25 Ways to Invest $25,000

With half the year to go, there’s still plenty of time to deploy some funds and invest in your future in 2023.

One question I get asked quite a bit is, “What would you do if you had $___ to invest?” That number varied widely depending on who was asking but $25,000 was a number that was mentioned quite often.

When considering where to put $25,000, it helps first to define your financial goals and the time horizon you wish to hold your investment. For example, if I were pressed for one answer on where I would invest $25,000, I’d put it into real estate crowdfunding based on my current situation and goals.

For this post, I will assume you have a time horizon of 5+ years. Anything shorter than that, you should put it in a safe place (minimum volatility) and with easy access (liquidity).

Here are 25 ways to invest $25,000 in 2023.

*This post was originally published on Passive Income MD but updated and adapted by Physician On Fire in 2023.

 

1. Pay Down Debt

Okay, I know this isn’t truly an investment. However, it is in a way a guaranteed return – you’re saving yourself from having to pay future interest on that debt.

For example, if you have credit card debt sitting there at an interest rate of 15-19%, there aren’t too many investments you can make to safely match that ROI (Return On Investment).

If you have a significant amount of student loan debt, consider refinancing if that’s an option, then weigh whether it’s better to pay down that amount or invest. For a deeper discussion, check out White Coat Investor’s recent post, Pay Off Debt or Invest.

Investment Type: Pay down debt Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

 

2. Increase Your Savings – High Yield Savings Account or CD

Unfortunately, interest rates are still quite low for High Yield Savings Accounts or CDs. I still remember the days when you could easily find an online savings account that would pay you 5% APY. However, online savings accounts & CDs blow away the interest rates of brick-and-mortar banks. As of the time of this writing, you can get 1.3% APY and CDs are actually quite similar. The benefit is that it is the safest place to put your money and is backed by the FDIC up to $250,000.

However, considering the inflation rate averages 3-4%, stashing away money in only a savings account long-term is similar to continually filling a bucket of water with a tiny leak in it. Over time, the purchasing power of that money is slowly diminishing so better to have some funds elsewhere as well. For some great current options, check out below.

3. Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending

It’s an option that is mentioned quite online and I even mentioned it in 10 Perfect Passive Income Ideas for Physicians, but it’s one that I’ve become a lot less enamored with over time. The reason is that I haven’t had too much success with it.

P2P in a nutshell – people are looking to borrow money, and investors get together online and loan money to these borrowers at a predetermined rate of interest. Essentially you act as the bank or credit card company. Monthly interest payments are deposited in your bank account.

The two biggest platforms in this space are Lending Club and Prosper. Returns are touted as anywhere from 6-10%. Personally, I’ve seen much lower returns than promised and liquidity is poor (3-5 year holds). My biggest issue with this type of lending is that the loans are not collateralized. The borrower can refuse to pay and the worst thing that happens to them is a ding to their credit.

Investment Type: Peer-to-Peer Lending Risk Level: Medium Expected Return: Medium

 

4. 401(k)

A 401(k) is a retirement plan sponsored by your employer. The IRS limits the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 to $22,500. The contribution is pre-tax, growth in the account is tax-free, and you pay taxes only when you withdraw the funds, hopefully after age 59.5, otherwise you have to pay a 10% penalty.

2023 contribution limits have increased to $22,500 from $20,500 just last year. Some people like to fund this early on in the year as a lump sum to take advantage of a potential whole year of growth.

Investment Type: 401(k) Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

5. Roth IRA & Backdoor Roth IRA

In short, a Roth IRA is funded by post-tax contributions that can grow tax-free and ultimately be withdrawn tax-free after age 59.5 or again you have to pay a 10% penalty. There are exceptions for penalty-free withdrawal for certain scenarios but I won’t go into them here.

Contribution limits for 2023 are $6,500 unless you’re over 50 where the limit is $7,500. There is an income limit above which you’re not eligible to contribute to the Roth IRA. 2023 – hard cap for singles at $153,000 and for married couples filing jointly at $228,000.

