While earning more money through raises at work or increasing your hours is great, you may also be looking to see bigger returns. Usually, some level of risk is necessary to make your money grow big-time. If you have $10,000 and want 10x that amount, here are some ways to turn 10K into 100K!
You might have $10,000 from a small inheritance or from the raise you negotiated at work. However, it's important to be realistic. Wherever your money comes from, don’t expect to turn your 10K into 100K overnight, or even in a few months. Is 100k a year good? Yes, of course, but it takes time.
With that said, let's get into the details!
Things to remember when learning how to turn 10K into 100K
There are plenty of ways to increase the value of your investments, whether through growth in the stock market or entrepreneurship.
First of all, remember that investment returns take time. Even if you know someone who supposedly made a 100% or even 1,000% return on cryptocurrency, that’s not a typical result.
Scammers are eager to get you to part with your money. If someone promises to turn your 10K into 100K in quick fashion, don’t fall for it.
Typically, you won’t see results super-fast when investing. Watch out for phrases like “sure thing” or an investment that will make you “instantly rich.”
It’s possible to turn 10K into 100K, but assets need time to appreciate. So keep that in mind: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Let’s look at one tried-and-true way of multiplying your assets: retirement accounts.
How to turn 10K into 100K through investing in retirement accounts
Although it may not sound glamorous, retirement accounts are a solid means of increasing your money. Going from 10K to 100K will take years, but your 401(k) or IRA is a great vehicle to do just that.
IRAs or Roth IRAs
With Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), you can invest your money in a tax-advantaged way. Be sure to check the maximum contribution limits before you get started.
IRAs are meant for retirement, so you won’t be able to withdraw the money until age 59.5 without penalties. That means your contributions will have decades to grow in value! You may be able to open multiple IRAs as well, depending on your circumstances.
Using a traditional IRA to turn 10K into 100K means the money you deposit may be tax-deductible. If you use a Roth IRA, you pay taxes on contributions but not on qualified distributions when you retire. Plus, a SEP IRA for those who are self-employed may be an additional option.
Whatever type of IRA you choose, there’s usually a tax benefit in addition to the long-term growth of the balance in the IRA.
401(k)
Along the same lines as an IRA or Roth IRA, the 401(k) is an excellent option for how to turn 10K into 100K. Again, this is a long-term investment, so don’t expect to multiply your money by 10 in just a few years.
Many employers offer a 401(k) as a retirement savings vehicle for employees. They enable you to make elective salary deferrals, otherwise known as contributions to the 401(k) plan.
Similar to the 401(k) is a 403(b). It works the same way, with voluntary contributions to the 403(b) retirement account out of your salary. 403(b) plans are often available from employers like hospitals, public schools, and churches.
You could put $10,000 into your 403(b), 401(k), or equivalent retirement account and leave it to grow. Be sure to check the guidelines for contributions first.
Examples of 401(k) growth
Although it’s impossible to say exactly how fast your $10,000 could become $100,000 in a retirement account, the “Rule of 72” can give you an idea. Divide 72 by the expected rate of return for your investment, and the result is how many years it’ll take to double your money.
For example, if you estimate your 401(k) will earn 7% returns annually, 72 divided by 7 = 10.29. This means it’ll take roughly ten years for your money to double.
Some quick math for the value of your $10,000 after a certain number of years:
- 10 years: $20,000
- 20 years: $40,000
- 30 years: $80,000
- 40 years: $160,000
In that basic example, somewhere between 30 and 40 years is when your $10,000 would cross the $100,000 mark. It would take longer at a lower rate of 5% or 6% but happen faster if your rate of return was higher than 7%.
(And of course, the “rule of 72” is a guideline, not a guarantee. It’s just supposed to give an idea of how fast your money will multiply.)
Invest in the stock market
Now, let’s talk about stock market investing. Although 401(k)s are invested in the stock market, they’re also specific retirement accounts. You can invest in stocks outside of those employer-sponsored vehicles, too.
Index funds
When you invest in index funds, you’re actually putting your money into a “basket” of securities like stocks or bonds. Whatever fund you select will aim to mimic the returns of a specific market index, like the S&P 500 or Russell 2000 Index.
