If you might need the money in just a few months, then leave it in a bank account.

i'm with dale.

do you already have an emergency fund covering 6 months of expenses?

No. I'm a college student who is interested in investing. I want hands on experience.

Is this money you don't mind losing? If you're willing to put it into something and lose all of it, then by all means do so. But you give the impression that this is money you want to have around in possibly just a few months. If the latter is the case, then put it in a bank account.

Yes I can lose it. Any ETF recommendations?

Seriously. There is no 25% return low-risk ETF to stuff your money into people.

well, what are you trying to do? if you just want to goof around, then buy a bunch of random ****. if you want the actual investment i would recommend for someone with $1k to invest, buy a target retirement fund or ETFs of total bond, total us stock, and total intl stock. there are tax ramifications of these plans but it sounds like you don't care about that.

i am 26
here is some more info. as of now i have 100% going into the verizon 2050 fund. still would like to try one or two others though. help me pick a winner. most will still be going into the 2050 as advised.

my favorites are
PYR REIT COMGLD POOL Stock Investments 7.64% 24.13% -0.85% 10.74% 9.61%

US LARGE CO INDEX Stock Investments 2.12% 14.19% -0.19% 2.96% 8.79%

PIMCO Real Return Inst CL Bond Investments 11.57% 12.69% 8.36% 7.87% 7.75%


GLOBAL BD FUND Bond Investments 3.28% 7.45% 5.98% -- 5.34%
, sorry format isn't great

5 Investments Comparison
-- -- PRRIX -- --
Investment Name -CONSERV FIXED INC- -GLOBAL BD FUND- -PIMCO Real Return Inst CL- -PYR REIT COMGLD POOL- -RET INCOME & INVEST-
General Information
Asset Class Bond Investments Bond Investments Bond Investments Stock Investments Blended Investments
Morningstar Category -- -- Inflation-Protected Bond Mid-Cap Blend --
Morningstar Overall Rating -- -- -- --
Overall # In Category -- -- 156 -- --
Performance
Non-Load Adj. Returns
YTD 2.87 3.28 11.57 7.64 3.44
1 Yr 2.87 3.28 11.57 7.64 3.44
3 Yr 2.97 7.45 12.69 24.13 10.05
5 Yr 3.60 5.98 8.36 -0.85 3.84
10 Yr -- -- 7.87 10.74 --
Life1 3.60 5.34 7.75 9.61 3.84
Expenses
Expense Ratio2 0.13 0.30 0.46 0.37 0.58
Turnover Rate % 10.31 -- 174.00 9.05 10.53
Short Term Trading Fee % -- -- -- 0.75 --
Short Term Trading Period (days) -- -- -- 90 --
Volatility Measures
Beta -- -- 1.00 -- --
R2 -- -- 0.92 -- --
Standard Deviation -- -- 6.07 -- --



five more

5 Investments Comparison
-- -- -- -- --
Investment Name --US Small Company Fund-- --US LARGE CO INDEX-- --US LARGE COMPANY-- --International Company Fund-- --International Company Index Fund--
General Information
Asset Class Stock Investments Stock Investments Stock Investments Stock Investments Stock Investments
Morningstar Category -- -- -- -- --
Morningstar Overall Rating -- -- -- -- --
Overall # In Category -- -- -- -- --
Performance
Non-Load Adj. Returns
YTD -4.04 2.12 -1.99 -13.78 -14.23
1 Yr -4.04 2.12 -1.99 -13.78 -14.23
3 Yr 20.45 14.19 17.38 8.48 5.07
5 Yr 2.25 -0.19 0.36 -3.58 -6.29
10 Yr 6.16 2.96 3.68 5.82 3.85
Life1 9.62 8.79 7.88 5.87 5.13
Expenses
Expense Ratio2 0.66 0.02 0.46 0.73 0.09
Turnover Rate % 9.59 5.45 7.21 6.54 10.59
Short Term Trading Fee % -- -- -- -- --
Short Term Trading Period (days) -- -- -- -- --
Volatility Measures
Beta -- -- -- -- --
R2 -- -- -- -- --
Standard Deviation -- -- -- -- --

hey eee,
if you're doing the target fund, I would suggest staying away from the bond funds as they won't really enhance your portfolio (from a diversification point of view). If I'm reading your post correctly, I think that leaves the REIT fund as your best bet.