For higher income earners, there is something called the Backdoor Roth which allows you to still contribute by converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The good thing is you still can do this for the 2023 tax year up until you file your taxes. For a great guide on how to do this, check out Vanguard Back Door: A Step-By-Step Guide.

Investment Type: Roth IRA & Backdoor Roth IRA Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

6. Plain Old Taxable Brokerage Account

This is any account that isn’t designated a tax-advantaged account. Personally, I use low-fee brokerage accounts such as Fidelity, Vanguard, and Robinhood. Sure you could pick individual stocks, but I agree with Warren Buffet that choosing individual stocks and trying to time the market is a losing proposition.

So if you’re not going to day trade and pick individual stocks, you should probably stick to broad-based, well-diversified index funds. How do you do that? Well, you can set up a three fund portfolio like the Wall Street Physician mentions here or you can choose one of 150 Portfolios Better Than Yours. You could also use a Robo-Advisor. I don’t personally have experience with them but I can see the benefit of using them, particularly with their low fees and ability to be hands-off.

Investment Type: Taxable Brokerage Account Risk Level: Medium Expected Return: Medium

 

7. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Many of you might have the ability to contribute to a Health Savings Account, depending on if you have a high deductible health care plan. Some of you might have heard this referred to as the Stealth IRA.

It is considered triple tax-advantaged because you pay for it with pre-tax dollars, if you use it for health-related expenses you don’t pay taxes on it, and it’s able to grow tax-free in the account. The contribution limit has gone up in 2023, it’s now $3,850 for individuals and $6,900 for families.

Investment Type: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low

 

8. REITs

This is like a mutual fund that holds various real estate projects. Perfect for someone who wants exposure to the real estate market, but wants the investment to be totally passive.

They typically pay higher dividends than stocks, however, transparency and liquidity are often lacking. However, it does allow for exposure to the real estate market with smaller amounts of capital.

Investment Type: REITs Risk Level: High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

9. Buy Rental Property

Unfortunately for many of you, $25,000 isn’t going to go too far in your own area in terms of buying real estate. However, in some parts of the country, it’s plenty to purchase cash-flowing rental properties. Purchasing a rental property out of your own area comes with its own set of challenges from not knowing the local market to not knowing whom to trust when it comes to building a local team.

One option is to use something called a “turnkey company.” They help you find a property, assess the financials, and manage the property. Sure, they may come with some additional fees, but that’s the price you pay for their local expertise as well as convenience and time. There are many different flavors of turnkey companies. You can read about Peter from Passive Income MD’s experience here.

If you’re a DIY-type person, you can put the team together yourself if you’d like. Just make sure to assemble a team that consists of a local agent who knows how to think like an investor, and a good, reputable property management company.

Investment Type: Rental Properties Risk Level: Medium to High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

 

10. Real Estate Crowdfunding

Investing in real estate is one of my favorite ways to build long-term wealth. However, as I mentioned, in some cases it requires a decent amount of capital, and definitely more than $25,000 in some areas.

However, with the emergence of Real Estate Crowdfunding, there are now ways to participate in real estate debt and equity deals through online platforms. Expect to find returns anywhere from 7-20% depending on the type of deal you invest in.  While mostly for accredited investors, there are some options as well for non-accredited investors with minimums as low as $500.

I’ve personally invested nearly $300,000 so far in crowdfunding and will continue to do so. Sites I’ve invested with include EquityMultiple, RealtyMogul, and RealtyShares. Here is also a list of my favorite real estate crowdfunding platforms.

Investment Type: Real Estate Crowdfunding Risk Level: Medium to High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

11. Syndications

This is very similar to crowdfunding in that you’re able to pool your funds with other investors and invest with a sponsor who operates the deal. For most syndications, I’ve found that minimums are $25,000 or higher. Standard investment hold times are for 3-5 years during which dividends are paid along the way and your initial investment plus a shared portion of profits are returned at the time of sale.

