Justin Donald

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Use these practical strategies to help you navigate seasonal spending in a less stressful way. Amid all the joy and cheer the end of the year brings, the holidays can be a hectic — and expensive — time. Purchasing gifts for loved ones, making travel plans, attending parties and enjoying the multitude of festive celebrations and events that crop up can end up putting a strain on one’s finances and detracting from the positive spirit of the season.  But whether money is a bit tight this year or you are working toward a particular financial goal, you don’t have to sacrifice holiday cheer to stay on track with your spending. Consider implementing one or more of the following tips, as recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, to help you avoid overspending and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

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Reduce your tax liabilities by following these expert-recommended tips. When it comes to taxes, having a higher income may not always be the blessing it’s often thought to be. With a bigger income comes increased tax rates, as moving into a higher tax bracket means a larger portion of income will be taxed at a higher rate. Those earners with multiple streams of income — investment income, capital gains, bonuses and more — can further complicate their taxes. These factors, paired with the possibility of losing out on certain deductions or credits due to their income, mean high-income earners are often on the lookout for ways to optimize their tax strategy and minimize their tax liabilities, or what they owe. As financial and tax experts themselves, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective know the ins and outs of effective tax strategies. Here, they offer up six ways high-income earners can minimize their tax liabilities and keep more money in their pockets.

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Don’t wait until you’re no longer working to determine where your new income will come from. One of the biggest questions on the minds of soon-to-be retirees is, “Will I have enough money to live on when I retire?” Leaving the workforce and finally gaining back all your time for rest and relaxation is an exciting prospect, but being unsure about where your money will come from and what you will live off of can quickly turn a blessing into a nightmare.  Whether you’ve been saving for retirement for years or you’ve only recently started, the uncertainty around whether or not you will have enough money to sustain you throughout the rest of your life can be truly terrifying, causing some people to delay retirement for longer than they’d like or to keep working well into their elderly years just to have the certainty of a regular income. But according to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, taking the time to craft a plan for your retirement income can help ease — or even eliminate — those fears. Here, they each share their top piece of advice for creating a retirement income strategy that works and explain how having a well-thought-out plan will help give you peace of mind.

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Consider this expert advice before you make the leap into property management. Many people are drawn to the world of real estate investing and the dream of making passive income through rental properties. It’s an attractive prospect, as there’s certainly plenty of money to be made if purchased with considerable thought. However, other potential investors are equally nervous about the idea of owning real estate, as the amount of work and knowledge required can seem daunting or out of reach. Influencers and reality TV shows make it seem easy — but is real estate investing right for you? As leaders in the financial space, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective are familiar with what it takes to succeed in real estate, and here, they share their expertise by outlining eight signs that investing in real estate may be a good fit or the right next step for you.

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Even when the market ebbs and flows, you can keep your retirement investments stable with these proactive strategies. With unpredictable markets and economic uncertainty, it's important to take steps to safeguard your retirement savings. Market volatility can lead to significant losses if you’re not properly prepared, but there are many effective strategies for protecting your hard-earned nest egg. According to the financial professionals of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, you can help shield your retirement funds from the impact of market fluctuations with a few strategic moves. If you’re looking to secure your future, consider these expert-recommended tips for managing retirement savings during turbulent times.

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As you build your wealth, tax considerations are going to become more important in protecting your earnings and staying in good standing with tax authorities.

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The best financial education starts at home. Every parent wants what’s best for their children, and part of that is ensuring they have a bright financial future. Talking to children about money can start at an early age, but it becomes especially important as they enter their teenage years and begin to take on more adult responsibilities. While every family situation is different, and some may have access to different resources than others, there are always steps you can take to give your teen a jump-start on their financial journey. From helping them understand the ins and outs of basic financial literacy to encouraging them to start their own business, there are a range of ways to help, from the simple to the complex. Consider these nine recommendations from the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective to help set your teen up for a secure financial future.

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There’s no shame in asking for help, especially when it comes to your finances. Personal finance is often just that: personal. Not only is it meant to adapt to your own needs, goals and wants, but it also can often be done on your own, with no outside help needed to succeed. However, finance can sometimes get complicated, especially as you start exploring more in depth with topics like investing, planning for retirement and estate planning. While you may be tempted to take on these complex areas on your own, it can sometimes be wise to bring professional help on board. As financial experts themselves, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective have helped countless people navigate the complexities of the financial world. Here, they discuss 10 important instances when you may want to consult a professional and why doing so will save you a lot of hassle — and money — in the long run.

