How do you invest money?
I know nothing about investment,but I've noticed a lot of HNers know quite a bit on how to invest money wisely so I thought I would ask for any guidance you have to offer. Any starting point would help, I am open to traditional or cryptocurrency investment (trading bots?).
I've been learning how little is guaranteed to last in life. Although I have a great job (infosec), some long term financial security and independence seems wise.
Thanks in advance for any wisdom shared.
> "cryptocurrency investment"
Cryptocurrency is not an 'investment' -- it is a gamble. Which is fine if that is what you are looking for.
Since you say you "know nothing about investment" then a reasonable place to begin might be here: https://www.bogleheads.org/
Top left will be a "new to investing -> start here" link to get you started.
The safest way (although, without the imaginary bombastic returns show in the movies) is putting you money in an Index fund. Bare in mind, this is a long term commitment. Investing in general IS a long term commitment. Another option, I am currently doing, but it is with moderate to high risk is to invest in Bond funds. Usually the banks offer their clients a choice of such funds, Vanguard as well. Here the return usually is a bit higher, although you have to have a very high trust towards the manager of the fund (unfortunately for the banks, those managing these funds a clerks... needless to say). With patience and intelligent choices, the returns will accumulate with time. With a proper knowledge and education, one could try also stock investment... but to succeed, and to protect yourself from high loses, you really need to know what you are doing, to know where to look for and what to look for in a company, to be really, really PICKY... and at last to actually buy stocks. Stocks also require a lot of patience and big balls! Forget about stocks if you can't sleep when the market swings down, of if you have butterflies in your stomach when it swings up. There are a lot of good books which are a good start. I recommend also to read some of the numerous notes of one of the greatest in the field: Warren Buffett. That all said, all the rest of the financial operations, which people do without the proper education, knowledge or with expectation of luck and the next big swing of the market up, is called speculation. It like gambling... in a long rung the house always wins!