Some of these syndications can be found on some crowdfunding sites and others can be found through networking and by attending local real estate investor meetings.

Investment Type: Syndications Risk Level: High Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

12. Your Own Education

Investing in your own education is always a good idea. With the internet, there are so many free resources out there to try to help you out, like this blog. However, I’m not afraid to invest in my education by purchasing books, and courses, and even getting officially certified (like a real estate license) to further some of my businesses.

Check out My Favorite Investing, Business, and Finance Books.

Investment Type: Education Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Medium

 

13. Your Children’s Education – a 529 Plan

The 529 plan is a post-tax savings plan for your children’s education. While once limited to college & higher education, with the new tax law, a portion of it can be used towards private school education as well.

Deposit limits are now $17,000 per individual per year or $34,000 for married couples in 2023. It’s also possible to front-load five years of contributions early, so you could contribute $85,000 or $170,000 as a married couple at one time.

 

 

14. Start a Business

You could use that $25,000 to start your own business. Every business needs some beginning seed money. You may be able to use that to start your Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) business.

You could use some of it to start a Multi-Level Marketing business. There are plenty of other home-based businesses as well that you could start based on one of your many passions. You could even buy a franchise for $25,000 if you wanted.

Investment Type: Start a Business Risk Level: High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

15. Start a Blog

This is a business of sorts but I felt it deserved its own category. Thankfully a blog typically doesn’t require that much working capital. I believe the most important things you need to run a successful blog are time and dedication. It’s something that you could start on the side and grow it into a profitable side business. Think of a topic that interests you, buy a website domain (How to Start a Blog), and you could have it up and running within minutes.

Just how profitable you ask? That depends, but if you’re genuinely interested, I share my blog stats and income in my quarterly newsletters.

Related: Successful Blogging: 10 Steps to Building and Growing a Website

Investment Type: Start a Blog Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Medium

 

16. Angel Invest

Maybe you don’t have the time or desire to start your own business. However, maybe you do have the capital to invest in them. Well, then you can be an angel investor by investing in and owning a piece of a startup or small business.

I’ve mentioned it in some detail here but with crowdfunding, there are opportunities to be an angel investor with smaller amounts through sites like Crowdfunder, AngelList, and SeedInvest.

Obviously if one of the businesses turns out to be the next Uber, it can be quite lucrative, however, the chance of success is small so invest wisely. Personally, I’ve invested in some ventures to participate in some unique opportunities.

One of the more interesting investments I made this year is a real estate-related game app, House Flip with Chip and Joanna Gaines from the well-known HGTV show Fixer Upper. I was a fan of the show and knew it’d be a fun game so when presented with the opportunity to invest with some friends, I went for it. It’s been one of the top games in its category since its release so it looks like I made a decent bet at this point.

Investment Type: Angel Invest Risk Level: Medium to High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

17. Cryptocurrency & Bitcoin

Like to roll the dice? Bitcoin has been the talk for many years through 2022 with the spectacular collapse of FTX. Cryptocurrencies like Etherium, Solana, others have taken meaningful positions as utility tokens, and Eth 2.0 was released last year.

The thought has been that with the market could crash and they could all be quite worthless and many people lost fortunes in what we will surely learn are a number of ponzi-style schemes.

However, there are very smart business minds on both sides of this fence. The truth is, no one knows where this will go, so please do not invest money you cannot completely afford to lose.

If you bought Bitcoin at the beginning of the year you would be up over 80% or so this year so it is an asset that continues to defy odds albeit with spectacular volatility.

Investment Type: Crpytocurrency Risk Level: Medium to High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

18. Invest for Charity – Donor-Advised Fund

Investing in Private Equity (PE) funds as a Limited Partner (LP) can offer attractive potential returns While there are ways to access private equity for $25,000 through platforms like yield street and titan.com, historically, it’s a form of investing that has been limited to the 1% of capital allocators, only available to high-net worth individuals with network access and minimums greater than $500,000.

