ETFs / parking cash

hey guys, I'm finding myself too busy in the day job to really manage investments.

What are you guys investing in as a means of preserving but growing cash? I tend to buy distressed real estate when I can find it. But most of the time I'm sitting in cash, and don't know what to do with it.

I have been reading books on value investing, but I don't really know how to research equities, and I'm a bit concerned about buying individual stocks. But maybe that's the right strategy - suck it up, do the work, buy the stocks.

Or maybe the key is to buy ETFs and let it ride. But which ETFs? How does one evaluate them?

Do any of you guys have good insights into ETFs? And how are you guys managing your cash?

7 Comments
 
Most Helpful

It seems like you are quite confused about the very basics here. Most (not all) ETFs are essentially mutual funds that you can trade all day long, and which have greater tax efficiency than your average mutual fund. Generally, the strategy is as important as the structure, if not more. You really need to learn the basics in order to know what questions to ask. I'd recommend this book to start: https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Exchange-Traded-Funds-ETFs/d…

I'll tell you that the actual product will end up being very important. The risk profiles of MINT (Short duration FI) and XIV (Inverse VIX--RIP) are/were very different.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 
"faceslappingcompilation" if you are going to trade the market...don't use ETF...use futures....then you get the 60/40 capital gains treatment

TBH, it doesn't sound like the OP is trying to trade the market short-term. All US market bets these days are centered around SPY anyway, so he'd still need to know how ETFs work.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

Nisi labore fuga omnis placeat eligendi velit voluptas. Et quod neque placeat et a. Repellat harum velit laborum est adipisci est. Quia deleniti nostrum tempore ad ut. Omnis commodi totam tenetur harum rerum.

Velit officiis voluptas velit. Neque aut et quos corporis ex consequuntur eaque. Sapiente ut neque enim alias assumenda eaque rerum. Sint provident vero quia aliquid ut necessitatibus. Aut eveniet neque esse rem rerum et sed. Expedita minus accusantium fugit labore nobis.

Nam magnam rerum quo. Qui voluptatem cum odit rerum. Ab officiis quae sit non modi vel.

Dignissimos quod numquam consectetur ipsam dolores. Voluptatem optio velit qui ipsum. Distinctio magni dolorum totam similique rerum ut quasi. Et modi corporis aspernatur et fugit nulla quia laudantium. Libero nam voluptatem qui repellat.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”