51 Top Investment Opportunities in 2023

  • April 17, 2023
  • 26 min read
  • Read Icon527 reads

Would you like to start investing and making money? It’s no secret that the returns on savings accounts in the bank are not that great.

Investing is a better way to get a return on your money.

But what should you invest in? We’ve rounded up 51 of the best investments for 2023.

Before we get started, you should know that investing involves the risk of loss, no matter what you invest in.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this post:

13 Selected Investment Opportunities

First, here are 13 selected investment opportunities that we believe are some of the most relevant ones for 2023.

1. Copy Trading

Short intro:
Copy experienced investors’ trades automatically.

Risk:
It depends on who you copy; there are both high- and low-risk investors.

Expected return:
Uncertain

Copy trading is a relatively new investment option that allows you to copy the trades of other (experienced) investors.

For example, you can copy Heloise Greeff, who focuses on U.S. pharma and tech companies and is currently one of the most popular investors on eToro.

You can see statistics for how well the investor has performed during their time as an investment platform.

Each investor also has a risk level and a social feed where they communicate with their followers.

It’s a really easy way to get started with investing that doesn’t require a lot of knowledge, just that you put in the effort to know who you’re copying. Also, you must note that crypto and trading in general are taxable in nature. It’s better to consult crypto tax advisors to know more about these taxes

Read more: Getting Started with eToro

2. Shares

Short intro:
Shares are proof of ownership of a small part of a company.

Risk:
The risk is high when buying individual shares, but less if you build a broad portfolio.

Expected return:
7-10% per year on average

Investing in shares is a great place to start if you are a beginner. When you buy shares in a company, you are buying a small piece of the company’s future value

If the company increases in value, so does your stock, and that’s how you can make money in stocks.

You can also make money by buying dividend shares, which are shares that share out the company’s profits each year.

To buy shares, you need to set up an account on a share trading platform or buy through your bank.

It’s typically cheaper to use a dedicated trading platform.

Read more: Best investment apps

3. Crowdlending

Brief intro:
Crowdlending is lending your money to others, in exchange for interest.

Risk:
There is a risk that the debt will default.

Expected return:
5-15% depending on the type of loan you invest in.

Crowdlending, or peer-to-peer lending, is a good investment option if you want to invest in loans.

It works by lending your money to other individuals or businesses and receiving interest in payment.

Crowdlending platforms create the link between borrowers and lenders. These can be ordinary consumer loans, home loans, business loans or similar.

4. Cryptocurrency

Brief intro:
Cryptocurrency is a digital currency

Risk:
High risk, due to high volatility

Expected return:
Uncertain

A cryptocurrency is a digital currency that typically has no central authority (e.g. a central bank), but is instead traded on a blockchain.

Cryptocurrencies have become more popular in recent years, and the prices of various cryptocurrencies have skyrocketed.

Bitcoin’s price was around $1,000 in 2017 and exceeded $40,000 by January 2021.

Image credit: Blockchain.com

Those are wild numbers, which can sound very tempting. However, it is important to remember that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and therefore associated with great uncertainty.

Prices can rise and fall very quickly, so be aware of the risk of loss before you buy.

Read more: Cryptocurrencies

5. Passive Funds (Index Funds)

Brief intro:
Passive funds are a collection of assets that follow a specific market

Risk:
Risk is typically low, due to high diversification

Expected return:
7-10% per year on average

A passive fund is a portfolio of different assets (e.g. shares) that follow a specific market.

Passive funds are a good investment option because costs are low and you can easily spread your risk over a wide range of stocks or bonds.

Index investing is considered one of the safest ways to invest your wealth, precisely because they make it easy to diversify your portfolio.

6. Robo-advisors

Short intro:
Robo-advisors invest for you, based on your personality and risk tolerance

Risk:
Depends on risk appetite

Expected return:
Depends on risk appetite

A robo-advisor is an alternative to active investment and bank advice. Your money is invested for you, based on tailored advice.

Typically, you take a test to see how you should invest your money. The test can be based on your age, time horizon, experience, risk tolerance and more.

Once you’ve taken the test, you’ll get access to an investment plan so you can see how your money will be invested.

You can then choose whether or not to follow the investment plan.

Typically, robo-advisors charge 0.5-1% in annual fees, whereas active management typically costs around 1.5-2.5%.