According to data from industry reports, the average annualized return of PE funds over the last 20 years has  been 10.48%, outperforming the likes of the S&P 500, the Russell 2000, and venture capital.

However, it’s important to note that past performance does not guarantee future results, and individual fund performance can vary. Given the nature of private equity investing, it is generally higher risk than other traditional asset classes. Essentially, these funds use capital and debt to buy business and make them more operationally efficient through a ‘leveraged buyout.

Investment Type: Invest in PE Funds Risk Level: High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

19. Invest in VC as an LP:

Venture Capital (VC) investments can be an effective avenue for high returns, but they often come with equally high risks. VC funds invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential but generally unproven business models in terms of profitability. They tend to focus on growth and capturing new and emerging markets.

While the potential for returns can be substantial, it’s important to recognize that the majority of startups fail. Statistically, VC returns have been more volatile than other asset classes, but successful investments have yielded significant profits.

Historically, top-performing VC funds have delivered annualized returns of 25% or more, outperforming traditional asset classes by a wide margin. However, it’s important to note that venture capital follows the power law. In essence, investors can afford to lose money on many or even most investments because the small percentage of winners are such high performers that they more than make up for those losses.

In general, there are roughly 2,000 to 5,000 companies that VCs back per year in the United States. As described in the figure above, a small set of those companies make the majority of returns.

Top-tier venture funds like Sequoia and Benchmark are famous for deals that have distributed 5-7x in profits after fees to investors in the past decade, backing notable companies like Uber, Snapchat, Stitch Fix, AirBnb, Snowflake, Robinhood, Coinbase, and more.

Accessing these funds is possible through syndication just like in real estate now.

Investment Type: Venture Capital Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

20. Buy Secondary Stock or Options in a Private Company

Investing in secondary options involves purchasing existing options contracts rather than creating new ones. This is similar to angel investing or investing in VCs with the exception that you can invest in a specific company. This strategy allows investors to gain exposure to the underlying asset without taking on the initial risk.

During COVID, AirBNB was still a private company, but its stock was for sale on the secondary market as they had just returned $250 million to their customers. For physicians, we could have easily understood that the epidemic would eventually go away. Had one invested at that time, the company would have been a 7x after the  IPO lock- up just a year later. If nothing else, this example illustrates the potential of secondary investments.

Potential returns from secondary options depend on the specific market conditions, the option’s strike price, expiration date, and the movement of the underlying asset. However, the challenge with this approach is that it is difficult to access financials and actual data given the opaque nature of secondary markets. That said, primary investors like VCs have preferred stock and (typically) rights to information from the company.

Historical returns can vary widely, and it’s crucial to thoroughly assess the risks and understand the market dynamics before engaging in secondary options trading.

Groups like Equity Zen, Equiam, and Forge facilitate this, and their historical returns have been great, but recently this part of the market is down 70-80% from 2021 valuations, representing some potential opportunity.

Investment Type: Secondary Stock or Options in a Private Company Risk Level: Low to Medium Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

21. Buy Gold/Silver

When we last wrote this, many noted that we left out gold and silver. Investing in gold and silver has been a traditional safe haven for preserving wealth. Given the concerns around the stability of the U.S. Dollar as a Reserve currency, gold is one of the few potential places to store wealth.

Precious metals can serve as a valuable hedge against inflation and economic uncertainties. Historically, gold and silver have provided positive returns over the long term. From 1971 to 2020, gold has delivered an average annualized return of around 7%, while silver’s average annualized return was approximately 5%.

However, it’s important to remember that precious metals can be volatile in the short term – especially silver – and may not generate returns comparable to other investment options. As an example, so far in 2023, gold has underperformed equities by about 10%.

Investment Type: Gold/Silver Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

22. Minerals for Energy Like Lithium

Investing in minerals, such as lithium, can present significant opportunities due to their crucial role in various industries, including electric vehicles and renewable energy.

The demand for lithium has surged in recent years and its future growth potential appears promising. However, investing in individual rare earth elements can be challenging. It’s often more practical to invest indirectly through mining companies or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on rare earths.