Index funds are appealing to many investors because they expose you to a large number of stocks. You get fairly painless diversification, meaning you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. Plus, you don’t need a huge amount of deep stock market knowledge to successfully invest in them.
ETFs
Another means of how to turn 10K into 100K is by investing in ETFs. ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are also baskets of securities. ETFs, like index funds, help investors achieve diversification and strong returns over time.
There are a few key differences between index funds and ETFs, but both can work effectively to grow your funds. ETFs often have a lower minimum purchase requirement and are easier to trade at the moment you want to trade them.
If you put some money into ETFs and some into index funds, you can continue to do so regularly. Rather than attempting to “time the market” by buying low and selling high, long-term investing means continually buying and letting your investment sit and grow.
Dividend stocks
If you’re interested in a regular source of cash flow on top of the future returns you’d make in the stock market, dividend investing is a way to go. Dividend investing means buying shares of companies that pay a dividend, or distribution from company profits.
The benefits of dividend investing go beyond what regular stocks can do for you. In addition to the value of your stocks growing (hopefully) over time, you’ll earn regular payments based on how many shares you own.
Dividends are many times paid on a quarterly basis, and they’re based on the profits the company has made. You make more in dividends the better a company performs, generally.
If using dividend stocks to help turn 10K into 100K, remember that it shouldn’t be your only tactic. Using other investments to balance out your portfolio can help ensure dividend payments are a useful part, but not the whole, of your strategy.
Also, keep in mind that dividends increase your taxable income, except in the case of some qualified dividends. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t a great means of adding passive income to your overall financial picture.
How to turn 10K into 100K through other funds
Now, we should look into some of the other ways of growing your investments. You can turn 10K into 100K through big moves like buying a rental property, but there are also several fairly safe funds to consider too.
Invest in rental property
Buying rental property can indeed be a way to increase your income and net worth, but it comes with plenty of risk. To turn 10K into 100K with rental property, you’ll need patience and a commitment to run your rental as its own business.
Let’s talk about the benefits of owning real estate as an investment (not your primary residence).
For one thing, property can bring in a regular monthly income as well as big payout years down the line. Real estate also is a good way to diversify so that all your assets aren’t in the stock market.
Rental property also is risky: you need to do significant research on the local market before buying. You need to take the time to locate and vet potential renters.
Tenants might trash the place or refuse to pay rent, and you might incur legal fees trying to evict them. Plus, homes and apartments always need repairs and renovations, which cost money.
However, with $10,000 or more, you may have the beginnings of a down payment on a small rental property. Besides making a steady income, you also have an asset that’s likely to appreciate in value (though not guaranteed).
If you hold on to a rental property for 10, 20, or 30 years or more, you could eventually sell it at a great profit.
REITs
I don’t know about you, but buying an actual rental property sounds like a bit too much hassle right now. There’s the worry over whether you’ll find suitable renters, concerns about broken plumbing and roof repairs, and the added work of insuring and maintaining a property. But real estate investment trusts (REITs) are much more my pace.
You may be fascinated by real estate and want to dip your toe into the world of real estate investing. But if being a landlord seems like too much, investing in REITs could be the answer. They’re more of an actual passive investment than buying property but can still yield great returns.
When you invest in REITs, you generally assume less risk than with physical property, and you still can earn dividend payments. REITs offer some exposure to the real estate market in case you want to learn more before purchasing property to rent out yourself.
CDs
If you’re extra conservative with your money and want to ensure its safekeeping, a Certificate of Deposit (CD) can work. Although there’s no way to quickly turn 10K into 100K using CDs alone, they can be a place to stash money for a guaranteed return.
A CD offers the benefits of a guaranteed APY if you deposit an amount and leave it untouched for an agreed-upon length of time. The bank or financial institution can use the money you’ve deposited, but they promise to return the money plus interest at the end of the CD term.
Now, rates of return for CDs will vary and are often much lower than that of stocks or index funds. Investopedia noted that CD rates are on the rise since the latest Federal Reserve interest rate hike, with a one-year CD rate up to 2.55% and a six-month CD at 3.01%.
Now, CDs won’t cause your money to jump drastically in value. Use a handy calculator like this one from Bankrate.com to see expected returns.
