How would you invest $300,000?

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gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Originally posted by: TheSlamma
Sell my place in COLDorado, combine the money and buy a place in a warm location I can SCUBA dive at and be able to see more then 2 feet.

I'm in Colorado, and it's been bouncing between 60-65° for the last few days. Not sure what you mean by cold but this state doesn't have very cold winters in comparison to other parts of the country.
 

RadioHead84

Platinum Member
Jan 8, 2004
2,166
0
0
Pay off all debt.

Invest most of it in long term retirement investments as I am young.

Leave just a little for weekly trading choices.
 

mshan

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2004
7,868
0
71
"Mr. Kritzman found that, net of all expenses, including federal and state taxes for a New York State resident in the highest tax brackets, the winner was the index fund.

Specifically, he assumed that long-term capital gains were subject to a 15 percent federal tax and a 6.85 percent state tax; short-term capital gains and dividends were taxed at a combined federal and state rate of nearly 42 percent. The index fund?s average after-expense return was 8.5 percent a year, versus 8 percent for the actively managed fund and 7.7 percent for the hedge fund."
If you are young, have paid off all of your credit card debt, have at least taken advantage of your company's match in your 401K, and have a sufficient emergency fund for these turbulent times, dollar cost averaging into VTSMX (Vanguard Index Total Stock Market) could end up being a very, very savvy investment 30 - 40 years down the road (you can deplete retirement accounts before touching taxable retirement funds to gain extra years of essentially tax deferred compounding this way):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02...ds/22stra.html?_r=2&em (John Bogle - Link)

http://selectedfunds.com/pdf/SFSuccInv2Q08.pdf (complimentary take of an experienced and disciplined actively managed mutual fund manager)

 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,808
10,203
136
Originally posted by: randay
make a suit out of it and sleep in it
If you want to be safe and have a positive return, CDs. Well, I guess they're safe. Are CDs insured by FDIC?

 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
602
126
Originally posted by: Crono
I would use it to open up a computer and electronics store. One that would carry rows and rows of computer parts at fair prices, would have a section for PC and console gaming (with gaming rigs and console setups, with free weekly and monthly tournaments w/prizes) and a small section for junk food, host free classes on computer training (From basic to advanced skills), offer repair at fair prices, and just be overall awesome.

I'm not saying it would make a profit (probably wouldn't), but that would be like a dream investment for me.

Your dream investment is to flush all your money down a toilet?
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Originally posted by: Crono
I would use it to open up a computer and electronics store. One that would carry rows and rows of computer parts at fair prices, would have a section for PC and console gaming (with gaming rigs and console setups, with free weekly and monthly tournaments w/prizes) and a small section for junk food, host free classes on computer training (From basic to advanced skills), offer repair at fair prices, and just be overall awesome.

I'm not saying it would make a profit (probably wouldn't), but that would be like a dream investment for me.

Or, you could start up yet another Woot clone and have a shot at making some money instead of losing it all.
 

EGGO

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,504
1
0
A place to live with my own furniture. Use whatever I make in my job as spending money.
 

Duddy

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2002
4,677
15
81
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: Crono
I would use it to open up a computer and electronics store. One that would carry rows and rows of computer parts at fair prices, would have a section for PC and console gaming (with gaming rigs and console setups, with free weekly and monthly tournaments w/prizes) and a small section for junk food, host free classes on computer training (From basic to advanced skills), offer repair at fair prices, and just be overall awesome.

I'm not saying it would make a profit (probably wouldn't), but that would be like a dream investment for me.

Your dream investment is to flush all your money down a toilet?

Yeah, you know how much of a nice market custom PC's are?

I'm not saying it wouldn't be awesome, it would be. That would be like, my frickin dream job.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
You could always invest it in a well diversified stock portfolio, or play the ponies with it.

If the rest of this year is like the last 12 months, you might be better off playing the ponies. At least you'll have some fun with your cash before pissing half of it away.
 

richardycc

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
5,719
1
81
~6000 shares of O, that should give you $1000/month in monthly dividend. or spread out the risk by buying a few of these high dividend paying stocks, the goal is to live off the dividends.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I would park it in a cash fund linked to my stock account. I'd be VERY patient and watch the markets closely waiting for a drop in the S&P and throw it in a leveraged index after a 20-30%+ drop. (3X leveraged drop)

These occur a few times a year. I'd then buy up all I could and wait until it rebounds. It could take weeks or months to do it, but it always does...then I'd sell and repeat the process a few times.

Real estate is the other thing. You can look for deals on beach front real estate with rental potential, but understand all the risks. Insurance is fine on the dwelling, but be aware of erosion risks on some coasts... (especially after storm surges) They can wipe out the land value of the property beyond repair. This has happened in quite a few towns on the East coast in the past 50 years, but no one ever seems to remember. :p
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
If you already have a diversified retirement portfolio, I would look to purchase undervalued real estate.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I was just moving stuff around in mind as our portfolio options have changed.

VIFAX and VIMAX pretty much 50%/50%. I have debated adding VSMAX, but not sure.

Outside of that probably just buy all the poutine in Canada and watch it crumble.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
I'd divvy it up into 15ish different index funds 85/15 stock to bond split. No more than 15% in sector specific funds.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
You know with a 6% return and a million dollars you make $60k a year without even working. YES PLZ.

That should put $300,000 into perspective. I think the best bet if you need money fast, is actually a business where you can put in the hours.