Historical returns specific to minerals can vary significantly depending on supply and demand dynamics, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. Just a few years ago, it was difficult to access a commodity like lithium.

However, as EVs continue to grow and the country moves toward energy independence, lithium will become increasingly important. Unless another mineral like iron or cobalt is able to dethrone lithium as the most popular, it has great potential going forward, especially with companies like SparkZ adding wind to its sails. That said, there are innovators like Form Eenergy explornig hopeful alternatives.

Investment Type: Minerals for Energy Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

23. Invest or Buy a Digital Business

Buying a digital business can be a lucrative investment opportunity in today’s digital age. A digital business generally refers to a company that operates primarily on the internet, such as an e-commerce store, an app, a plugin, or a blog!

The potential returns from a digital business acquisition depend on various factors, including the niche, market conditions, revenue streams, and growth prospects.

Historically, successful digital businesses have delivered significant returns, sometimes even surpassing traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.

The growth potential of a digital business is often driven by factors including scalability, recurring revenue models, and the ability to reach a global audience.

However, it’s important to conduct thorough due diligence, assess the competitive landscape, and understand the risks associated with the specific digital business before making an investment.

In recent years, fulfillment-by-Amazon businesses have been very attractive as they require no inventory management and have enabled a low-cost method to start selling a product as a side gig.

These businesses can be bought or even invested in much like a real-estate syndication on various platforms like flippa, FE international, empire flippers, and more.

Investment Type: Digital Business Risk Level: Low to Medium Expected Return:  Low to Medium

 

24. Invest/Buy a Traditional Business

Investing in a traditional business can involve anything fromcarwashes to laundromats or any other brick-and-mortar businesses.

These offer potential returns based on the profitability and growth potential of the specific industry and company. These can be capital-intensive businesses, but the good news is it’s easier to get debt from the Small Business Administration.

Biz Buy is a great place to start.

Essentially, this is the same idea as investing in a PE fund but doing it yourself.

Investment Type: Traditional Business Risk Level: Medium to High Expected Return: Medium to High

 

25. Invest for Charity – Donor-Advised Fund

Last but definitely not least, a donor-advised fund is an investment account used to contribute to charitable organizations of your choosing.

When you contribute funds or other assets like stocks or mutual funds to the account, you can take an immediate tax deduction. That account is able to grow tax-free until you designate some or all of the funds toward any qualifying charity.

If you want to read a debate on the subject, check out WCI versus PoF: A Pro / Con on Donor Advised Funds.

Any big ones you’d like to add? Any new opportunities that you’ll be investing in soon?

Investment Type: Charity – Donor-Advised Fund Risk Level: Low Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

Bonus:

 

26. Fine Art Collection

Many people believe investing in art is only a commodity for the rich, but it has been a popular way to invest for decades, especially in times of economic uncertainty. This is a great option if you want to diversify your portfolio or are an art lover.

A few ways to get involved include buying well-known pieces, accessing private art funds, or investing in new artists.

You can also get involved in funds and crowdfunded investments in fine art using platforms such as Masterworks.

Investment type: Fine Art Collection Risk Level: High Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

27. Invest in Wine

Who doesn’t love fine wine? Wine is an extremely lucrative investment option that many people have never considered. And it’s stable during market downturns which makes it an appropriate addition to any portfolio in the current economic environment.

Apparently, it’s a collectible like fine art mentioned above, and there are ways to get involved. You can work through dealers and brokers, including trade shows and conventions.

More practically, you can work through crowdfunded investment platforms like Vinovest. They consider themselves to be the world’s leading wine investment platform where you can get in for a minimum of $1,000.

 

Investment type: Invest in Wine Risk Level: High Expected Return: Low to Medium

 

What to Consider Before Investing

 

1. Is Your Emergency Fund / Savings Large Enough?

If $25,000 is your full savings, consider increasing your savings before investing the full $25,000.

