Paper investments

Paper investing, as opposed to real estate or venture capitalism, only requires a load of cash and a routing number. Here is a quick list of investing platforms and more detail is to come very soon.
My personal choices are Equity securities (i.e. Stocks), Real Estate Investment Trusts, Bonds, Mutual Funds/ETF's

Stocks

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ETFs (exchange traded funds)

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Mutual funds

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Cash alternatives

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Bonds (known in many countries as debentures)

• Auction rate investments - Municipal Bonds, corporate bonds, and preferred stock that have Returns reset periodically through auction. 
• Invest money in a company (normally minimum $1,000) and get a guaranteed coupon (normally 8%). Both of these are guaranteed cash flows. Bonds are intrinsically long term and have various small risks:
• Inflation (at maturity will the USD depreciate?)
• Interest rate (if you plan to sell before maturity)
• The face value and coupon are guaranteed, so if you buy at $10K and 10%, and 1 month later the bond is at $9K and 10%, your stock will be worth more, since you make $100 more per year (semi-annually $50). If interest rates decline after purchase, you will also have a more attractive bond to sell before maturity.
• Bankruptcy (bond owners are paid first)
• Overpayment of Broker Fees (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-37840993/you-may-be-paying-hundreds-in-hidden-bond-fees/) Make sure you know what it's worth!

Certificates of deposit

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College savings plans

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Dividend reinvestment

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Margin

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Options

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Futures