Which is a shame, because I have a lot of confidence in Bill Gross and the people at PIMCO. But you don't really need a whole lot of debt instruments in your portfolio at the moment.

thanks a bunch
here is some more info on that fund. what percent of my portfolio should be the target fund and what percent should be the REIT? how long should i keep the REIT?

PYR REIT COMGLD POOL

Snapshot
Actual Values as of Date Value
Quick Stats
YTD Return (12/31/2011) 7.64%
NAV (01/27/2012) $13.25
52 Week Low-High (01/27/2012) $10.06-$13.27
Morningstar Category Mid-Cap Blend

Read more about Morningstar definitions.

Average Annual Total Returns 1 (%)
as of 12/31/2011
FTSE NAREIT All Eq REITS
1 Year 7.64 8.28
3 Year 24.13 21.04
5 Year -0.85 -1.42
10 Year 10.74 10.20
Life 9.61 N/A

Life is as of inception date 05/30/1997.
See additional performance information.
The performance data featured represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate; therefore, you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.
Top
Expenses & Fees
Fees
Short-term Trading Fee
0.75%
Short-term Fee Period
90 Days

Expenses & Fees
Expense Ratio
as of 11/01/2011 0.37%
($3.70 per $1000)
Please see the fund's prospectus for information regarding fee waivers, reimbursements, and expense caps that may be in effect.
For a mutual fund, the expense ratio is the total annual fund or class operating expenses (before waivers or reimbursements) paid by the fund and stated as a percent of the fund's total net assets. Where the investment option is not a mutual fund, the figure displayed in the expense ratio field is intended to reflect similar information. However, it may have been calculated using methodologies that differ from those used for mutual funds. Mutual fund data has been drawn from the most recent prospectus. For non-mutual fund investment options, the information has been provided by the trustee or plan sponsor. When no ratio is shown for these options it is due to the fact that none was available. Nevertheless, there may be fees and expenses associated with the investment option.

Keep in mind the cumulative effect of fees and expenses can substantially reduce the growth of your retirement savings,but is only one of many factors to consider when you decide to invest in an option. Visit the Department of Labor's website for an example of the long-term effect of fees and expenses.
Top
Performance
Cumulative Total Returns 1 (%)
as of 12/31/2011
FTSE NAREIT All Eq REITS
YTD 7.64 8.28
1 Month 4.95 4.79
3 Month 17.21 15.26
6 Month -2.50 -2.12

Average Annual Total Returns1 (%)
as of 12/31/2011
FTSE NAREIT All Eq REITS
1 Year 7.64 8.28
3 Year 24.13 21.04
5 Year -0.85 -1.42
10 Year 10.74 10.20
Life 9.61 N/A

Life is as of inception date 05/30/1997.
Quarter-End Average Annual Total Returns1 (%) as of 12/31/2011


1 Year 7.64
3 Year 24.13
5 Year -0.85
10 Year 10.74
Life 9.61

Life is as of inception date 05/30/1997.
Quarter-End returns include all applicable recurring and non-recurring fees (including short-term trading or redemption fees) and changes, if any.
The performance data featured represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate; therefore, you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted.
Top
Holdings
Top Ten Holdings 2 as of 09/30/2011
Simon Property Group Inc
Public Storage
Ventas Inc
ProLogis Inc
Boston Properties Inc
Essex Property Trust
SL Green Realty Corporation
Equity Residential
Camden Property Trust
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
52.43% of the portfolio

Major Market Sectors (%) 2 as of 09/30/2011
09/30/2011
Basic Materials 0%
Communication Services 0%
Consumer Cyclical 0%
Consumer Defensive 0%
Energy 0%
Utilities 0%
Healthcare 3.25%
Industrials 1.49%
Real Estate 95.26%
Technology 0%
Financial Services 0%
Asset Allocation 2 as of 09/30/2011
09/30/2011
Equities 95.41%
Cash and Other 4.6%

Turnover Rate as of 08/31/2011 9%
Top
Fund Facts
Fund Facts
Fund Inception 05/30/1997

Top
Prices & Distributions
Price History
52 Week Low-High
as of 01/27/2012 $10.06 - $13.27
Price On 12/31/2011 $12.39

found some random stuff googling
not sure if any help

http://forums.kiplinger.com/showthre...1k-help-please


http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1006299

is the portfolio in that last link a dumb idea when i have the target fund available?

