Florida City Named No. 1 ‘Growth Frontier’ for Investors

If you've ever loved a Florida city so much that you wanted to invest in it, then you aren't alone. There are certain "growth frontier" cities that people are so passionate about, they really wish they could lay down some bucks and invest in those special places. Now, a new study looks at growth frontiers and goldmines for investors when it comes to cities, and one Florida city is the best growth frontier in America.

The website TheStockDork.com has put together a list of the most investable cities in America. They conducted a survey of 3,000 investors to find out which cities they would most want to invest in if those cities were actually publicly traded shares. The idea behind The Stock Dork is a website for new investors, written by experts in the field. In other words, their material is simpler and easier to digest, so a newer investor can understand it. "We believe in simplified content that does not discourage beginners and offers easier ways to understand complex issues," they state on their about page. They add, "By teaching you the ins and outs of investing in stocks and other assets, we aim to help you get one step closer to financial freedom."

Before we get to Florida, let's look at a few other cities that reached the top of The Stock Dork's list. Coming in at No. 3 is Boston, Massachusetts. They make the cut because investors love their quality educational institutions and healthcare sector. "As a historical city, it also benefits from tourism and a rich cultural heritage," the study states. "Investment in Boston could be seen as investing in intellectual capital and innovation, with the potential for spillover benefits from research and development in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare sectors." No. 4 on the tally is Albany, New York, and No. 5 is Coral Springs, Florida.

Now, let's move to Florida. The No. 1 city that's a growth frontier for investors is Jacksonville. Why did investors go with that city? "Jacksonville offers a unique investment appeal due to its extensive port facilities, which make it a key player in maritime trade," the study says. Florida also has the No. 2 city on the list with Fort Lauderdale. There, investors loved the city's "beautiful beaches, boating canals, and vibrant tourism industry." I think those are great choices, and it's refreshing to see the Sunshine State given some kudos.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."