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Need advice on best retirement investment for sudden windfall ($40K) | mid-forties and no retirement savings

300 90 January 5, 2025 at 05:32 PM in Finance (4)
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Current financial situation:

45 yo old, unemployed. living w/ parents and receiving financial help. I don't have any retirement savings
cash ready to invest: $40K
can invest further $400 - $600 each month after expenses.

From what I understand, I'm not eligible for any IRA's since I don't have any taxable income. The help I get falls under 'gifts' and is much less than the $18,000/yr threshold that must be reported to the IRS.

The only option I see is to open a brokerage account and put all my money in an index fund like the S&P 500. This is for my retirement so I don't intend to touch the money for at least 20 years.

If anyone has better ideas, I'm all ears. TIA!

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Joined Jun 2005
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
> bubble2 8,653 Posts
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komondor
08-04-2025 at 01:32 PM.
08-04-2025 at 01:32 PM.
Without going into the reason for being unemployed if you do see yourself being employed at some time then going with a job now so you can put the money in a ROTH IRA but if you don't see yourself having any income to speak of for the next 40+ years a ROTH will really not have much of an advantage as when the money grows each year you will not be paying any taxes on the growth. So not paying taxes when you use the money will not help you. By keeping it in a regular account it will be more available if you should need the funds for something.
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Joined Feb 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 7,598 Posts
WindySummer
08-05-2025 at 07:49 AM.
08-05-2025 at 07:49 AM.
Investing in Ethereum may not be your thing. I haven't yet, but I do know there are two major players and ETFs
(BMNR) Bitmine Immersion Technologies and (SBET) Sharplink Gaming.

Try to figure out from a long term perspective which Ethereum treasury has the best shot of emulating (MicroStrategy) for a long term Investment.

BMNR Chairman Tom Lee, Peter Thiel has a 9.1% stake, Cathie Wood's ARK invested 212.9 Million, Bill Miller III made a major investment, Stanley Druckenmiller.
SBET Chairman Joseph Lubin - Co-founder of ETHEREUM, Joseph Chalom left his position as BlackRock's Head of crypto assets last week
and is now co-CEO of SBET. He will be the CEO before year end.

Llowest cost Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH), next lowest (ETHW), and (ETHA).

Ethereum's upside is projected to be much higher than Bitcoin. Personally, I believe it's a long term buy at a price point you're comfortable with.
ETHEREUM is highly volatile and most financial advisors recommend it represent only a small percentage of your portfolio.


ETH/USD $3,567.00

(BMNR) $31.21
(SBET) $18.62
(ETH) $33.64
(ETHW) $25.57
(ETHA) $26.96
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Joined Jun 2006
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,051 Posts
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jcrash
08-06-2025 at 09:20 AM.
08-06-2025 at 09:20 AM.
In general, the advice is here is horrible.

My portfolio is up +318.47% in the past 3 years (and I've taken OUT easily 40% of the current balance in that time, so it is actually up 500%+)

You want Microstrategy, Bitcoin, Gold, and energy.
If you aren't going to touch it,
MSTR 8k,
FBTC 5K
GLD 5K,
QQQM 5K
XLE 5K
URA 5K
RING 4K
DAPP 3K

You should average a 30% return with that. The dollar is going to zero. These things will not.
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Joined Feb 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 7,598 Posts
WindySummer
08-06-2025 at 09:25 PM.
08-06-2025 at 09:25 PM.
Quote from jcrash :

My portfolio is up +318.47% in the past 3 years (and I've taken OUT easily 40% of the current balance in that time, so it is actually up 500%+)


You want Microstrategy, Bitcoin, Gold, and energy.

If you aren't going to touch it.
Do you believe BITCOIN will outperform ETHEREUM over the next 20 Years?
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Joined Jun 2006
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,051 Posts
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jcrash
08-07-2025 at 06:51 AM.
08-07-2025 at 06:51 AM.
Quote from WindySummer :
Do you believe BITCOIN will outperform ETHEREUM over the next 20 Years?
Ethereum could be something totally different in a few years. I don't want to invest in something that doesn't know what it is. I hold a small amount of ethereum, but it is less than 2% of my portfolio. Bitcoin, bitcoin treasuries, bitcoin etfs? Over 70%.

So you tell me what I think.
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Joined Feb 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 7,598 Posts
WindySummer
08-07-2025 at 08:27 AM.
08-07-2025 at 08:27 AM.
Quote from jcrash :
Ethereum could be something totally different in a few years. I don't want to invest in something that doesn't know what it is. I hold a small amount of ethereum, but it is less than 2% of my portfolio. Bitcoin, bitcoin treasuries, bitcoin etfs? Over 70%.

So you tell me what I think.
I don't know what you think.

I believe at this point in time Ethereum long term will easily be be 10x at a minimum.

Please recommend where I should invest Bitcoin at today's price. The symbol, etc.
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Joined Jun 2006
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,051 Posts
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jcrash
08-08-2025 at 08:12 AM.
08-08-2025 at 08:12 AM.
Quote from WindySummer :
I don't know what you think.

I believe at this point in time Ethereum long term will easily be be 10x at a minimum.

Please recommend where I should invest Bitcoin at today's price. The symbol, etc.
I cannot help you if you think Ethereum will outperform bitcoin.

It is centralized and controlled. They can choose to do whatever they want with it. The servers can go down. Sure, it is a commodity, but it really shouldn't be.

Where to buy bitcoin? CashApp has no spread or fees. Strike. River. Fidelity. Hell, my credit union WeStreet let's you buy it.

I would lean into the bitcoin treasuries. They will outperform bitcoin.

Go learn about Nostr. It is a new protocol for apps with bitcoin payments built in..instant, anonymous and new apps are appearing on it all the time. Ethereum? Nope.

I gave you a portfolio that will outperform the market by a multiple. If you think you can do better, go for it.

I think my returns are good enough. You really want to push for more than what I've been making? Pigs get slaughtered.
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