Looking at the negative impact of the economic recession, people have realized that along with earning money, it is wise to save money and invest prudently so that one has enough fund to meet any unforeseen circumstances. When it comes to investing one's hard-earned money, no one would want to take unnecessary risks with their money. That's why, many people hire consultants for suggestions and tips on how to invest their money and also on the rapidly changing market conditions. Still, having some knowledge of the various options is always handy, whether you have a professional undertaking financial management for you or you are relying on yourself to do the same. To help you out, given below is some information on the investment ideas and options that are available today. Best Investment Options Real Estate Real estate is a long-term investment, so you cannot expect short-term returns. So if you are ready to invest in real estate, it is a viable option. Investing in a land or an apartment can provide you a way to create a large source of passive income. Also, the price values are expected to go up over time. However, one should consider the various risk factors before going for this source of investment. According to market analysts, the cities in the United States which are considered good investments options for real estate are - Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, San Antonio, TX, Houston, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Indianapolis-Carmel, IN, Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix, AZ, Tulsa, OK, Denver-Aurora, CO and Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC. If you are considering investing in countries other than America, invest in Brazil, Australia, India and France. Stock Market The economic recession has proved how volatile the stock market can be. However, if you are thinking about investing in stocks, make sure that you do a thorough research on the market. Do track it on a daily basis. Also, diversify your stock portfolio by investing in a number of sectors to reduce the risk of heavy losses. Diversification helps to spread your investments among different sectors, so that if one sector incurs losses, you have nothing to lose. To be sure that you are making sound and good investments, you can opt to hire professional portfolio management services. Treasury Bonds One of the best investments for college students is to put their money in US treasury bonds. Since these are issued by the government, they are safe and just right for young people. They are counted among the good investments for college students as they can be bought for as little as $1000, thus making them quite affordable. The maturity period is always more than seven years and you can expect a yield of 5% or more. Gold Investing in gold has emerged to be one of the most profitable and lucrative options. You can either buy gold coins, gold bars or you can opt for government-backed gold certificates and Exchange Trade Funds (ETF), if you do not wish to keep the gold physically with you. Investing in gold is advantageous as gold prices have more or less remained immune to the recession. For making profits through gold investment, always buy gold when the prices hit bottom and sell it when the prices go up considerably. Banks and Financial Institutions If you are searching for investments that are safe, go in for a fixed deposit scheme offered by banks or any other financial institution. Currently, you can expect some really good returns on these, and it is also one of the best long-term investments. You can also invest in various recurring deposits and provident funds, which banks offer. These are some of the best investment options, which if undertaken after a thorough research and timed properly, can contribute immensely to wealth creation. Explore all options before investing your hard-earned money and make the best choices. Besides, be prepared to deal with any kind of losses. So take your time while deciding on the ones you want to opt for and invest at the right time. Best of luck! Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is intended for informative purposes only. Consult your financial consultant before making any investment decisions.