The greatest investment that I have ever made was investing in my self, I did this in two ways: retired from the US Navy, resulting in a pension for life, which covers my mortgage, second I went back to school for my BSBM degree.
I am an insurance agent and believe life insurance is important. Term better for some and Permanent better for others. The most important thing to remember is if you buy term make sure it is convertible (to permanent insurance). If you are half way through your term insurance policy and get cancer, convert, convert, convert. This does not require new medical, the premium is based only on your age. Permanent definetly has it's place and somebody tell me Permanent insurance in this case is bad, especially if the cancer is terminal. Another thing to remember is when the death benefit is payed to the beneficiary, there are no taxes. I think this is important when comparing to mutual funds that can accumulate wealth, when you pass away how much of it will be paid in taxes. Insurance doesn't have to have the same percentage of returns as mutual funds to be better if the purpose of the money is to hand down to family members or charities. It is my job to find out the intent, then inform my clients of pros and cons given the intent.
My biggest investment was our house that we have been living in for 20 years. It has tripled in value and it's nice to know that if something where to happen like loosing our jobs, or developing health problems and not being able to work we always have the equity in our house if we needed it, plus it's a great family neighborhood and we love living here.
My best investment was a good computer and taking a computer class to keep me up to speed in this world of technology. My skills have gotten much better and this has helped me in the business world and my personal life.
On target on all counts. Now if I can just convince our 15 year old.... He told us he was embarrased by our "old" furniture. I told him they're not old, it's worse than that, they're antiques.
The smartest investment I did was opening an account in ING Direct and moving all the unspent money to this account and now this account grown into a huge savings which I can use to start a small business :-)
The smartest investment I've ever made was opening an IRA with Vanguard. With all the stock market turbulence I have managed to earn solid gains the last few years.
The smartest investment we ever made was buying 2) 5 acre tracts that were next to eachother and rolling them into one 10 acre lot. Combining the acreage doubled the appraisel value and as well as profiting monetarily, we have worked to clean and clear the property and are eager to build our first new home there.
The smartest investment I ever made was enrolling my sons in the Texas Tomorrow Fund (prepaid college fund). I enrolled them when they were still in elementary school and paid about $100 per month for 10 years. This plan pays for tuition and all required fees. My oldest son just graduated from college and his fees and tuition averaged around $4000 per semester, so the Texas Tomorrow fund paid around $24,000 toward his education for a $12,000 investment! Good deal!!!
I would have to say my most valuable investment would be my college education. I was a single mom for a while and it was hard to make ends meet but I made through college with a associate degree as a Clinical Laboratory Tech. Am now able to provide for my family, do the job that I love and also help others.
I greatest investment was with my relationship with my girlfriend. Not to sound saccharine, but developing an emotional foundation with her has allowed both of us tho share economic resources and cut costs by living together. Every shared essential is split down the middle, large purchases are discussed to prevent impulse buys, and this (besides other thrifty lifestyle habits) have allowed us to be on track to pay off our mortgage within two years and complete our master's programs without ANY loan debt!
I have no doubt that the smartest investment I've ever made was the money I spent to fly to Taiwan and take care of and connect with orphans and their adoptive families there. I would've paid twice as much for my plane ticket, even, if I had known how much those new connections would change my life!
I think the smartest investment I ever made was saving up for a year in high school to pay to enroll in a psychology class at the local community college during my senior year. That one decision helped me decide almost immediately that I wanted to major in psychology, which affected my choice of universities to apply to and courses to take my first semester and has led me, twelve years later, to having my doctorate in psychology and being extremely happy in my career. Thanks!
The best investment I ever made was marring my wife, Sally. She gave me 4 wonderful children, (on is a senior in college) she is going to be a teacher. Sally also gave me the confidence to get into the business I always wanted, managing a Bowling Center. I was in the business for over 20yrs. until my second heart attack. With no insurance available we have had it rough, but she keeps everything going,
My best investment was learning the computer- now it nets me income, has garnered me many friendships and is how I keep up with what's going on in the world.
The smartest investment I ever made would probably be my home computer and printer package. It has gotten me through some very stressful times. Paperwork with jobs and school, very important things.
My very best investment was the time I took to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. The information that I got has not only helped my reasoning abilities in all other parts of my life, but I now have a sense of fulfilment and peace that I never knew was possible. This should be done by every human being on the planet.
The best and smartest investment that we ever made was working very very hard and paying off a 15 year mortgage 8 years early. Now we are only 40, mortgage free, and I was able to quit my stressful job to say at home with our two young children. And that monthly mortgage payment that we had is going towards their college and our retirement funds. A win win situation all around.
Yes, it has become second nature for me and my wife and friends give me crap about it all the time. But when I'm able to buy used vehicles, furniture and other stuff off Craigslist, use it for a couple years and sell it for the same or more, they quickly become quiet!
The smartest investment I made was buying a few head of livestock. It has supplied me with income over the years and it's something I can leave my daughter, because it will not end. The livestock are bred, so keep supplying me with additional sources of income every year.
The greatest investment that I have ever made was investing in my self, I did this in two ways: retired from the US Navy, resulting in a pension for life, which covers my mortgage, second I went back to school for my BSBM degree.
