What comes to your mind when I ask about which investments are most important to you? I imagine we will all differ slightly on the types of returns we value highest, depending upon age, financial capacity, goals, and other criteria. No matter who we are or what we are trying to achieve, diversification is an important factor for long-term gains.

A volatile market is a profitable one. To be profitable in a bear market takes a great deal more skill than in a bull market. Whether you want to buy gold in Sydney, oil in Dubai, or real estate in Rome, you will need a balance of attentiveness and patience.

There must be great opportunities in building various stock market monitoring apps because there is a new one every day. Every untrained and inexperienced investor wants to be a hands-on trader, controlling things minute to minute. That is hyper-micro management, but if you have the time, it can be a fruitful full-time job.

Ten-year bonds and real estate currently yield 4.165 and 4-6% respectively, are long-term investments, generally speaking, and have a constant movement up and to the right. Especially here in Australia. The prices for homes here have rescaled the charts entirely in the last few years as material costs and family growth rates outpace new home construction quarter after quarter.

Commodities are no strangers to fluctuation, and the price of gold is setting new records. The commonwealth and international coins, sovereigns, and rare commemorative mintings sitting in a box might be ready to be dusted off and liquidated for more capital investment into your favourite producing stocks or held in your diverse portfolio, knowing no one will mint them again.

Less flashy commodities like copper, bauxite, iron ore, and nickel are solid performers. Rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Terbium, and others are essential for the future of technology growth in the energy, transportation, and medical research sectors. Cobalt and lithium are no-brainers to me because every sector needs them.

Unfortunately, global producers of weapons are seeing massive increases as the demand for newer, more effective ways to kill each other, while increasing soldier safety never ceases. They are funded by our defence spending budget to the tune of $60 billion. You will need a lot of money to get into this crowd of investments.

I guess that leads me back to my initial question. What investments are most important? My answer would be education, medical care, solar power, and power storage in general. These are not all money makers but nation builders, which set Australia up to be safer, stronger, and able to tackle the unknown calamities for future generations.

​Please include responsible investing in your diverse portfolio. That is a real legacy to pass to your children and theirs as Australia grows with them. Money can not solve all problems, or governments would print more, and we would be at peace and in prosperity already. Increase your holdings by holding your family near.