What are the best options for a new investor?

I am wondering whether stocks and mutual funds, commodities, foreign currency, or real estate is the best option for a new investor.

My goals are not that of the standard investor. I am looking at this as a business and seek large short term gains with even larger long term goals. I want to be able to build a comfort zone so I can concentrate on my chosen career of acting.

A lot depends on where your interests lie, and what you have time to do. Whatever you choose, you MUST educate yourself and watch your money. No one will look after your money like you will. Remember--it's YOUR money to lose or make grow.

Are you willing to pay someone to invest your money for you--even if you lose money? Mutual funds.

You want security with a low, fixed rate of return? CDs.

You want to manage your own money and see it grow with little risk (or, at least risk that you can manage)? Stock options (EDUCATE yourself!).

Want to spend a lot of time growing your money, but have a reqarding career at it? Real estate.

Talk with people (certified financial professionals), read books, and find out what draws you. Then follow that.

Stocks and Mutual Funds (perhaps Index Mutual Funds) for starters.

It all depends on your age. You might want to invest half in a long term mutual fund. Like American Funds.The other half can go into riskier ventures like the stock market or commodities.If your older and close to retirement play it safe.

3 or 4 mutual funds, each with different focus: US Big cap, International, Bonds and Real Estate should do the trick. Now the question is how much risk you want or are willing to take and why are you saving (retirement, house, college, time share?). If you are saving for retirement and young (<30) you can be really aggressive and go with a portfolio that takes as low as 5% bonds, 50% US, 40% Intl, and 5% real estate. This is risky, but in the long run (i.e. 10 years+) your are extremely safe and should expect returns between 8-10% avg per year. But some years you may have to bite the bullet and stick with "losses" (on paper only) that can also be 8-10%. In the long run, markets always recover, but you have to give them time.

But if you are NOT there for the long run, then you are not investing, but speculating, therefore, Las Vegas is a livelier place to put your bets.

I just started investing too. Right now is a good buying period because to market is down now. If you're interested in stocks I'd stick with the technology sector. That sector is really "bullish" right now. I think I might invest in some financial stock pretty soon. Most of them are experiencing lows due to the credit crunch, yet they are still great companies, i.e. Indy Mac, Citi Group, Goldman Sachs, etc.

Investing in "individual" stocks takes a lot of knowledge and practice; so I would not suggest doing this until you understand completely how the stock markets work.

Vanguard.com is ideal for long term investors who want to learn about mutual funds, index funds, and exchange-traded-funds (ETFs). Trading funds is less risky than trying to trade "individual" stocks.

Unless you plan on spending everyday of your life looking at stock charts trying to determine the best time to get in and out of "individual" stocks, I would look into some sort of fund.

Also be very careful about asking for stock tips online. Most are probably worthless or contain unethical motives. Do not fall for any Pump-and-Dump scams.

As far as books go, I actually started out with the Investing for Dummies books, and they definitely pushed me in the right direction. To many other books have their own agendas in my opinion.

The websites below all contain plenty of FREE information to get you started in the right direction

Large short term gains come with a high risk of large short term losses. The best way to understand the issues you face is "Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom," by Van K. Tharp. Tharp is a psychologist who works exclusively with traders -- he understands the math and the psychology; and believe me, it is more psychology than methodology.