According to recent figures from the Federal Reserve Board, an estimated 54 percent of American families are currently investing in stocks or funds. Still, almost half have absolutely no savings on hand for retirement or emergency situations even though they’ve been considering investment opportunities.
Volatility in the stock market leaves those on both sides of the fence a bit leery of venturing too deeply into the sector, yet receiving the highest possible yields is a primary concern for all.
Exploring Low-Risk, High-Yield Investment Opportunities
Low risk and high yield don’t exactly go hand in hand in the world of investing. In most cases, the best possibilities for maximum returns come with high-risk investments.
Those with few risks generally only produce minimal profits. Having said that, not all options go to extremes. A select few investment opportunities here in the financial realm offer the best of both worlds.
1] High-Yield Savings Accounts
Many people argue savings accounts aren’t really investments. They’re just mounting sums of money placed in holding cells until needed. Granted, most traditional banks offer returns of 1 percent at best, but they’re not the only options out there.
High-yield accounts, though, typically offer interest rates far surpassing the norm with the best ones offering anywhere from 2.4 to 2.5 percent APY or more. Online-only banks often dole out higher rates than brick-and-mortar ones.
Some also impose low fees or none at all for account holders. Since accounts of up to $250,000 are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Association, they’re considered safe alternatives for stockpiling money and building wealth.
Keep in mind, some high-yield accounts have a minimum deposit or balance requirements and place restrictions on the number of withdrawals and transfers account holders are allowed to make per month.
2] Peer-to-Peer Lending
Lending may seem like an extremely risky investment choice especially for those hoping to minimize their losses, but Forbes and certain other sources point to this sector of the market as one of the most overlooked opportunities available today.
Considering the numerous lending restrictions now in place by most traditional financial institutions, a growing number of prospering businesses and start-ups hoping to get off the ground are turning to peer-to-peer lenders for much-needed funds. Analysts expect this sector to surge as much as 48 percent annually during the years to come.
Investors’ money is essentially pooled and distributed across numerous loans with this investment option, and those interested may open an account for an initial investment of as little as $1,000. Returns for low-risk loans range from 5 to 7 percent in most cases, and people willing to venture into higher-risk loans may see even greater profits.
3] Real Estate
Plenty of people are hesitant to jump on the property flipping bandwagon, but many overlook the fact that this isn’t the only real estate investment option available. Property investors don’t necessarily have to be sole owners.
A recent write-up from Kiplinger pointed out in light of the rapidly growing multi-family housing sector, particularly on the high end of the market, the possibilities are numerous.
With ventures of this type, multiple investors delve their funds into a single property, and returns can range from 3 percent to well over 11. As is the case with most investments, the key to success here is to keep an eye on the market and plan strategically.
Overall
High yields and low risks don’t typically coexist in the investment world, but you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice one for the other. Numerous opportunities are out there at this point.
Safer investments may not produce quite the same Earth-shattering returns as their high-risk counterparts, but these opportunities offer a better balance than some of the alternatives.
