Great Alternative Investments Anyone Could Try Long-Term

Last Updated on February 7, 2025 by SampleBoard

Investing is always a great way to help grow your wealth, make a short-term profit, and even put money away for retirement. It’s easy to see why so many people choose it.

Whether they’re actively investing themselves or hiring a professional to do it for them, it can be more than worth it.

That doesn’t mean the apparent investments are always worth going for. Alternative investments can also be worth considering, and many reasons exist.

These could offer as much return as their more traditional counterparts, if not more.

It’s easy to see why so many people could be tempted by them. You could even be in that position, but it’s not an area you should rush into.

Instead, it’s worth ensuring you know what you’re doing first.

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What Are Alternatives Investments?

If you’re considering alternative investments, it’s worth knowing exactly what they are.

These focus on non-traditional assets, often cryptocurrency, art, private equity, etc.

More traditional investments focus on stocks, bonds, and similar areas.

Alternative investments are often less regulated than traditional options. They’re also often not as tied to the stock market as other types of investment.

Because of that, they aren’t always down in value, even if the stock market is down overall.

They could be seen as safer than stocks and bonds because of that.

However, since they’re not as regulated, there’s always an increased risk when investing in them.

That means they must be treated more scrutinized than their standard counterparts.

It’s always worth ensuring you’re as safe as possible when considering them.

At the same time, you should ensure you go with the right investments for your needs. That’s especially true when it comes to alternative investments.

There are plenty of these to choose from, some of which could stand out more than others.

Five of these could be worth considering, as they could offer more of a return on investment than others.

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Alternatives Investments to Try: 5 Top Picks

1. Commodities

Commodities encompass raw, physical products, making them a much more tangible investment than many of their counterparts.

Some common commodities include precious metals, oil, and corn.

These could boast a notable return on investment, though when this return is seen, it depends significantly on the commodity itself.

There can often be a bit of an overlap between commodities and more traditional investments. Commodity stocks are becoming more and more appealing, for example.

With how much commodities can be appreciated in time, it could be worth investing in them if you want to take a more long-term approach to investing.

2. NFTs

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are much more intangible investments to go for, but they can still be great options in the future.

They’ve become increasingly popular in recent years, with each NFT utterly unique.

Many of these are best seen as a short-term investment, and investors could make a quick profit on them.

Some places to invest in these, like Squarecrows, also tie them to something more tangible to make them more appealing.

These are best invested in as part of a more extensive portfolio to help balance the overall risk, as these can be some of the more inherently risky investments.

3. Derivatives

Derivatives are investments linked to an underlying asset, but they can also include indexes or commodities.

There are several types of derivatives you could invest in, with futures and forex being the most notable.

Futures focus on agreeing to buy or sell a particular investment later.

Forex trading, on the other hand, focuses on making speculative investments in currencies. These can often be seen as bets.

If you believe the euro will rise while the dollar drops, you could exchange dollars for euros now to make a profit later on.

4. Private Equity

Private equity comes from private investors who sell off equity in various places for a profit.

While you’ll often have to pay a premium for this investment, it could still be profitable later.

Usually, this is only open to accredited investors, so you could need to invest a lot of time and effort in other areas first.

However, once it’s open to you, it could be one of the more potentially profitable areas to focus on.

The minimum investment involved in this is often relatively high, but this also has the potential for a more significant return than you might see elsewhere.

5. Collectibles

Collectibles have been excellent investments for quite some time, and you can go with plenty of them.

Vintage and rare cars are some more obvious, but they’re far from the only ones you can consider. Even something as simple as vintage comic books could prove to be profitable.

These take a much more active approach when you’re trying to make a profit with collectibles.

Developing contacts and networking is usually a key part of this, making it one of the more time-intensive options.

Despite that, it can still be a profitable strategy.

Among many collectibles, precious metals like the .9999 fine Canadian Gold Maple Leaf stand out as a solid long-term investment.

With its guaranteed purity and historical significance, investing in such coins can diversify one's portfolio and offer value retention even amidst market fluctuations.

Sports memorabilia is another popular category of collectibles that has gained significant traction in recent years.

Items such as autographed jerseys, trading cards, and game-worn equipment can fetch impressive sums, particularly if they are associated with iconic athletes or landmark events.

The market for sports collectibles is often driven by nostalgia and emotional connection, which can create strong demand among fans and collectors alike.

However, just like with other types of collectibles, it’s essential to do thorough research and ensure the authenticity of items before investing.

Engaging with dedicated communities, attending auctions, and staying informed about market trends can further enhance your chances of success in this intriguing and dynamic investment avenue.

Image credit: Pinterest
Image credit: Pinterest
Image credit: Pinterest

Conclusion

Investing is a great way to create an extra revenue stream. You could make a short-term profit with it, and even develop a retirement fund to live on later in life.

There are plenty of ways to invest and options you can go with. That doesn’t mean the obvious choices are the only ones you have.

Instead, alternative investments can also be worth considering. They can often be more appealing than many people assume, and there are many reasons to go for them.

That doesn’t mean you should rush into them, though. It’s always worth being an informed investor, especially when first starting.

At the same time, it’s worth ensuring you go with the right alternative investments.

That way, you’re in a much better position to invest.

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