Where is Hot Money Going?

What would you do with $1 million dollars in assets that you could invest in just about anything you wanted? Would you even know where to start looking?

It’s pretty safe to say that the very rich have a different way of looking at money than the average person—they invest, spend, and save in ways that set them apart from the rest of us. So what is it that puts them in a position to not only secure what they have, but also get more of it? Seems like it might be a combination of traits that play a role—things like frugality, confidence, responsibility, and social awareness. Pillars that allow them to avoid fads and make smart effective business decisions that increase their empires.

One of the most interesting places that hot money is going, that a lot of people might not realize, is Gold. The demand, according to the World Gold Council, increased by 207% last year in 2016—making it the biggest surge since the financial crisis. So what makes this one of the top things Americans are investing in right now? Well, among them are the fact that Gold has proven financial advantages and attributes that make it highly valuable—and because it has specific traits that no other asset does.

This scarce, yet not impossibly rare metal retains its value, which cannot be said about any other commodity on earth. Civilizations across the world have valued Gold for over 3,000 years; making it the ultimate form of currency. And since America went off the gold standard in 1933, the price has steadily increased over time. It far exceeds paper money and investments that are always backed by something—outlasting, and giving long-term value against financial uncertainty and inflation. History has shown us the captivating power of Gold, and how it is the most beautiful and desirable object across all cultures. Clearly, this upsurge of gold purchasing in America shows how important it is to put money into this precious metal.

Another thing that has grown in popularity, especially when it comes to young millennials, is the investment in themselves. That’s right, a new wave of entrepreneurs has arrived, and they’re already outshining the generation before them.

In America, young adults between the age of 25 to 35 are starting more companies, making more money, and managing larger teams than their parents do. It’s a trend that has given birth to some of the most popular start-ups around—companies like Snapchat, which founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy began at the ages of 25 and 26. Recently, Fortune reported that the social media app exceeds $19 billion in worth. There’s arguably nothing more powerful than creating a legacy, and starting a business that could turn your money into a huge investment. This isn’t for small-time thinking though; it takes an impressive leader, strategic planning, and focused goals to do this properly.

Along those same lines, is another area that continues to see growth called tech-investing. The key idea here is to place your money in emerging technology trends, and capitalize on their stardom once they hit the market. From AR and Virtual Reality Gaming, to Automation and Social Media Apps—if you can spot the trends, you’ll have a huge opportunity to make a lot of money.

Take PokémonGo for example, which became an overnight AR sensation in what seemed like the blink of an eye. It was simple enough for just about anyone to play and understand, which made it popular around the globe. The AR (augmented reality) feature allows a person to not only see a Pokémon character, but also interact with the game from a live image on their camera—making each characters in the game appear in the real world. It’s tech-trends like this that investors see potential in, and generate great amounts of wealth.

Automation, especially when it comes to cars, is also a fast growing tech-market to invest in. As we see more and more green cars and electric vehicles on the road—alongside of it, is automation which makes it all possible. Tesla for example, uses automation in its new Gigafactory where robots work side-by-side with employees, moving materials and assembling batteries. This is probably the most important sector to consider looking into this year; and investors are already beginning to capitalize on what is undeniably the future of car making.

We can all agree that money is the ultimate commodity—and as we look into the future of investing hot money in America, there’s a growing number of people that are using it strategically to invest and execute their monetary growth; just waiting for the next big thing to emerge. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of luck, knowing how to set goals, and having the foresight to determine the next big thing.