Should you invest $5,000 in a 401(k)?

A $5,000 windfall is a significant amount of money. It might change how you invest — or give you a jumping-off point to start investing if you’re not already. The best way to invest $5,000 ultimately depends on what suits your risk tolerance and goals. Here are five ways to get started. 1. Invest in your 401 (k) and get the matching dollars

What if I have $5,000 to invest?

When you have $5,000 to invest, retirement accounts, robo-advisors, commission-free ETFs and stock trading provide several options for making it grow. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website.

What if I started with $5,000?

If I were beginning with $5,000, I'd choose a single investment with a history of delivering steady returns. Having $5,000 to invest might not sound like much when you're bombarded with headlines that say you need seven figures to retire. Or perhaps even saving $5,000 to invest seems like an impossible goal.