9 Best Ways to Invest $50,000

How to Invest $50,000: 9 Proven Strategies

By Matthew Frankel, CFP – Updated Oct 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Open a brokerage account to invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs, or mutual funds.
Consider IRA contributions to leverage tax benefits for retirement savings.
Explore HSAs for tax-deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals for healthcare.

If you have $50,000 or any large amount of money sitting on the sidelines -- maybe in a checking account or a big bank savings account paying little interest -- it's a good idea to put it to work for you. Don't know where to start? Here's some inspiration.

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An infographic listing nine ways to invest $50,000. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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Buy-and-Hold Strategy

A strategy that entails buying stocks or other securities and not selling them for long periods of time, sometimes decades.

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4. Savings account or CD

Savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) can be smart ways to protect your principal. As of late 2025, you can still get a 4% or higher interest rate from these accounts if you do a little research.

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Savings Account

A savings account is an account that earns interest with a financial institution.

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A For Rent sign in a flowerbed in front of home. — Image source: Getty Images.

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Your Road to $25,000 in Savings

How to get to $25,000 in your savings accounts.

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How to Invest $10,000

Starting out with $10K? Here's where to put it and why.

How to Invest 100 Dollars

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There's no one-size-fits-all approach

An important takeaway is that there isn't an ideal investment strategy or asset allocation that works for everyone. For example, a retired person with $50,000 on the sidelines might want to put it into low-risk income instruments like CDs.

On the other hand, a 30-something with a similar amount of money might want to invest in something with a little more reward potential, such as stocks or real estate. For most investors, the right path might be some combination of the nine strategies listed here.

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About the Author

Matt Frankel, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and personal finance expert covering financial stocks, REITs, SPACs, and personal finance. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

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Matt Frankel has positions in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.