An investor is any person or other entity (such as a firm or mutual fund) who commits capital with the expectation of receiving financial returns. Investors rely on different financial instruments to earn a rate of return and accomplish important financial objectives like building retirement savings, funding a college education, or merely accumulating additional wealth over time.

A wide variety of investment vehicles exist to accomplish goals, including (but not limited to) stocks, bonds, commodities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, futures, foreign exchange, gold, silver, retirement plans, and real estate. Investors can analyze opportunities from different angles, and generally prefer to minimize risk while maximizing returns.

Investors are one of the most crucial and important parts of developing your business.

Pick the right one, and you're setting yourself up for a great relationship. But pick the wrong one, and you're in for a hell of a tumultuous journey.

Sometimes you need a couple of thousand dollars from your friends and family, or a substantial sum from a venture capitalist.

But have you considered the best option, the one most likely to bring you success in the future?