Ideally, you have an emergency fund covering three to six months of living expenses. If you have monthly expenses of $15,000 each month, you should have an emergency fund of at least $45,000 to $90,000.

If you are determined to invest your $25,000, consider investing in less risky investments such as high-yield savings accounts, bonds, or CDs. These investments might have lower expected returns, but it’s unlikely that you will lose your money.

 

2. How Much Debt Do You Have?

Before investing $25,000, evaluate the amount of debt that you have and the interest rates you’re paying on them. While some debt is good, you want to avoid having large sums of high-interest debt such as credit cards or personal loans.

High-interest debts can weigh you down and cost you more than what an investment might make you. Credit card debt, for example, can have interest rates between 20% and 25%. Consider eliminating these before investing your $25,000.

Consider the investment type and compare the interest you pay monthly and the potential returns your investment can generate.

 

3. What Level of Risk Are You Comfortable With?

Every investment comes with an inherent amount of risk and the possibility of losing your investment.

The level of risk generally associated with an investment is correlated with the level of return it could possibly generate. For example, low-risk investments such as bonds typically have a low level of return. On the other hand, riskier investments such as real estate yield higher returns.

When investing your $25,000, it’s important to be aware of the risk associated with the investments you are considering.

 

4. Do You Have a Financial Advisor?

PoF provides plenty of resources to help you invest your money wisely. That said, if you still feel uncomfortable investing alone, consider seeking professional assistance from a financial advisor.

A financial advisor can help you understand the level of risk and return associated with the types of investments you are considering.

Here is a list of vetted and recommended financial advisors: Recommended Financial Advisors

 

5. Is my investment portfolio diversified?

An important thing to consider when investing $25,000 is your investment portfolio allocation.

A diversified investment portfolio will help you reach the level of risk you seek while including various investments that generate both high and low returns.

A popular strategy among investors is a 60/40 investment portfolio. This would allocate 60% to capital stock and 40% to fixed-income investments. The key here is not necessarily following the ratio exactly, but investing your money across multiple assets with different levels of risk and return.

When investing your $25,000, you may want to avoid investing fully in one investment, especially if you don’t have other investments.

 

Tips For Investing Responsibly

 

1. Make a Plan

You should always have an investment plan, which includes how much you intend to invest, and what general categories you are looking to invest in.

When planning, have a good idea of the time horizon that you wish to hold your investment. For example, if you are looking for a short-term investment, you should not invest in a 10-year bond. Having a plan makes it easier to stay on course, and not get swayed by emotions during a financial boom or bust.

Another important consideration when making your investment plan is the level of return you would like to receive for your investment. It’s important to understand that return and risk are correlated. Thus, to achieve a higher return, you will need to be tolerant of a higher risk level.

 

2. Understand Your Risk Tolerance

Before investing, it’s important that you understand your risk tolerance.

Risk is inherent in any investment you make, meaning there is a chance you could lose your money. In general, the higher returns from riskier investments. It’s important you are aware of the different possible levels of return the investment could generate, and not only the “best-case” scenario.

 

3. Educate Yourself on the Investment

Familiarize yourself with everything there is to know about your investment. This includes understanding the common terminology used in the industry, risks associated wit your investments, associated fees, the expected time horizon, and the terms or payments associated with your investment.

Take the time to educate yourself or seek professional advice from professionals in the area you are looking to invest to make sure you understand every aspect of the investment you are making.

 

4. Reassess and Adjust

Tracking your investment over time is vital to understand its performance. Don’t be afraid to reassess your investment and make adjustments as necessary.

If there is a higher-than-expected return on your investment due to changes in economic conditions, you can consider investing additional funds into that investment. On the other hand, if certain factors have changed and the expected return for your investment has decreased drastically, you might consider moving your investment.

Of course, before making adjustments to your investment, make sure to consider what consequences, such as fees or opportunity costs, you might experience due to the adjustment.

 

 

Any big ones you’d like to add? Any new opportunities that you’ll be investing in soon?