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Taking a non-traditional path may mean thinking outside of traditional savings options. One of the best parts of gig work or other self-employed work is being your own boss. Not only do you get to set your own schedule, but you also get to set your own rules for how and when your work gets done. However, being your own boss means you have to take care of all the administrative work as well. Where an employer would normally provide a retirement account option for you — and maybe even contribute a match — when you’re self-employed, you have to take care of that all on your own. But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible to save for retirement, or even difficult. However, there are tips you’ll want to know if you plan to take this route. Here, nine financial experts from Kiplinger Advisor Collective each share one important thing self-employed small-business owners and gig economy workers should know about saving and planning for retirement.

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Learning what not to do can put you on a better path to success. In finance, there are all sorts of best practices that can help you build wealth and gain confidence with money. However, for every best practice, there is an equal number of bad practices that can derail your progress or even completely jeopardize your future success.  And while failing to build a budget or letting ‘lifestyle creep’ take hold may not seem like they will have a major effect on your finances, it’s often the small mistakes that can lead to big trouble down the line. As leaders in the financial industry, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective are familiar with the kinds of mistakes that can negatively impact a person’s overall success with money. Here, they each share one financial “don’t” (or mistake) they always advise their clients to avoid, why and the impact it can have on their future. 

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Even small changes can make a big difference to your financial journey. As with tackling any new goal, it helps to have the right habits in place to help lead you across the finish line. Whether you’re saving up for a house, thinking about retirement or just hoping to achieve a feeling of security, building the right habits is crucial to ensuring you have the tools you need to accomplish your goal.  And while there are some habits you may be able to identify for yourself, there are others financial experts wish people would give more thoughtful consideration. Here, 11 members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective discuss some of the most important money habits they think more people should cultivate and why they’re so essential to building true wealth throughout your life.

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Tools and automations can help make budgeting less of a hassle. When it comes to saving money and growing your wealth, budgeting is a common solution that always seems to crop up. However, while building a budget is an effective step for some, others may find they have a hard time sticking to one long term. Whether it’s because they feel too restricted by the budget’s parameters or they simply find making one too complicated and time-consuming, many people struggle to reap the benefits of this money-planning technique. But this doesn’t mean that a budget isn’t for you. According to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, there are a few tricks you can use to make budgeting easier and possibly even more fun to do. Read on for their budgeting secrets and how you can finally stick to your budget for the long haul.

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In the financial world, it’s not just about knowing your numbers. Many think of finances as purely a numbers business, but in reality, it’s a people business too. Financial advisers work closely with their clients, often getting to know them on a deeper level than others might due to the sensitive nature of the work they do together. Discussing and receiving advice about one’s financial goals and personal money habits can be very vulnerable, and so working with a financial adviser who puts focus on their “soft skills” can be a much more comfortable and rewarding experience. Below, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective touch on nine other reasons why financial advisers and other financial professionals should sharpen their soft skills, and address why doing so can make for much better client-adviser relationships. 

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Certain mindsets are beneficial as you work toward creating wealth that allows the lifestyle you envision.

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Adding these books to your reading list is the first step to changing your financial future.  When trying to get a handle on your finances, it can be difficult to know where to start. Should you work on paying off all your debt? Start investing? Find ways of generating more income? The options can feel endless — and the information, sometimes confusing — which can leave people feeling scattered or like they might as well not even try.  Finding financial freedom, however, can be done, and there are many experts who have outlined road maps for how to do so in their books. But rather than have you spend your time sifting through the vast amount of financial books available today, the experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective have narrowed down the list to seven of their favorites. Below, they share their top picks for life-changing financial books and why they recommend those struggling with their money and money decisions study them.

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Such a sensitive subject requires a careful approach. Talking to your aging parents about their finances can be extremely difficult, but it can be important to ensuring they are supported and cared for in their later years. As parents grow older, they may find it harder to do the things they’ve always done, such as manage their day-to-day finances or make major decisions about money. They may also have certain wishes regarding their long-term care or what they’d like done with their assets once they pass on. Having these conversations with your parents early on can help ensure you’re on the same page and help them make the best decisions for their needs. However, approaching parents about this subject can be challenging, and parents may not always be receptive to getting advice from their children — even if they are grown adults themselves. To help make these matters easier for both parties, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective each share one tip they’d give for how to approach this type of conversation with aging parents, and why implementing this tip can ensure everyone is happy.

