With $1 million, you need to think in terms of a portfolio even if you have nothing else put away (though odds are, you do, unless you won the lottery.) How you build your portfolio ultimately depends on your goals, needs and risk tolerance.
If you’re a conservative investor or you’re nearing retirement, you may put more money into bonds than you would stocks. If you’re a young investor, you may choose riskier investments like stocks and real estate.
This is how a $1 million investment portfolio might look for someone nearing retirement:
| Investment type | Percentage |
|---|---|
| CDs, bonds and government securities | 50% to 60% |
| Stocks, ETFs and mutual funds | 40% to 50% |
| Real estate and alternative investments | 0 to 10% |
To make the most of your investments, you may need a new brokerage account.
With $1 million in the right investments, even if you save nothing more, you can quickly get into the kind of numbers that represent lasting financial security. In 15 years, you can top $4 million, and you could retire and live on part of your annual proceeds while keeping your principal intact. That’s true even if you’re not all in higher-risk investments like stocks (and it’s safe to say most financial advisors would advise against that.)
Here’s a look at how $1 million might grow in three common investment classes.
| $1,000,000 saved or invested | Savings account | Bonds | Stocks |
|---|---|---|---|
1 year | $1,040,000 | $1,053,300 | $1,100,000 |
5 years | $1,216,653 | $1,296,464 | $1,610,510 |
10 years | $1,480,244 | $1,680,819 | $2,593,742 |
15 years | $1,800,944 | $2,179,121 | $4,177,248 |
20 years | $2,191,123 | $2,825,151 | $6,727,500 |
25 years | $2,665,836 | $3,662,706 | $10,834,706 |
30 years | $3,243,398 | $4,748,567 | $17,449,402 |
For this table, we assumed a 4% annual return on a high-yield savings account, CD or money market fund; an average 5.33% return for a bond portfolio, based on Vanguard’s historical return data; and 10% on stocks, the market’s long-term annual return. Bond returns vary widely based on bond types, and the stock market has down years while individual stocks can go to zero. So consider these benchmarks only and consider risk as well as return.
Before you invest $1 million, consider the following:
With $1 million in hand, you may opt to work with a financial advisor versus doing it alone.
Pros
Cons
Start Your Journey to a Better Financial Future
Broaden your market exposure and lower your risk by investing in low-cost index funds.
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Help a budding startup become the next big thing by offering your money and expertise.
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Invest in high-quality stocks by purchasing shares of stable companies that have higher profit margins and lower debt.
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The digital age has made it easier than ever to invest in real estate through crowdfunding platforms without having to deal with the headaches of property management. Though with $1 million, owning a property outright is certainly possible.
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Cons
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