match amount. Free money is good.

If your company doesn't have matching funds, then fund your Roth IRA to its maximum ($4,000). Tax-free growth is good. I'd go with a no-load, low cost mutual fund company, like Fidelity, Vanguard, or T Rowe Price. If you have money left over after you've funded the 401(k) to the maximum match, do this step with the extra money.

If you *still* have more money for long-term investing, go back to the 401(k) and invest in that up to what you can afford.

And get yourself an elementary education in personal finance. You're going to get a lot advice here, and you won't know who to believe. Well you can believe this: no one is going to care as much about your money as you are. No one is going to watch it as closely as you are, especially someone who's got multiple accounts to look after. So get yourself a foundation, so you'll know if someone is actually giving you good advice or not. Personally, I recommend "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias. It'll give you an overview of everything you need to know (stocks, bonds, real estate, insurance, etc.). Then you can decide if you need a deeper education in anything. Good luck!

Blue Chip Stock and World Bonds

Depending on how old you are - a proper mix of stocks and bonds. The younger you are the more heavily weighted in stocks you should be. Don't listen to the "experts", noone has proen they can beat the market in the long term, so investing in Index Funds are a good safe bet. Vanguard Funds tend to have very low fees, so they are a good place to start looking. Do your homework. If you have a decent chunk of mony talk to a fee-based financial advisor. Fee-based advisors charge for their time only, so you know that they are giving you un-biased advice and not trying to sell you something that benefist them more than you.

A good rule of thumb is to diversify into stock funds, bond funds, and cash (money market).

What percent you invest in each would ideally be based on your age:
If you are 30..........30% in cash and bonds, balance in stock funds.

If you are 40.........40% in cash and bonds, balance in stock funds.

At 50.............50% in cash and bonds, balance in stock funds.

This is a fairly conservative way to invest and is considered by many to be balanced.

Invest in tax lien, mortgage note, section 8... I did it for the last 2 years. I was not able to find them, so I went to a company called hbinv and they guaranteed 11% every year. Sofar it's been 2 years, and the average is 13.5%.

I suggest you to stay away from bonds.

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