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Saving money can be as simple as a quick phone call. Lots of people are interested in saving more, but they don’t always want to change their lifestyle in order to do it. Especially when you have a large amount to save or haven’t started saving at all, it can be difficult to find the motivation to cut back on the things that bring you joy. However, saving, even if it’s just a little bit each month, is an important part of your wealth-building journey. It not only ensures you have cash to fall back on when emergencies eventually arise, but it also allows you to make larger purchases and afford the kind of lifestyle you aspire to have in the future. So does that mean you have to cut way back on your lifestyle now in order to save for the future? According to the money experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, that doesn’t have to be the case. Here, they discuss little (but effective) ways anyone can easily save money each month without compromising their overall lifestyle or sacrificing joy.

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To change your finances, you’ll first need to change your thinking. The way people think about money can have a greater impact on their financial success than they may think. Whether it’s the way you were raised or a belief that you have come to over time, the mindset that you develop around your finances has a direct influence on the actions you take with money and your behaviors surrounding it. These beliefs can be positive or negative, truthful or a lie — but how can you tell the difference? Below, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective list out some of the most common money mindsets people have that may actually be hurting their progress with money, detailing not only the reasons why but also how they can change and finally get their finances in order.

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Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you plan for your future and how to financially support it.

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It's not too late to start working on these key business goals. Whether you’re new to business or a seasoned entrepreneur, setting goals for you and your business at the start of the year can give your team direction and a sense of purpose that they can use to motivate them throughout the year. Improving customer engagement, increasing sales or fine-tuning operational systems are all worthwhile goals to set, and will likely have a positive impact on your company; however, there are several other financially focused goals that could have a similar impact. According to the experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, implementing one or more of the following seven goals can help ensure your business is functioning at its best and ready for any hurdles it may face. No matter whether you set these goals at the start of the new year or a few months down the line, your business can benefit from better financial preparedness.

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Don’t let the fear of taxes prevent you from becoming an investor. Whether it’s in real estate or the stock market, investing can be an exciting way to make more money. The gains you make on those investments can help fund further investments, help you save for a project you’re taking on or even contribute to your retirement. However, many people are nervous to invest because of the potential capital gains taxes they’ll have to pay — or the taxes owed on any profit made on the sale of a particular investment. According to the financial and investment experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, however, fear of capital gains taxes shouldn’t keep you from investing. Below, they explain why that is, as well as discuss their best advice for managing that fear and minimizing any capital gains taxes you may incur throughout your life.

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The key to smart investing is to first equip yourself with the right knowledge. For the average person, investing can seem like an intimidating concept. “How do I figure out what to invest in?” “How much should I invest, and how often?” “What are the best accounts to open up?” “What happens if I lose all my money?” These are just some of the questions aspiring investors are likely to ask, but getting answers isn’t always so straightforward. Those attempting to invest without any knowledge of how to do so have the potential to set themselves up for grave financial mistakes in the future. In this way, it’s critical new investors take care before making any decisions or setting any investment goals. But whether someone just wants to dabble in investing or they’re ready to make some more aggressive moves, they should first consider the advice of financial and investment experts. As such, the leaders of Kiplinger Advisor Collective have some sage advice for newbie investors. Below, they each offer one tip that individuals new to investing may not know about how to do it smartly, and why they would so strongly advise taking these cautionary steps before taking any major financial ones.

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Choosing the right account for your needs is a great first step to kick-starting your retirement savings. Saving for retirement is an important step for anyone who hopes to stop working after a certain age. However, while many people understand the importance of retirement savings as part of their financial journey, they may not always understand the best way to go about it. Though putting your retirement savings into a standard savings account may seem like an easy option, several other, more advantageous accounts exist that can help you reach your retirement goals faster — and may help you avoid more taxes down the line. But which account is right for you? When offering advice and discussing options with their own clients, the financial leaders of Kiplinger Advisor Collective have a few favorites in mind. Below, they go over seven different accounts you can choose from to kick-start your retirement savings, and why they recommend these solutions to anyone looking into their ideal retirement plan.

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Drawing up an intentional plan can ease your fears about not having enough. One of the biggest fears soon-to-be retirees have is that they won’t have enough money to last them throughout their retirement. And rightly so — with concerns surrounding inflation, recessions and a volatile stock market, over half of Americans feel behind on their retirement savings. These fears may keep them from taking the plunge and quitting their jobs once they hit retirement age, delaying retirement for years or perhaps even indefinitely.  However, with an intentional plan and the right support in place, you can retire comfortably — and confidently — at the age you choose. To provide some guidance on how to prepare, seven financial experts from Kiplinger Advisor Collective discuss their top tips for soon-to-be retirees looking for ways to make their savings last throughout their retirement and banish their fears of not being able to survive financially.

