What's the best investment for $500,000?

Asked by: Rhoda Schumm  |  Last update: December 23, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (69 votes)

How to invest $500,000 for cash flow depends on your risk tolerance and long-term goals, but real estate is probably your best bet. Rental properties deliver predictable returns — as long as you can keep them occupied — which makes it easier to predict and depend on than more volatile investments.

What's the best investment for $500,000?

You might choose to invest in any of the following:
  • Your personal pension.
  • Your workplace pension scheme.
  • Stocks and shares ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts)
  • Stocks and shares (directly)
  • Investment bonds.
  • Unit trusts and open-ended investment companies.
  • Tracker funds.
  • Investment trusts.

What is a good return on a $500,000 investment?

Average Rate of Return: This is more difficult to calculate because by their nature private equity firms and hedge don't always report their losses and earnings. However, most estimates suggest that you can expect average returns of up to 14%.

How to double 500k?

  1. Stocks & ETFs. One of the most common ways to start investing is to build a portfolio of various stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ...
  2. Work with a financial advisor. ...
  3. Real estate. ...
  4. Mutual funds. ...
  5. Use a robo-advisor. ...
  6. Invest in a business. ...
  7. Alternative investments. ...
  8. Fixed-income investments.

Can I live off the interest of 500k?

Rounding up for safety, you'd need at least $1.3 million saved to generate $53,000 per year using the 4% rule. That means if you had $500,000 saved, as O'Leary suggested, withdrawing 4% annually for 30 years would only provide a safe spending amount of $20,000 per year.

5 Best Ways to Invest $50,000

20 related questions found

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.

Can you turn 500k into a million?

The time it takes to turn $500,000 into $1 million depends on your investment strategy and the rate of return. For instance, if you invest your money in the stock market and receive an average annual return of 7%, you would approximately double your money in about 10 years.

How to get 20 percent return on investment?

Keep It Simple:- Consider using low-cost index funds or ETFs to build your investment portfolio. These can provide diversification and potentially higher returns over the long term. Understand and Manage Risk:- While aiming for a 20% return, it's important to understand the associated risks.

Does a 401k double every 7 years?

One of those tools is known as the Rule 72. For example, let's say you have saved $50,000 and your 401(k) holdings historically has a rate of return of 8%. 72 divided by 8 equals 9 years until your investment is estimated to double to $100,000.

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

Here are some ways investors can take less risk but still generate a decent return:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Money market funds.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs).
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Treasurys.
  • Dividend stocks.
  • Preferred shares.

Is $500,000 considered rich?

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

How to invest $500,000 in inheritance?

How to Invest a $500,000 Inheritance
  1. Set well-defined goals and investment objectives.
  2. Develop an asset allocation strategy.
  3. Practice diversification.
  4. Select your investments.
  5. Tax-smart Charitable Contributions.
  6. Keeping the Legacy Going.
  7. Don't Go it Alone.

How much income will $500,000 generate?

If you use the classic 4% rule to manage your retirement savings, with a $500,000 balance, you're looking at about $20,000 per year in income. But that's probably not your only income source available.

What investment has the highest return on investment?

The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns come with higher risk. Stock prices are typically more volatile than bond prices.

What should you do if you inherit 100k?

Medium inheritance ($100,000)

If you receive a larger inheritance, first consider the recommendations above—fund an emergency savings account or pay off credit cards and loans. You can also use a portion of the money to pay off all or part of your mortgage or pay down student loan debt.

How to turn 100k into 1 million?

4 Good Investment Choices for Turning $100k into $1 Million
  1. Real Estate. Real estate remains a solid option for those wondering how to invest 100k to make $1 million in 10 years or less. ...
  2. Stock Market. ...
  3. Index Funds or ETFs. ...
  4. Buying Established Businesses/Websites.

Where can I get 10% interest on my money?

Here's my list of the 10 best investments for a 10% ROI.
  • How to Get 10% Return on Investment: 10 Proven Ways.
  • Invest in the Private Credit Market.
  • Paying Down High-Interest Loans.
  • Stock Market Investing via Index Funds.
  • Stock Picking.
  • Junk Bonds.
  • Fine Art + Collectibles.
  • Buy an Existing Business.

How can I double $5000 dollars?

10+ Ways to Double $5,000
  1. Start a Side Hustle. Perhaps the most common method of making more money is starting a side hustle. ...
  2. Invest in Stocks and Bonds. ...
  3. Day Trade. ...
  4. Save More Money. ...
  5. Buy and Resell Items on Amazon and eBay. ...
  6. Build an eCommerce Business. ...
  7. Sell Your Stuff. ...
  8. Earn cashback When You Shop.

How much interest does 500k earn per year?

If you were to place $500,000 in a high-yield savings account with a 2.15% APY and wait one year, you will have earned $10,750 in interest. This rate is likely insufficient to keep up with annual inflation, which means your money will become less valuable at a higher rate than when it's accruing interest.

Where to invest $500,000 right now?

With $500,000 on hand, several investment options open up to you. Just a few of the strongest include a safe, but typically profitable, index fund, investing in or being an entrepreneur, buying real estate or seeking out hedge funds and private equity.

What is the best investment to get monthly income?

You can likely find something to fit your needs from the following best monthly income investments:
  • Savings Accounts. ...
  • Certificates of Deposit (CD) ...
  • Dividend-Paying Stocks. ...
  • Bonds. ...
  • Annuities. ...
  • Rental Real Estate. ...
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ...
  • Business Ownership.

How much money do you have to make a month to make $100000 a year?

A $100,000 salary can yield a monthly income of $8,333.33, a biweekly paycheck of $3,846.15, a weekly income of $1,923.08, and a daily income of $384.62 based on 260 working days per year.

How much do you need to invest a month to become a millionaire?

If you're starting from scratch, online millionaire calculators (which return a variety of results given the same inputs) estimate that you'll need to save anywhere from $13,000 to $15,500 a month and invest it wisely enough to earn an average of 10% a year.