Best way to invest $5000?

Standard and Poors 500 index fund

Is this your first $5k to invest? If yes, put it in an index fund.

If you've already got half a million in retirement then try an individual stock.

So many different scenarios...we need more info.

Would probably be wise to just pick an index fund as others advised, maybe through Vanguard.

Be careful if you decide to purchase individual stocks, which are more risky than index funds. If you are looking to go the stock route, stick with large companies like AT&T, Apple, Exxon, Coca-Cola, etc. that pay consistent dividends which can be reinvested for more shares over time with not much downside assuming you don't plan to touch the money for decades.

If you aren't risk averse throw it all into a solar etf or grains etf

Keep as an emergency fund especially if you are just starting out.

quote:

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I have about $5000 that I want to put towards some sort of investment instead of just having it sit there.

What would be the best in terms of long term?

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Your best investment would be to increase your income to the point where $5000 isn't that much.

I mean that quite seriously, not joking at all. Amounts like that could be invested in education, marketing opportunities, etc.