Submitted by gweston on Wed, 11/16/2011 — 17:57

How should I invest my money for retirement?

Everyone wants to know how to save for the future. Some people are interested in financial planning that will take them through their golden years. Others want a solid plan that will allow them to earn a return on their investments. There is a great need for people that find things that they want to do with the money that they have earned.

People hear about the rise of millionaires every so often that have made it big thanks to their purchase of a certain stock. Unfortunately, there are more new stories about people that lose money as a result of volatile rise and fall stock market calamities. This doesn’t mean that stocks are bad. To the contrary, stocks are quite a wise investment when you know that to invest in.

Investors that search stocks will be very successful if they know when to buy and sell. This can be a long term financial plan, but some stocks are better investments when they are sold in a timely manner. It takes research to differentiate between the best short-term and long-term growth stocks.

Mutual Funds & 401K Savings Plans

People will are looking for some retirement options will usually consider what is available for mutual funds. People that are into mutual funds are also fans of 401K plans for retirement purposes. Both options are less risky than the risky stock market. This is primarily because mutual funds and 401K plans are considered to be long-term strategic money management plans.

There are several different strategies that can be used when you are interested in 401K investments. You can hire someone to help you manage, or you can simply go with one of the following investor types:

• Conservative
• Moderate-Conservative
• Moderate
• Moderate-Aggressive
• Aggressive

These are typically the different phases that are considered when one enters into the world of mutual funds and 401K accounts.

Business Ventures

Some people really like to put their money directly into a business venture. They want more than a sideline seat with stock options. Some people choose to invest directly and become board members in organizations that are seeking funding. This can also be a great opportunity for people that are looking for long-term growth. It takes time for a company to grow and penetrate the market. People that invest in a business should consider the market. They should know if their investment has a chance to grow.

The basic premise of an annuity is that a person is permitted to pay into it over time while they are working, and that a life insurance company will invest that money so that it may later be withdrawn by the customer in order to fund their retirement or the livelihood of their descendants. It is possible to withdraw the entire investment as a lump sum, and many customers do this, however it is generally agreed that an investor will receive more money if they instead meter out the money in tax-deferred payments.

Annuities can be low risk or high risk, fixed, variable or indexed. Annuities can be very complicated and it is advised that you consult with an annuity specialist before investing in annuities.