I am an insurance agent and believe life insurance is important. Term better for some and Permanent better for others. The most important thing to remember is if you buy term make sure it is convertible (to permanent insurance). If you are half way through your term insurance policy and get cancer, convert, convert, convert. This does not require new medical, the premium is based only on your age. Permanent definetly has it's place and somebody tell me Permanent insurance in this case is bad, especially if the cancer is terminal. Another thing to remember is when the death benefit is payed to the beneficiary, there are no taxes. I think this is important when comparing to mutual funds that can accumulate wealth, when you pass away how much of it will be paid in taxes. Insurance doesn't have to have the same percentage of returns as mutual funds to be better if the purpose of the money is to hand down to family members or charities. It is my job to find out the intent, then inform my clients of pros and cons given the intent.
My biggest investment was our house that we have been living in for 20 years. It has tripled in value and it's nice to know that if something where to happen like loosing our jobs, or developing health problems and not being able to work we always have the equity in our house if we needed it, plus it's a great family neighborhood and we love living here.
My best investment was a good computer and taking a computer class to keep me up to speed in this world of technology. My skills have gotten much better and this has helped me in the business world and my personal life.
On target on all counts. Now if I can just convince our 15 year old.... He told us he was embarrased by our "old" furniture. I told him they're not old, it's worse than that, they're antiques.
The smartest investment I did was opening an account in ING Direct and moving all the unspent money to this account and now this account grown into a huge savings which I can use to start a small business :-)
The smartest investment I've ever made was opening an IRA with Vanguard. With all the stock market turbulence I have managed to earn solid gains the last few years.
The smartest investment we ever made was buying 2) 5 acre tracts that were next to eachother and rolling them into one 10 acre lot. Combining the acreage doubled the appraisel value and as well as profiting monetarily, we have worked to clean and clear the property and are eager to build our first new home there.
Contributing to a 403b pension plan on my job. It will provide me with additional income when I retire.
I agree with all of this. I try to buy my clothes at the local second hand shops such as Plato's Closet.
I set 4-5 alarms each day and that's how I wake up. It's the only thing that works.
The smartest investment I ever made was enrolling my sons in the Texas Tomorrow Fund (prepaid college fund). I enrolled them when they were still in elementary school and paid about $100 per month for 10 years. This plan pays for tuition and all required fees. My oldest son just graduated from college and his fees and tuition averaged around $4000 per semester, so the Texas Tomorrow fund paid around $24,000 toward his education for a $12,000 investment! Good deal!!!
I would have to say my most valuable investment would be my college education. I was a single mom for a while and it was hard to make ends meet but I made through college with a associate degree as a Clinical Laboratory Tech. Am now able to provide for my family, do the job that I love and also help others.
I greatest investment was with my relationship with my girlfriend. Not to sound saccharine, but developing an emotional foundation with her has allowed both of us tho share economic resources and cut costs by living together. Every shared essential is split down the middle, large purchases are discussed to prevent impulse buys, and this (besides other thrifty lifestyle habits) have allowed us to be on track to pay off our mortgage within two years and complete our master's programs without ANY loan debt!
I have no doubt that the smartest investment I've ever made was the money I spent to fly to Taiwan and take care of and connect with orphans and their adoptive families there. I would've paid twice as much for my plane ticket, even, if I had known how much those new connections would change my life!
I invested in a College Fund account for my daughter. Next year I will be starting a retirement fund too.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
I think the smartest investment I ever made was saving up for a year in high school to pay to enroll in a psychology class at the local community college during my senior year. That one decision helped me decide almost immediately that I wanted to major in psychology, which affected my choice of universities to apply to and courses to take my first semester and has led me, twelve years later, to having my doctorate in psychology and being extremely happy in my career. Thanks!
The best investment I ever made was marring my wife, Sally. She gave me 4 wonderful children, (on is a senior in college) she is going to be a teacher. Sally also gave me the confidence to get into the business I always wanted, managing a Bowling Center. I was in the business for over 20yrs. until my second heart attack. With no insurance available we have had it rough, but she keeps everything going,
My best investment was learning the computer- now it nets me income, has garnered me many friendships and is how I keep up with what's going on in the world.
The smartest investment I ever made would probably be my home computer and printer package. It has gotten me through some very stressful times. Paperwork with jobs and school, very important things.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
My very best investment was the time I took to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. The information that I got has not only helped my reasoning abilities in all other parts of my life, but I now have a sense of fulfilment and peace that I never knew was possible. This should be done by every human being on the planet.
The smartest investment I"ve ever made is saving for a College Education. I Invested in myself!
The best and smartest investment that we ever made was working very very hard and paying off a 15 year mortgage 8 years early. Now we are only 40, mortgage free, and I was able to quit my stressful job to say at home with our two young children. And that monthly mortgage payment that we had is going towards their college and our retirement funds. A win win situation all around.
Yes, it has become second nature for me and my wife and friends give me crap about it all the time. But when I'm able to buy used vehicles, furniture and other stuff off Craigslist, use it for a couple years and sell it for the same or more, they quickly become quiet!
The smartest investment I made was buying a few head of livestock. It has supplied me with income over the years and it's something I can leave my daughter, because it will not end. The livestock are bred, so keep supplying me with additional sources of income every year.