In a time where expenditure is always more than earnings, relying on your savings fund for rainy days isn’t enough. Therefore, it’s better to understand Long-Term vs. Short-Term Investing and make your money grow. While Long-term investments help you to earn more, short-term help you back your long-term plans, and that’s why both are highly important.
But before you begin investing, some crucial factors must be understood thoroughly. These things include the in-depth meaning of Long-term and Short-term investments, how they complement each other, etc.
Begin the ride!
[Short-term vs Long-term Investment
Both short-term and long-term investments are essential for your portfolio. If you consider long-term investment a tree, short-term investment is water. Long-term investments include Growth-stocks, Real-estate, Bond funds, etc. And some short-term investment plans include Government bonds, High-Yield savings, money market accounts, etc.]
What Is the Meaning Of Long-term Investments?
Long-term investments help people to secure their future. These types of investments help you plan retirement, children’s education, and marriage. And while these types of investments lock your money, they offer higher returns.
Please Note:
If you plan a long-term investment, you must lock your money for at least 10 years or more to expect high returns.
Long-Term Investment Examples
With multiple options present in front of you, there are various long-term investment plans you might want to consider.
So, find the best investment plans from this list and decide which one of these is your preferred long-term investment:
Real-Estate investments: Investing in real estate is a great way to fix your money for a long time. And although you need huge capital to make this investment, it will provide a better return. You can borrow money from the bank to make this investment, as it has lower risks.
Dividend Stocks: Dividend stocks are also a secured long-term investment planning. In this type of investment, the money is locked in old and established companies. Therefore, there will be lower risks.
Traditional Plans for Pension: This is the most common long-term investment plan. Here you keep investing a share of your monthly paycheck for at least 30 years and receive a lump sum during retirement.
Why Do You Need Long-term Investments?
- Long-term investments help people prepare for a better future and ensure they don’t have to cut on their comfort post-retirement.
- Moreover, it helps investors secure their children’s higher education and marriage.
- Most importantly, long-term investments help people build wealth and contribute to increasing the nation’s GDP.
What is The Meaning of Short-term Investments?
Short-term investments help you save for relatively shorter goals and make money for long-term investments. In short-term investments, you don’t lock your money for a long time and expect them to grow rapidly.
Please Note:
For short-term investments, there’s no need to hold money for more than 3 years.
Short-Term Investment Examples
Now that young employees understand the value of money and want to grow it rapidly, they can choose various investment plans present in the market.
So, take a look at these examples and decide which one of these is your preferred short-term investment:
High-yield Savings: High-yield savings accounts are upgraded versions of normal savings accounts that provide lower interest. Moreover, high-yield savings accounts help investors dodge risk and get their money in a short period of time.
Corporate Bonds: This type of investment helps you lock money in large corporations that use your money to grow their businesses. And once they receive a return upon their investments, you also receive your share of interest. An investment in corporate bonds can fetch you interest every quarter or twice a year.
Money Market Accounts: These types of investments are bank deposits with higher interest rates than regular savings accounts. The best thing about Money Market accounts is that it requires low investments and higher returns.
Why Do You Need Short-Term Investments?
- A good return on short-term investments can help you buy a car you’ve been wanting for a long time.
- Short-term investments can also help you renovate your home or go on a vacation.
- However, the best use of short-term investments is to receive the returns and invest them in long-term investments.
Things to Consider Before Making Short-term and Long-term Investments
A list of things must be considered before planning short-term and long-term investments.
- Volatility: Before you start investing, please consider the volatility of your investments. For example, short-term investments are volatile and have more chances of fluctuation compared to long-term investments.
- Liquidity: How fast your money liquidates! This is also an important factor to consider before you start investing. For instance, short-term investments have faster chances of liquefying compared to long-term investments.
- When Will You Invest: The timeline of your investments is also necessary. Whether you’ll start with the long-term and move to the Short-term, or vice versa, is a huge factor while growing your money.
- Effect of Taxes and Inflations: Taxes and inflations are also known as money eaters, and they tend to affect your investments. Hence, you have to consider these factors carefully.
- When Are You Withdrawing: The time of withdrawal is also important as it helps you to plan your investments and calculate the duration of your investment.
- Lump-Sums of Regular Investments: You must figure out how you want to invest your money. Decide if you wish to make regular investments, one-time, or both.
- Your Ability to Endure Risk and Loss: With investments comes the risk of losing money. Therefore, you must prepare yourself for rainy days and then start investing.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Investing: The Difference
| Differences between the Two | Short-term Investing | Long-term Investing |
| Time-Span of Investment | A short time of investing needed | A long time of investing needed |
| Goal of Investment | Rapid growth and quick returns | Slow growth and stable returns |
| Volatility of Investments | Highly volatile | Lowly risk of volatility |
| Style of Investments | Active style of investment | Passive style of investment |
Conclusion:
There’s no Long-Term vs. Short-Term Investing, as both are important for your portfolio. That said, It’s better to start investing from short-term investing plans, acquire some assets, and move to long-term goals.
However, it’s completely your choice how you want to make your money grow. Best of luck!