In case you haven’t heard (sorry to burst your bubble if so), the stock market has really been struggling as of late. I think since last week it’s down quite a bit, with headlines of “stock market plunges 500/1,000 points” being common. However, as Jim Cramer likes to say, “there’s always a bull market somewhere”, and as scary as investing may feel like right now, depending on how far the market falls, it might actually be a good buying time. What I am doing in this market? Trying not to panic and keeping my head on straight. I’ve not sold any investments and have continued my 15% employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) and 15% 401(k) (retirement) contributions.

Outside of that I’ve always got my eyes on other investments too. It’s always good to educate yourself and learn what’s out there. Of course you should do your own research but here are a few things that I’m thinking about.

Man in field with money in hand – Image Courtesy of Pexels

Real Estate Investment Trusts

I’ve been a fan of real estate for quite some time now, having been a landlord for a few years and also Mrs. Money and I have purchased a tiny house lot in the neighboring state. There’s just something about physically owning (or co-owning with the bank) a house that you can touch, feel and have more control over. A house won’t go down in value because a CEO tweeted something or mentioned “supply chain issues” during an earnings call.

Although it may seem difficult in this market to buy a house, you don’t actually have to buy a house to invest in real estate. You can buy part of a property with real estate investment trusts, just like buying stock in a business. The property market is historically stable and rarely (although it can) loses value, so REITs are an excellent place to start. You trade REITS like you do a stock, and can buy as little as 1 share. A typical investment won’t break the bank and offers regular returns better than the stock market. There are also plenty of really good REITs out there with substantial dividends for relatively little investment.

Alternative Cryptocurrencies 

I’ll just come out and say that cryptocurrencies are risky. As much as I’ve enjoyed investing a little bit here and there, overall I’ve lost money on them. That being said, Bitcoin and Ether are probably the best known cryptos. Early adopters became millionaires with these digital currencies. However, you might not know that there are more than 4,000 cryptocurrencies. Unfortunately, most of them are useless and won’t offer you much in the way of returns. However, many people said that about Bitcoin and Ether back in the early days too. Depending on your appetite risk, and honestly alternative cryptocurrencies feels a bit like gambling, but there are a lot out there and some move pretty quickly in terms of rising value (I’ve just struggled to find them ha!).

Trending Investment Includes Rural Industry

Whether it’s cities or towns, outlying lands provide the supplies and commodities they need. But unfortunately, agriculture only gets marginal support from governments despite providing most of what we need. This means many of them don’t last and close all the time. Then there’s the cost of utilities. Many farmers harvest rainwater, but utility bills remain high in many places, with recent increases of over 60%. In rural areas, much work comes from local businesses. As a result, critical investments in rural areas help local communities grow and modernize. Whether it’s investing in farm land or rural utility companies, looking outside main street may result in some hidden gems.

Green and Sustainable Technologies

There’s much talk about clean energy and sustainability right now. Getting carbon neutral by reducing emissions is a goal for businesses and governments alike. Of course, if you want to do this, you’ll have to use cleaner products, like geothermal or solar energy. The goal of green manufacturing is to reduce pollution and waste. So investing heavily in green manufacturing while relatively young could pay off big in the long run. EV manufacturers also enjoy yearly profits. But the sector is becoming more competitive by the day due to increased interest.

New Startups and Ventures

Startups continue to be a source of intrigue and wonder as movies like The Social Network remind us. Getting in early and holding on for a big payout is something most investors can get excited about. We’re not short on innovative startup companies, from social media to biotech, and you can choose to invest where you feel it’s appropriate. There are many successful startups, such as Airbnb and TikTok. But for all the major players and success, there is an inherent risk in ventures. Take Theranos and WeWork as prime examples. However, you can reduce risk with some basic research on the ideas and the team. And try not to be sucked in by impossible promises!

Summary

Although we live in confusing and volatile times, investing is still a great way to get ahead in the long run. Beyond stocks there are lots of options out there to invest in and diversification is never a bad idea to consider!

Disclosure: Some links will earn me a commission.