Making investments is not for the faint-hearted. It requires you to put your hard-earned money into something that may or may not generate returns. Investments always come with some risk. Sometimes, this risk may be negligibly less. Nonetheless, the risk factor still exists in every investment you make.
Interestingly, such risks are integral to your journey towards financial freedom, a cherished dream among many. But before you can achieve this and start living life on your terms, you need to make the right investment choices to get there.
But how do you do that? The short answer is that you must align your investments with your financial goals. However, things are more complex when it comes to investments. First, you must understand the significance of making informed investment choices.
It would be best if you also learned how to use your unique investment choices to achieve financial freedom or find the investment choices you need to achieve financial freedom. Strategically using multiple investment choices can help you all build the following four main pillars of economic freedom.
- Wealth Accumulation
- Inflation Hedge
- Passive Income
- Diversification
We know this is a challenging task for an investor. So, here are some of the most promising investment options you can consider for achieving financial freedom.
Invest in the Stock Market Now
Investing in the stock market is one of the best ways to secure financial freedom. You probably got the same advice from your friends and family. But the point is that the hype of stock market investments is not without reason. It allows you to buy shares of ownership of publicly traded companies, making it an ideal way to grow your wealth over time.
However, the world of the stock market can be confusing, and your investments are subject to fluctuations in the market. You can opt for several investment choices in the stock market, such as the following.
Direct Stocks
It involves investing in individual stocks directly. So, you can choose the specific companies you want to invest in, facilitating you to do your research. As a result, you can identify preferred investment options that can diversify your investments and meet your investment goals.
Mutual Funds
The stock investments via mutual funds involve pooling funds to invest in diverse stocks. You can hire a professional investment portfolio manager to make the investments and use their expertise. It is also worth noting that mutual funds can generate significant revenue and contribute to your journey to financial freedom.
Exchange-traded Funds (ETFs)
ETFs are similar to mutual funds in many ways, with the main exception being the former lets you trade like individual stocks. The primary benefit of ETF investments is that they offer superior portfolio diversification and liquidity while maintaining a low expense compared to mutual funds.
Put Your Retirement Funds to Work With Self-directed IRAs
Your IRA or retirement fund can do much more than save for the future. With the help of self-directed IRA services, you can make several non-conventional investments, including precious metals and real estate. Traditional IRAs have limited investment options and can hardly contribute to your journey to financial freedom.
Tax Benefits
Of course, you can always find other means to make these diverse investments, but you won’t be able to access tax advantages. Self-directed IRAs offer you the same tax benefits as traditional and Roth IRAs. It is one of the most significant reasons to invest using a self-directed IRA.
Higher Returns and Security
Diversifying your investment portfolio with a self-directed IRA can help you access higher returns. And we don’t have to mention how secure your investments are when you make it through your retirement account.
Investment Portfolio Diversification
A self-directed IRA enables you to invest in different opportunities, effectively diversifying your investment portfolio. As a result, you can access multiple revenue streams and access them all from a single IRA. Some promising investment choices you can pursue with a self-directed IRA are as follows.
Real Estate
If you are looking for an old-fashioned and low-risk investment opportunity, you must recognize the significance of real estate. It involves buying and selling commercial and residential properties or investing in REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust).
Property Renting
One of the best ways to generate a stable passive income is by renting out properties. Besides, the property’s value may increase over time, enabling you to build a long-term revenue-generating system.
REIT
REIT or Real Estate Investment Trust include entities with access to revenue-generating assets. Such real estate assets include office spaces, apartment complexes, and shopping malls.
Entrepreneurship or Startups
One of the most fulfilling investment opportunities to help you achieve financial independence is starting your own business or investing in startups. The potential rewards of this investment choice are significantly high, but so are its risks.
High Return Potential
Successful entrepreneurship offers significant financial return potential if it succeeds. More importantly, it enables you to create a continuous revenue stream or sell it off for profit. Either way, you gain significant financial benefits from successful entrepreneurship.
Freedom and Authority
Owning your own business or investing in one makes you the person in charge. It means you can enjoy the freedom of deciding your work hours and make crucial business decisions for the success of your enterprise. Of course, this also requires a keen management mentality and the ability to take informed risks to achieve the desired business goals.
Education and Skill Development
As a wise man once said, there is no better investment than the ones you make on yourself. In this changing world, you need the proper skill set to survive even under adverse situations, including the fluctuating economy.
Knowledge Growth and Entrepreneurial Pursuits
Education and skill development is not about securing steady growth if your goal is financial freedom. New skills and certifications enable you to follow your entrepreneurial ventures and bring your expertise to them.
Stock up on Precious Metals and Commodities
Investing in precious metals and other commodities is one of the safest investments you can make during this economic uncertainty. It also includes investing in items like oil and agro products to provide a hedge safeguarding against inflation.
Intrinsic Value Benefits
When investing in a precious metal, you buy it for its intrinsic value. Such investments could be your only viable access to capital in the unfortunate yet possible event of an economic downturn.
Easy and Secure Access via Self-Directed IRAs
You can securely and conveniently invest in precious metals with a self-directed IRA. It means now you can invest in precious metals with a retirement account’s security and tax benefits. It can contribute significantly to helping you reach your ultimate financial independence goal.