After one year, your $10,000 would only be worth $10,255 at the 2.55% APY. If you left the 10K in for ten years at the same rate, it would be worth $12,863. Not terrible growth, but certainly nowhere near doubling.
However, CDs do offer the appeal of security, since your money won’t lose value. If you’re okay with slower growth in CDs, they can be an appropriate place to keep a portion of your funds.
Bonds
Investing in government bonds is one more way to use your $10,000 or more. There are savings bonds offered by the U.S. government, which can be a safe vehicle for your money to grow.
You may have heard recently of Series I Bonds. An individual can buy up to $10,000 in I bonds for a calendar year. The rate is good for six months, at which point the rate is recalculated.
Be sure that if you buy bonds, you read the fine print. How long are you required to keep your money deposited to avoid penalties? What’s the guaranteed rate of return?
While buying bonds may not quickly grow your money, it can be one strategy to hedge against losses from riskier investments. Bonds can also offer a predictable revenue stream.
How to increase your money by investing in yourself
Next up, be sure to think of how to turn 10K into 100K by simply investing in yourself. That’s right—you are actually a great investment, too! Here’s what I mean.
Be cautious about get-rich-quick schemes
Before diving into a scheme that promises to help you “invest in yourself,” do your homework. Scammers are often around looking to take your money and offer nothing in return.
Watch out for get-rich-quick schemes, those companies, and plans that claim to help you reach your full potential. They may require you to buy a ton of inventory that you then must sell to make any money. Oftentimes, these types of “businesses” are nothing more than pyramid schemes.
So when I talk about investing in yourself, I mean by using your legitimate skills and interests to build your net worth. Here are some ways to do that.
Turn 10K into 100K through education
Although you wouldn’t want to go back to school without a clear plan, education can be a gateway to a better life. It’s not exaggerating to say that spending $10,000—for the right educational opportunity—could very well make you $100,000 within a year or two.
Even if you don’t have all the money right now to pay for your education, student loans can help you in the meantime.
Keep in mind that some educational programs and colleges aren’t worth the money. But is it possible that you could spend a reasonable amount on education or training to get a better job?
Maybe you started college but just need to complete a few more credits to graduate. Or you need a bit of extra professional development to qualify for jobs in your current field.
Think carefully about whether there’s a different career path that could be more fulfilling and more financially rewarding. Anytime you spend money on education, be sure that the payoff will be worth it.
For starters, you can look up salary information in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Talk to people you know in similar jobs about not just the money but the career satisfaction and how much education they needed to get there.
Turn 10K into 100K by starting a business
If education doesn’t sound like the right path for you, maybe you’re more of an entrepreneurial type. If you have a passion for something that could legitimately earn money, why not start a business from scratch?
There are many small businesses and side hustles that you could launch with a small investment (or even no money at all).
Whether you’ve been mulling over the perfect small business for years or are just now beginning to dream about it, get serious! You have some skills that others just don’t, and you deserve to make money from those skills.
If you can start a business with no money at all, go for it. You have nothing to lose but some time and effort. But if you know you could take a $1,000 or $10,000 investment and multiply it through your business plan, you should consider it.
Remember that your business might be a side hustle that you do in addition to your regular job or in between job searches.
Or it could be something you turn into your full-time gig. This is worth not only the money you’ll earn for the years to come but the added job satisfaction of starting your own business and watching it grow.
Business ideas
If you have 10k to spare, there are plenty of business ideas that you can try out to increase your income. Think about things you enjoy doing as well as what will be a lucrative option.
Some online ideas to try include opening an Etsy store or blogging. If you prefer to do something else, you could also try selling cakes and desserts, opening a dog walking business, or any other ideas you can think of. Our business ideas for women article offers more suggestions.
How to turn 10K into 100K through investing for the long haul
Finally, remember that $10,000 is a great starting sum of money. It’s important to safeguard your funds, but don’t be so afraid of the risk that you miss out on potentially great returns on an investment.
Whether you do a straightforward retirement account contribution or something like real estate or starting a business, you can turn 10K into 100K or more. Focus on long-term benefits for any investment you pursue. And once you reach the 100k mark, you can keep investing your 100k!
No matter how you choose to invest your cash, Clever Girl Finance has plenty of resources to teach you how to earn more money and become successful. Check out our free financial courses to get started.