Read more: Best Robo-Advisors for 2023

7. Real Estate

Short intro:
Real estate investing is when you buy a home or other type of property

Risk:
Depends on risk appetite

Expected return:
7-10% per year on average

Investing in real estate is a good choice if you want to invest your money in something physical. However, it is not available to everyone because the start-up costs are high.

It’s also more complicated than shares, for example, because homes have to be maintained and tenants found if you don’t live in the property yourself.

That said, there is great potential in property investment in the long term.

Read more: How to Finance Your Real Estate Business

8. ETFs

Short intro:
ETFs are exchange-traded funds that follow a market

Risk:
Risk is typically low, due to high diversification

Expected return:
7-10% per year on average

ETFs stands for Exchange Traded Funds. They are similar in most respects to index funds, which is why they are often referred to together.

An ETF typically follows an index, but it doesn’t have to. In principle, it can be any asset.

The advantages of ETFs are low cost and high-risk diversification.

9. Gold

Brief intro:
gold is a precious metal that can be invested in several ways

Risk:
Low

Expected return:
3-4% per year on average

Typically, you invest in gold to hedge against inflation, not for a high return. Gold represents a real value and has been a means of payment for thousands of years.

This contributes to the relative stability of gold prices, which typically rise in times of crisis.

You can invest in gold by buying gold ETFs, shares in gold mining companies or by buying physical gold bars and coins. Keep in mind that there are always scammers looking to take advantage of inexperienced investors, so understanding how gold IRA scams work can really help out.

10. Active Funds

Short intro:
An active fund is a collection of assets that tries to beat the market

Risk:
Relatively low due to high diversification

Expected return:
7-10% per year on average

An actively managed fund is a collection of assets selected by professional investors. Based on the analysis, it selects the stocks and other assets it believes will perform best.

The advantage of this is that you don’t have to select assets yourself by letting a professional do it for you.

However, there are two major drawbacks to actively managed funds:

  • It was expensive. It can cost upwards of 2-3% in annual fees.
  • The vast majority don’t beat the market. It’s incredibly difficult to outperform the market in general – according to studies, as many as 88% of active funds fail to beat the market.
  • It may be better to buy ETFs and index funds or make use of a robo-advisor, which is somewhat cheaper.

11. Debt

Short intro:
Pay off your existing debt so you don’t lose money on interest

Risk:
Low

Expected return:
Depends on interest rates

If you have debt with an interest rate of over 5%, it’s a good idea to pay it off before you start investing.

The big advantage of paying off debt is that there is no risk involved.

When you invest, you can either make or lose money, but by paying off extra debt, you are guaranteed a “return”.

Read more: How To Get Out of Debt

12. Forex trading

Brief intro:
Currency trading is when you buy one currency that you expect to be stronger than another

Risk:
High

Expected return:
5-20% per month

Currency trading, also called forex, is when you trade a currency pair against each other. For example, you can trade US dollars and euros (USD/EUR).

If you expect the dollar to strengthen against the euro, you can buy dollars and sell them again in the future when the dollar is worth more.

However, currency trading is not a beginner-friendly investment option. It requires both time and nerves, as you can easily end up in a string of losing trades. Quoted by Justin GrossBard, Co-Founder of Compare Forex Brokers

That said, a skilled day trader trading forex can generate returns of up to 20% per month.

13. Bonds

Brief intro:
A bond is a debt instrument that you can invest in

Risk:
Low

Expected return:
2-5% per year

When you buy a bond, you lend money to the issuer of the bond. This can be the government, a company or a mortgage lender.

So there are three main types of bonds: government bonds, corporate bonds and mortgage bonds.

When the final borrower pays off the loan, you, the investor, receive money in the form of interest.

Bonds are considered a relatively safe investment, but the returns are also not as high as some of the other investment options.

Sustainable Investment Options

If you want to make a difference with your money, consider investing exclusively in sustainable ways.

You can read more about sustainable investing and green stocks here.

14. Wind Energy

You can invest in wind farms or buy shares in wind turbine manufacturers, such as General Electric.

15. Solar Cells On Your Own Roof

With solar cells on your roof, any energy generated after the payback period is pure profit.

It typically takes 7-10 years for solar cells to pay for themselves, solar cells have a life expectancy of 40-50 years, and typically suppliers provide a guarantee of 20-30 years.

16. Solar Farms

If you want to invest in solar energy in general, the easiest way to get started is to buy ETFs or stocks in solar companies.

17. Forest

They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but maybe it does.

