7 Best Ways to Invest $50,000 - NerdWallet (2024)

If you're able to invest $50,000 there are several options available to you. But there are some important things such as taxes to keep in mind — the IRS could quickly turn that $50,000 into a still-exciting-but-slimmer $35,000.

How to invest $50,000

That depends on you and your goals. Consider the following five suggestions as a buffet — take a little of each or load up on the ones you like.

1. Think about your investment accounts

An investment account is the place where you store both the funds you'll use to invest and your investments themselves. Investment accounts, if chosen correctly, can potentially offer incredible tax-saving benefits. That's why it's worth taking the time to think carefully about where you want to store your investing dollars.

You may even want to split your $50,000 among multiple different types of investment accounts.

For example, if you add $6,500 to a Roth IRA and then add the remainder of your $50,000 to a traditional brokerage account, you'll receive a very favorable tax treatment on your $6,500.

If you're saving for a college fund, look into 529 college savings plans. The IRS allows you to front-load 529 plan contributions, which are subject to the annual gift tax exclusion.

2. Explore low-cost investments

If you're invested in an asset for the long-term (which is one of the best strategies for saving for retirement) you'll want to ensure your investments aren't costing you more than they should.

Some actively managed mutual funds have high expense ratios, which are annual fees that are charged as a percentage of your assets. For example, if you invest all $50,000 in a mutual fund that charges a 1% expense ratio, you'll pay more than $13,000 in fees over the course of 30 years. If you choose a fund that charges 0.25%, you'll pay a little more than $3,600 in fees.

One of the easiest low-cost investments to explore is an index fund. These funds allow you to invest in many companies all at once and are less risky than investing in a single stock. A Standard & Poor’s 500 index fund, for example, holds some of the largest companies in the U.S. Those big companies are big for a reason, and their continued growth and stability is a good anchor.

3. Consider diversifying your assets

Plenty of things get easier when you have more money, and diversification is one of them. With $50,000, you can easily add some diversification to your portfolio.

You can also explore funds that hold small and medium-size companies, and those that hold assets from international and emerging markets. For nearer-term goals, or to balance out risk, you can explore bond funds.

If you want to invest in specific companies you can research individual stocks.

4. Max out your retirement accounts

If your company offers a 401(k) that matches employee contributions, and you haven’t been contributing enough to earn that match, let this cash influx free up your budget so you can do so. If you have been contributing, consider upping your existing contribution.

A 401(k) has an annual contribution limit of $23,000 in 2024 ($30,500 for those age 50 or older).

Traditional and Roth IRAs are other tax-advantaged ways of saving for retirement. If you don't have an IRA, you can consider opening one. If you already have an IRA, consider upping your contribution if you're not already maxing it out. These, too, have annual contribution limits — $7,000 in 2024 ($8,000 if age 50 or older).

Use our Roth IRA calculator to figure out just how much those contributions can add up.

5. Optimize for tax implications

If you're adding new investments to your portfolio, it's worth looking at them in terms of their tax efficiency. Because a taxable brokerage account is taxable, it makes sense to hold investments that carry a low tax burden — like stock index funds and municipal bond funds — in that account.

Investments that are taxed as ordinary income or that generate capital gains, like corporate bond funds and mutual funds should go in a tax-deferred account like a traditional IRA or 401(k).

When going to sell an investment, it's worth thinking about how long you've held the asset for, as long-term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than short-term capital gains.

6. Invest for more than retirement

As far as financial goals go, retirement hogs all the attention. But a windfall can allow you to consider secondary goals, such as a house down payment or college for your kids.

A house is not an investment, but it is an asset. Assuming your home holds value, your monthly mortgage payments build up a pot of equity you can tap one day. But first you’ll need a down payment, and it can take years to save up. This extra cash can go a long way toward speeding up that process.

7. Chat with an advisor

If you're looking for guidance when it comes to investing your money, it may be worth talking with a financial advisor. They can talk you through investing strategy, financial planning and alternative investments such as cryptocurrency.

Financial advisors can also help you with estate planning, stock options and RSUs, trusts and even tax strategies.

Online financial advisors provide similar services to traditional advisors for a fraction of the cost. At Vanguard Personal Advisor, you’ll pay 0.35% of your account balance and work with a team of advisors. At Facet Wealth, you'll pay a flat annual fee starting at $2,400 and receive a dedicated certified financial planner. Most traditional advisors charge 1% or more.

It may sound committing, but many financial advisors offer free consultations where you can ask questions and make sure they would be a good fit for you.

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