Investment has become increasingly important over the years, as the future of social security benefits is unknown.

People want to secure their future and know that if they depend on Social Security benefits and, in some cases, retirement plans, they may have a rude awakening when they no longer have the ability to earn a steady income. Investing is the answer to the unknowns of the future.

You may have been saving money in a low-interest savings account over the years. Now, you want the money to grow at a faster rate. Perhaps you’ve inherited money or realized some other kind of windfall, and you need a way to make that money grow. Again, investing is the answer.

Investing is also a way to achieve the things you want, like a new home, a college education for your children, or expensive ‘toys’. Of course, your financial goals will determine the type of investment you make.

If you want or need to earn a lot of money quickly, you would be more interested in a higher risk investment, which will give you a higher return in less time. If you are saving for something in the distant future, such as retirement, you will want to make safer investments that grow over a longer period of time.

The general purpose of investing is to create wealth and security over a period of time. It is important to remember that you will not always be able to earn an income … eventually you will want to retire.

Nor can you count on the social security system to do what you expect it to do. As we’ve seen with Enron, you also can’t necessarily depend on your company’s retirement plan. So again, investing is the key to securing your own financial future, but you need to make smart investments!

Many people like to rely on 401K plans and other investments to supplement their retirement savings. This is good practice because Social Security may not exist after 2029. It is never too early to start investing in stocks and bonds on your own. However, it is very important to speak with a qualified financial advisor before investing money.

So, contact a financial advisor, such as a qualified stockbroker, and discuss your financial future with them.