According to the World Economic Forum, the economic value of forests is around $150 trillion.

Typically, forests are a good investment in times of crisis, as forests grow whether there is a financial crisis or not.

18. Nature

As an individual, you can participate in auctions where special nature areas are sold or invest directly in sustainable shares.

19. Batteries

More and more electric cars are coming onto the market, which means that demand for lithium batteries is increasing all the time.

There are a few ETFs that invest in battery technology that you can buy, but the selection is not yet very large.

20. Water

Due to the increasing need for drinking water around the world, investing in water is interesting if you want to diversify your portfolio further.

There are various options for investing in water, such as ETFs, specific stocks and companies.

21. Recycling

As funny as it sounds, you can actually invest in waste. Commercial and government-owned recycling companies can no longer handle huge amounts of waste.

Companies like Umicore have seen growth in recent decades, and you can learn more about investing in waste management on their website.

22. Microloans

The purpose of microloans is to help entrepreneurs in developing countries.

The easiest way to invest in microloans for you as an individual is through microloan funds.

Read more: Compare Microloans

Collectables

If you want your investment tied up in something physical that you can enjoy in your daily life, collectables might be for you.

23. Classic Cars

Classic car prices have skyrocketed in recent years. ThisIsMoney writes that prices rose a whopping 487% from 2006-2015.

If you love cars and have the capital, this can be a fun investment opportunity, though it does require some start-up capital.

24. Lego

Still playing with LEGOs? If you’re past the play stage, it might be time to invest in Lego as a collectable instead.

According to the study LEGO – The Toy of Smart Investors, by Victoria Dobrynskaya and Julie Kishilova, over the past 30 years, Lego has been a better investment than bonds and gold, for example.

25. Watches

Luxury goods like watches and gold can be good investments.

They suit you if you prefer to have physical contact with your investments and are not so much into stocks and shares.

26. Sneakers

If you invest in new models and rare limited edition sneakers, you can make money on resale.

27. Art

We’ve all heard of masterpieces by Picasso or van Gogh selling for millions at art auctions.

However, investing in art for even small amounts can bring good returns, and these can be found on online platforms such as Affordable Art Fair or Catawiki.

28. Film

It is possible for individuals to invest in films, for example through Eurogreen and other foreign funds.

It is also possible to invest directly in films produced by private individuals, but this is riskier.

As an investor, you may be credited and even get to play a supporting role in return for your investment.

29. Wine

Are you a real wine lover? Then it’s definitely worth investing in wine.

You may not get rich from it, but it can be an exciting hobby that can also bring in some extra cash.

30. Whisky

The price of whisky from Japan and various regions of Scotland has skyrocketed.

In China and Russia in particular, there has been a huge interest in old single-malt Scotch whisky.

You can invest in whisky by trading bottles via eBay and other online auctions.

Commodities

Commodities are a broad investment category that you can invest in via ETFs, CFDs or shares associated with specific commodities.

You can also buy some commodities directly, such as silver or diamonds.

31. Silver

Silver is a popular commodity to invest in, the metal has many of the same qualities as gold but the price is more volatile and so the price is lower.

32. Oil

Investors who want to invest in oil (also called ‘black gold’) have two choices.

You can choose to invest directly in oil through CFDs, or you can buy shares in an oil company, such as Shell or BP.

33. Diamonds

Do you like beautiful gemstones? Diamonds are both beautiful and valuable, plus they’re good to have, especially in times of crisis.

Like gold, diamonds almost always keep up with inflation and are very stable. That makes them a good investment for those who want to spread risk.

34. Cannabis

As cannabis continues to be legalised in more and more countries, there has been a big growth in cannabis stocks, for example.

The ‘green gold’ can be a good addition to your portfolio, helping you diversify your investments further.

Real Estate

Typically, you invest in a property to rent it out. Alternatively, you may use your property yourself and resell it several years later when it has appreciated in value.

35. Building Land

Building projects require land, which is why investing in land is interesting for investors.

This type of investment is a form of property investment and when there is increasing demand in the housing market, buying land is typically a good investment.

36. Farmland

In recent years, many farmers have gone bankrupt and this has provided an opportunity to purchase agricultural land.

You can make money by renting the land to farmers, but you can also be paid by hunters to manage the land for you, in return for hunting rights.

If you invest in farmland, you can expect a return of 2-5% a year, but this requires that you have a relatively large amount of start-up capital available.

