With most savings accounts offering interest rates of just 1% per annum, if I had $10,000 in an account I would consider putting it to work in the share market instead.

After all, if you invest wisely, you could generate a return ten times that with shares.

But where should you invest $10,000? Three top shares to consider are listed below:

a2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

I think a2 Milk Company has the ability to continue its strong growth for a long time to come due largely to increasing demand for its infant formula products in China and its relatively modest market share. In addition to this, the expansion of its fresh milk footprint in the United States should be supportive of its growth in the coming years. Overall, I think it is a great place to invest $10,000 right now with a long term view.

Bigtincan Holdings Ltd (ASX: BTH)

Another option for a $10,000 investment is Bigtincan. It is a provider of enterprise mobility software. This software essentially allows sales and service organisations to improve mobile worker productivity through smart devices. A growing number of blue chip companies such as banking giant Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ), sports giant Nike, and global beauty retailer Sephora are using its software. Which I feel is a testament to its quality.

Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS)

A final option for a $10,000 investment is Bravura Solutions. Bravura is a growing fintech company which provides high quality software and services to the wealth management and funds administration industries. While the company has a number of different products in its portfolio, the key product in my eyes is the Sonata wealth management platform. In the same vein as Bigtincan, it is used to connect and engage with clients anytime, anywhere, via computers, tablets or smartphones.

More reading

• ASX shares can help millennials retire before their parents
• Are these China-exposed ASX shares in danger in 2020?
• 2 ASX tech shares to buy with stellar growth prospects
• 2 exciting ASX tech shares to buy right now
• Could these small cap ASX shares be the next Afterpay?

James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Bravura Solutions Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended BIGTINCAN FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bravura Solutions Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Where to invest $10,000 into ASX shares appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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There’re few things more exciting than debating about the merits of Australia’s two biggest asset classes on the weekend!

In case you missed that, I am being sarcastic – although the COVID-19 crisis is an opportune point to review your asset allocation.

There have been comments by experts in the press recently that property bears are wrong and that house prices will stay flat or dip by 5% or less right through the pandemic.

Property vs. shares

If those arguments hold true, property could make a better option than shares, particularly for those who can’t stomach the volatility or are close to retirement.

But there are a few holes in the logic that need to be examined more closely. One of the key arguments from property bulls is that gross rental yields of 5% is very attractive in this near zero-interest rate environment.

The many meanings of the word “gross”

The issue I have is that the “gross” means different things when it comes to property and shares. For investment properties, gross rental is the amount the landlord gets before expenses.

This means the actual (or net) return is always going to be lower. The opposite is true for shares that pay franking credits where the net return is before franking.

Skinny risk-adjusted yield

What this means is that a residential investment property with a gross yield of 5% will likely generate a 2% net return after you pay the rental agent, mortgage, insurance, property taxes, council rates and other operating expenses.

And this assumes you don’t get a vacancy in that current financial year. If you did, you’ll lose another two to three months of rent depending on how long it takes you to find a tenant in this market.

That’s a pretty skinny return, especially if you can get 1% on some bank deposit products – risk free!

How dividend yields stack up to rental yields

Property supporters will point to the falling dividend yield on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO), no thanks to the big banks like National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) no doubt!

Nonetheless, even if we assumed a 30% dividend cut across the ASX 200, the net yield is still likely to be over 3% net, or just over 5% gross.

We also shouldn’t forget that rents are falling due to the swelling ranks of the unemployed. Many of them may need more than six months to get back on their feet and I believe this will have a big impact on property prices and their ability to get a home loan.

Reasons to stick to property

There are only two possible reasons why an investor will favour residential rents over share dividends. The first is because negative gearing makes it worth their after-tax while. The other is to bank on rising property prices.

If the yield argument is removed, and if you don’t buy the “V” shape recovery for jobs or a resurgence in immigration, then the outlook for home property prices looks bleak.

This is less so for shares as the stimulus from the central bank will have a more direct positive impact on financial assets than real assets.

Whoever coined the term “safe as houses” might need a rethink.

More reading

• These were the best performing ASX 200 shares last week
• Buy these ASX 200 shares for your kids today
• 2 ASX shares for a first-time investor
• ASX 200 finishes up 1.4%, gold miner share prices surge
• The next ASX sector in a post COVID-19 earnings upgrade cycle

Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of National Australia Bank Limited. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Are rental yields better than dividend yields? appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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