Country you live in- USA
Risk Tolerance - medium
Timeframe for investment - longterm and short term
Debt - 2k
Amount to invest- $5k

Im 22 and live in Texas, like 40min south of dallas. I have 5k to invest. I am either wanting to start a small business that could generate 100k+ a year or invest in stocks etc. I have experience with construction trades but really dont want to get into anything like that until i have enough money to start real estate investing, which is what i want to eventually do. I have access to a handful of people that would work for really cheap if i went the opening a business route.

Also there is a big trades day type event that runs the first weekend of every month around here and there is big money to be made if you can find the right thing to sell there. Most of the customers that go to this are girls of all ages and they spend money! I want to open a booth there but am still trying to think of products to market... any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks

IWV.

Country you live in: Canada
Income : 17k
Risk Tolerance: Medium
Timeframe for investment: 1-3 Years
Debt: Zero.
Any other information you might have that would help us: Have 45000 lump I can use to invest with.

Looking to invest $2,000 in index funds on etrade.

Country: United States
Income: $40k to $50k annual
Risk Tolerance: High (plenty of savings)
Timeframe for investment: 5 years
Debt: None

I opened up an E-Trade brokerage account just to put some spare cash in index funds for a while. Any suggestions?

Just received a W2 on some tutoring I did at my undergrad that I forgot about. It doesnt have any numbers in the Social security wages or the Medicare wage or anything except for box 1: Wages tips and other compensation - can I include this in my Roth IRA contribution?

i don't know anything about canadian financial vehicles. for an american with your stated risk tolerance and investment timeframe, i would look at target retirement funds (you would use a 2015 fund or maybe a 2020 fund since that's when you want to "retire" aka get your money out) or possibly a total bond fund or short-term bond fund.

you'll also need to pay attention to tax ramifications; 45k is a sizable chunk of cash.

the minimum investment for vanguard index funds is $3k. however, most (all?) vanguard funds have an ETF equivalent with a much lower (no?) minimum. mutual funds and ETFs behave identically, for most purposes, but you'll want to understand the differences to see how they affect you.

assuming this $2k is your entire portfolio, i would recommend a target retirement fund (i think $2k is enough. there may even ben an ETF form of a TR fund somewhere). failing that, i would use ETFs to construct a simple 3-fund portfolio containing total bond market, total us stock, and total intl stock.

target fund for 5 years?

sure, why not? (or are you asking the fellow who asked the question?)

no, asking you. Which target fund? The 2020 one?

Hi guys,

just wondering if you would have any advice for me.

I am from the UK have zero debt and an income of £80k a year. I graduated last year from uni and I am working in London. I have around £50k in savings and a slightly lower amount in my current account to cover any big issues that might come up and I am lucky enough to have a future fund when I turn 25. I have 10k sitting in a ******ly low internet saver which is doing nothing.

I would like to invest it in some very high risk but potentially high reward stocks or something similar, but I am not to sure where to begin.

Timeframe wise as shorter term as possible but 1/2 years is good. (not expecting something in a few months like some do).

The high risk- why? I fancy what some would call a punt, and I am financially sound, it is serious, but also would like to treat it as fun to. Any advice would be appreciated.

sure. maybe 2015 if op wants less risk/more bond exposure.

RAY,
Don't know what qualifies as "Penny stocks" outside the US, but whatever the pink sheet and bulletin board equivalent is in the UK would be the true proverbial "punt".
Or try Vegas.

bringing it down a couple pegs but still qualifying as a gambling play for 1-2 years - high yield bonds and small caps.

Trust me I have vegas booked up for this easter I have just made an account on self trade got free trades for 3 months so will try to find some penny stocks or find something of high risk! There are quite a few small cap stocks here I believe and i know little about them, will well and truly be a punt!