37. Summer House

It’s great to be in a summer house, and it’s almost even cooler to be the owner of a summer house.

In fact, if you’re not there yourself, you can rent out the property and earn money from rental income.

38. Storage

Major cities in Denmark have high parking fees, and parking spaces are in short supply.

Therefore, buying a garage or parking space and then renting it out can be quite a good investment.

39. Renovating Your Own Home

Renovating or improving your own home is a good move if you want to increase the value of your home.

It can both give you more money when you sell the house, but it can also give you a cheaper mortgage if you choose to convert.

Business

Financer.com’s Work Retreat 2019

If you want to invest in the business, here are a number of options.

40. Startups

Do you have a soft spot for young, ambitious companies and want to help entrepreneurs reach new heights? Through crowdfunding, you can invest in businesses, including SaaS startups, and help them grow and thrive.

41. Own Business

Instead of investing in stocks and funds, you can invest in yourself and start your own business.

Whether you buy a franchise business, open a restaurant or start offering services on the internet, you can start making money.

42. Buy a Small Business

If you don’t want to start from scratch, buying an existing business can be a good investment.

Many small businesses are sold when the director has problems or wants to retire.

43. A Friend’s Business

Do you know someone who has a good idea but not enough money? Then consider supporting him or her financially in return for a share of the business.

Make sure you talk to a lawyer so you can sort out the legal details.

Savings

This article is about investment, but there are still good investment options when it comes to savings.

44. Savings Account

Savings accounts earn you almost no money.

Nevertheless, you’d do well to build up a sufficient financial buffer so you can better handle unexpected costs.

45. Children’s Savings

If you do want to start a savings account for a child in your life, it’s a good idea to invest the money.

There are a number of tax advantages to a child savings plan.

46. Pension Savings

It’s a good idea to invest your pension savings, because of the compounding effect.

Because the time horizon is very long, there are many years in which the returns can accumulate and provide you with a good retirement.

At Nordnet it is possible to invest your pension savings.

Other

Here are the investment opportunities we had difficulty categorising.

47. Royalties

Royalty is an English term for the amount of money that artists receive for the right to use their music.

Musicians often sell parts of their royalties on so-called royalty exchanges, which are auctions for royalties.

After your purchase, you will continue to receive royalties on the music until the copyrights expire.

48. Apps

By investing in and producing apps, you can create passive income for yourself when you sell them on Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store.

Another way is to invest in companies like Supercell, which created Clash of Clans, Hay Day and other popular apps.

You can also invest in companies that have an app associated with their service or product.

49. Weapons Industry

Weapons have more than one purpose: they can be used for defence as well as in war. Many countries, such as the US, use their army as an economic engine.

When there is war, they need soldiers. When there is peace, they boost the economy by hiring more soldiers and preparing for the next wartime.

That’s why investing in weapons pays off economically.

50. Mentor

This is an investment in yourself and your future. If you want to learn a particular skill, such as investing, it is a good idea to find a mentor.

A mentor is someone who can help you cut years off your learning curve. This can help you make more money in the future.

51. eSports

Did you know that the U.S. has its own national team in FIFA?…the football game you can get for various game consoles?

However, it is not only football games that are popular, it is also Counter Strike, Fortnite, League of Legends and many other games.

You can invest in e-sports by buying shares in game makers, streaming services and e-sports teams.

What To Invest in 2023?

Now that you know about a lot of different investment options, it’s time to decide what to invest in.

At Financer.com, we love stocks, but there’s no one type of investment that’s better than another.

To find out what’s best for you, consider the following:

  • Risk: All forms of investing come with varying levels of risk. Tailor your investment strategy to fit you and your tolerance.
  • Timeline: how long do you want to have your money tied up? Short (0-5 years) medium (5-15 years) long (+15 years)?
  • Capital: decide how much you want to invest. It’s not a good idea to invest the money you need now (or in the near future).
  • Preference: It’s a good idea to consider what type of investment speaks most to your interests. This will make it easier to learn more and research the market, giving you an edge.
  • Research: research the market properly before investing. It is important that you know what you are doing.

Conclusion

What exactly you should invest in depends on several things, such as your personal finances, your unique situation, risk tolerance and time horizon.

By comparing your options, assessing the risk involved, and determining your financial goals, you can start investing and making more money to achieve the financial freedom you want.

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Lorien is the Country Manager for Financer US and has a strong background in finance and digital marketing. She is a fintech enthusiast and a lover of all things digital.

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