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It’s important to deal with the emotional aspect first before tackling the financial one. Inheritance can often feel like a double-edged sword. While a large influx of money can be a welcome blessing to those who may be in debt, are looking to purchase a home or a business or are wanting to start investing toward retirement, inheritance also often means the passing of a loved one and a period of emotional turmoil and grief. When paired together, these two major life changes can cause even the most financially savvy person to make a few mistakes. While emotions are high, it’s unwise to make any major financial moves. Instead, allow time for grief and healing before moving forward. Once you feel ready to take action, consider the following advice from the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective. Below, they discuss the next steps you should take after inheriting money from a loved one and some of the mistakes they’ve witnessed others make along the way.

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Would you have made different decisions with the knowledge you have now? There’s certainly no shortage of financial advice out there — from family, friends, colleagues, experts and pseudo-experts alike. Some advice is born out of experience while other tips are based on the latest data or trends. Regardless of where it comes from, however, good financial advice at the right time can be critical to how well you succeed with money throughout your life. Unfortunately, good advice can sometimes come later than you’d like it to, which means you sometimes may reflect back, thinking about how your life could be different had you known then what you know now. The financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective are no different, and here, they each discuss the one piece of financial advice they wish someone had given them a long time ago and why.

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A real estate syndication can grant you access to higher-value assets without entirely carrying the financial burden.

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There’s more to this decision than simply when you want to retire. An important player in your overall retirement plan, Social Security can help fund your living expenses when you’re no longer able to work or are working reduced hours. However, as the payments you receive while drawing from Social Security only replace a partial percentage of the income you received while working, Social Security benefits should be considered supplemental rather than your only source of income. And while you can apply for your benefits at any time between the ages of 62 and 70, there may be reasons why you would want to delay receiving your benefits until a later date. So when should you plan to start collecting these benefits? While the answer can vary based on each individual person’s situation, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective recommend considering these factors first before determining your goal age to begin collecting Social Security.

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Maximize your efforts by following these expert-recommended tips. The holidays are, naturally, a time of giving — a time when people look to show gratitude for and to others by giving gifts or donating their money or time. It’s often when individuals look to donate funds to their favorite charities or special causes that are important to them. But is it as simple as writing a check?  Unfortunately, it may not always be that easy, as scammers can be especially active during this season, looking to take advantage of those with the best intentions. Further, there may be certain tax benefits or strategies you may not have considered that can maximize your giving efforts. Below, eight financial leaders from Kiplinger Advisor Collective share their insights on charitable giving during the holiday season as well as the best tips you should know to ensure you’re doing it the right way.

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Could this technology lead you toward financial success? In this current world of artificial intelligence and tech-first solutions, even the financial industry is seeing new advancements in technology. Robo-advisers are just one of those solutions, leveraging financial data and complex algorithms to provide investment suggestions and financial advice — all without a human touch. While this technology is certainly not a recent innovation, increasing interest in convenience, speed and overall ease of use has brought robo-advisers to the forefront of the collective conversation. But is a robo-adviser right for you?  This is just one of the many questions you may have when considering robo-advisers. Here, to offer some clarity, six financial experts from Kiplinger Advisor Collective answer common questions the public may have when it comes to robo-advisers and whether or not they are the right solution for their financial needs.

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Steering clear of these mistakes will save you a lot of regret once you reach retirement age. Saving for retirement is one of the most important aspects of managing your finances, and getting started can be as simple as signing up for your company’s 401(k) program. But while setting aside money to live on after you retire from work may seem straightforward, there are definitely still some mistakes you can make along the way.  Some of those mistakes may have little to no effect on your overall savings strategy, but others — like putting off saving too long in favor of other goals or following a plan ill-suited to your unique situation — can have a major impact on the amount of money you’re able to save or the amount of taxes you’ll have to pay once you’re of retirement age.  To provide some guidance and shed light on the do’s and don’ts of retirement savings, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective each discuss one thing someone should never do while saving for retirement, and why doing so can ultimately derail your success.

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Holding on to these beliefs could be holding you back from realizing your dreams. With high interest rates and even higher housing prices scaring many people away from the  thought of purchasing a home any time soon, strong narratives and beliefs around home buying in general continue to swirl around the cultural conversation. While some believe they’ll never be able to afford a home, others believe it’s the ultimate end goal and indicator of true financial success.  Though every person’s situation is unique, there are some common misconceptions people have about home buying that may be holding them back from realizing their true financial potential. Here, the financial and investment experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective discuss seven of those misconceptions as well as the real truths behind these common beliefs.

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Here are three strategies to keep in mind as you embark on your path to wealth accumulation and financial security.

