where or how to invest $100,000 cash? (stock, best, check, year)

[Felix Unger]

MONEY MARKET!! STOCKS ARE FOR SUCKERS!! and BROKERS WILL RIP YOU A NEW ONE!!

[decafdave]

Originally Posted by Felix Unger

MONEY MARKET!! STOCKS ARE FOR SUCKERS!! and BROKERS WILL RIP YOU A NEW ONE!!

Normally I'd say money markets are a dumb answer-what 2.5% rates? But as things are now you might consider it for the short term. As soon as the economy improves though, I wouldnt waste any time with them. It all depends how low you think stocks will go-personally I think it will bottom out in 6 months. Then again I'm in college so what do I know?

"Stocks are for suckers"?? Where there are losers there has to be winners: even in this terrible situation fortunes have been made. Ever hear of Andrew Lahde?
Brokers will rip you a new one, so just go with a discount broker.

To the OP, what is your tolerance for risk? If you are close to retirement just stick with bonds or low beta (stocks with risk less than the market average) stocks. If you're young, I would think of coming in and buying lots of cheap undervalued stocks whenever you think we are at a bottom (problem is that is anybody's guess).

Just be careful of what you hear on message boards and free services like Yahoo Finance and MSN finance. Free advice is usually worthless advice. If I had a hot stock tip I sure as hell wouldn't be proclaiming it on City-data.

[AONE]

I would buy properties that had deep discounts and can have positive cash flow. this way you make money and have a great potential for a nice balloon on equity.
I have a client we are getting him a 2/2 condo for under 40k the unit should value about 80k and the rent should be about $1000/ month. I charge him 10% for the magmt of the property so you do the math...
Im working on another buy for 475, put 125 in it value 1.1-1,5M there are some great deals out there and many ways to make money.

[ultradust]

I was part of the massive Philippine layoff of Jan 15 - around 1000 employees of 2 large US companies lost their jobs in a single day. There was even talk of a local outsourcing company who simply shutdown unannounced. There was crying in the city at that time --good thing I had internet income running 2 months before --so I really wasn't worried like the rest who had to contend with a new larger job market looking for scarce jobs. 1000 people may be small compared to the US - but this is the first time this has happened to the Philippines!

In the meetings of the "fired people, I felt I had to extend a hand and said "Why don't they visit my website - The UltraLife of Jomar Hilario - I teach a free three month lesson via email on how to create income using blogs." Though I was shy at first, I think they really needed to know that there options out there. Specially now. I extend the same invite to you. Once your anger or disbelief is over. Signup to my blog and start learning the step by step lessons that enabled me to smile when things are grim.

[sugarmaple]

I still maintain real estate is the best investment, whether it be a multi unit or single family for rental income...even land is a good investment depending upon the area...one can always build more houses, but one cannot build more land...that's my thought for investing.

[Oildog]

When the market hits 7500 again it might be time to invest...

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by Oildog

When the market hits 7500 again it might be time to invest...

That is my take too. I just don't see any upside for the next 3-6 months. We are in earnings season right now and it ain't pretty. That is going to keep the market depressed for a while.

While the current volatility is creating some short term opportunities, I am keeping most of my money in cash or equivalents and taking a checkpoint in 3 months and again in 6 months.

[ATXIronHorse]

Originally Posted by WallStreetWarrior

I hear a bell ringing and the tone is telling me....mutual fund...

Alright, plain and simple here. If you have $100,000, and you're coming onto an online travel forum figuring out where to invest it, you want to stay away from stocks. I would suggest bonds, but with funds, a little more risk equals a lot more profit.

I guess maybe I'll sound like a broken record here, but check out the thread called.."picking a stock broker" or something. A few of us had a lengthy discussion on the Vanguard 500 fund. Check it out.

Are you kidding? Stocks are ON SALE right now. Right now is the prime opportunity to get into stocks at bargain prices, rather than just investing when the DOW is at 14000 and everyone loves stocks. You just need to be ready to stomach some further volatility.

[GregW]

I suggest investing it in yourself in the form of more professional education in your current field or a new one. That way you keep the investment with you where it cannot be inflated or stolen away.

[tduenas05]

Are you comfortable locking it up and are you over the age of 59 1/2. Reason is because you could put into something that is tax deferred, gains potentially up to 8.5% with no downside. Tied to the S&P. What this means is that you get a crediting up as high as 8.5%... but you get a guaranteed rate around 3%... Will you get the 10-20% gains-NO but will you get the -10-30% losses- NO... a portion of your money will get in the range of 3-8 each year will lock in a new level. So let's say you take the 100K and you make 5% the first year which is what you would get with this particular plan... so at the end of the first year you have 105K. That 105 is your new reset point. Meaning the second year if the market continues what it is doing and is in the negatives you get the 3%. ... so over a two year period a portion of your money makes about 8% and the interest is working for you from day one. (no taxes yet) Basically you get the upside potential up to a cap of 8.5% without the downside risk.

Almost sounds too good but one of the largest companies in the world offers it... contact me if you want..


The downside is this -it is a contract so if you give it up early then you have a penalty... However you can take up to 10% with no penalty as long as you are older than 59 1/2.
So you can still access the cash, you still make money, and you defer the taxes, and when the contract period is over you can take it all and pay the taxes on it or you do other things with it... just food for thought.