In finance, the notion of traditional investments refers to putting money into well-known assets (such as bonds, cash, real estate, and equity shares) with the expectation of capital appreciation, dividends, and interest earnings. Most alternative assets are fairly illiquid, especially compared to their conventional counterparts. Traditional investments are to be contrasted with alternative investments. These investments also have less opportunity to publish verifiable performance data and advertise to potential investors. Most alternative assets are fairly illiquid, especially compared to their conventional counterparts.
In addition to stocks and bonds, you can choose from a range of traditional investment vehicles, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and annuities. There are many investment instruments that can be used to provide for a specific goal you have.
There are three types of traditional investments cash, stocks, real estate, and bonds –
Bonds: Here the investor purchases debt issued by companies or governments which promises to pay an annual return until the debt is repaid.
Cash: In cash investing, money is typically invested in short-term, low-risk investment vehicles like certificates of deposit, money market funds, and high yield bank accounts.
Real estate: In real estate, money is used to purchase property for the purpose of holding, reselling, or leasing for income and there is an element of capital risk.
- Residential real estate: Investment in residential real estate is the most common form of real estate investment measured by the number of participants because it includes property purchased as a primary residence.
- Commercial real estate: Commercial real estate consists of apartments, office buildings, retail space, hotels, warehouses, and other commercial properties.
- Real estate investment trusts: Investment in real estate investment trusts (REITs) is like investing in a pool of real estate that the company manages.
Stocks and shares: This involves purchasing a share in the equity of a company in the hope that the share price will increase. Purchasing a share in the company is the same as owning part of the company.
Traditional investments have lower minimum qualifications and a highly liquid profile. If you are not investing in cash, stocks, or bonds, you are making an alternative investment. This could include real estate, commodities, and hedge funds. There are many more alternative investments, also. Traditional assets are traded and invested in a public market. This adds a level of security since these options are heavily regulated.