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Here’s why technology can be one of the best guides for your financial journey. In the vast world of finance, there are plenty of resources claiming to help educate you, guide you toward the quickest path to wealth and set you up for a financially stable retirement — with some of those resources more helpful than others. However, some of the most useful tools in finance, especially today, involve technology. From simple budgeting apps to online banking to AI chatbots and robo-advisers, technology has the potential to act as a powerful tool and guide on your wealth-building journey. But while technology and tech-based financial tools continue to improve and grow more advanced each day, some people remain skeptical of using tech to manage something so important to their lives. Others simply aren’t aware of the benefits these platforms and tools can provide them with. Below, six financial leaders and members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective share their expertise by outlining some of the ways in which leveraging financial technology and tools can help you not only improve your financial management but your overall financial literacy as well.

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Taking a few key steps can help you both better understand and utilize your employee benefits. Employee benefits can be a big draw for job seekers looking for companies that will care for their employees well beyond their paychecks. Whether it’s a good employer match on your 401(k) contributions, employer-covered healthcare or unlimited paid time off, different employees find value in different benefits, but a well-rounded benefits package — often paired with a competitive salary — can help companies attract the best talent in their respective fields. But despite the initial draw of quality benefits, many of these benefits go unused or are improperly utilized. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, an employee’s benefits make up nearly a third of their total compensation — meaning employees could be missing out on a significant portion of their total pay.  To ensure you’re taking full advantage of your employee benefits, it’s important to first ensure you have a clear grasp on what they entail. Below, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective suggest practical steps anyone can take to not only understand their benefits package but also make the most of what their company offers.

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Oh, the dreaded financial emergency. It crops up when you least expect it — usually late on a Friday, right? That’s when our options for resolving the issue are the most limited, whether its air conditioning on the fritz (an especially big concern during all these heat waves) or a plumbing disaster. We’re left scrambling to both secure expert help and pay for it. Or maybe you have an unexpected medical bill or lose your job. What can you do to make ends meet? While there’s no way to know what’s going to happen or take steps, beyond the usual preventive ones, to head it off, you can at least be prepared in other ways. To find out what our options could be during a financial emergency, we at Kiplinger.com asked some of the financial experts among our Building Wealth contributors and Kiplinger Advisor Collective members to answer this question: How can I best prepare for unexpected financial emergencies, such as job loss, medical bills or major home repairs?

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Here are a few tax implications to consider as you dive into investing.

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Investing can be a risky business, but with the right strategy, it doesn’t have to be.Naturally, any investor hopes for high returns on their investments. However, achieving those high returns can often involve setting aside one’s usual tolerance for risk and making a move which could pay off big or could result in big consequences. Conversely, managing your risk may mean making investments that will provide a lower return but will also provide you with a sense of stability and steadiness helpful for building a secure future. But making money as an investor doesn’t necessarily have to involve major risk-taking. What’s needed is a balance between the desire for high returns and the need for safe portfolio diversification and risk management.  To achieve such a balance, consider the following advice from the financial and investment experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective. Below, they offer up their best tips for making money while maintaining a strategy that helps you avoid unnecessary risks.

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Deciding how to invest in real estate can sometimes seem complex and overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what’s hot and what’s not. So we at Kiplinger.com asked some of the financial experts among our Building Wealth contributors and Kiplinger Advisor Collective members to answer, in a few sentences, this question: What is one current trend in real estate investing, and how can investors take advantage of it? Their responses range from checking out online real estate investing platforms, to exploring tax-advantaged qualified opportunity zones, to keeping an eye on the debt issues of commercial real estate. Or maybe you might be interested in owning some rental property that you can also use as a vacation home. Wherever your real estate interests may lie, there’s bound to be a tip here that could snag your interest.

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Here are a few ways investing can keep you on track to achieve the life you envision, not one that happens to you while you’re chained to a desk.

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Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just dabbling in the financial world, you’re likely looking for the “next big thing” to put your money toward. There are a number of promising opportunities to choose from, but as financial leaders and advisers in this space, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective suggest that these eight sectors have high growth potential now and in the future. From sustainable options such as green energy to evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence, these sectors are growing in both popularity and necessity — meaning early investments now could equal major returns later on.

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While graduating from school is a major milestone in your life, it's not the last big step you'll take in the months ahead. Preparing yourself for your future can take any number of pathways depending on your specific goals. But whether you'll be buying a new car, saving up for a home or delving into the stock market, there are a few key financial steps you can take that will help you achieve success. As noted leaders in the financial space, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective recommend taking one or more of the following actions with any money you may have received as a graduation gift. Doing so will help you start adulthood—and your financial future—off on the right foot.