Discover the Benefits of a Secure Investment

• Cash is one of the safest investment options because it is nearly impervious to market fluctuations.
• Investors use cash when they want to take advantage of market downturns, but they don't want to lose money.
• Cash is money that is deposited into a savings account or held as physical currency.

Secure investments give investors peace of mind knowing that they are putting their hard-earned money into an investment that is nearly impervious to market fluctuations. One type of secure investment is cash, which is based on the belief that money will retain its value over time because it can be exchanged for goods and services at any time.

A Secure Investment

If you've been putting off saving for retirement, know that you're not alone. In fact, according to a survey by MassMutual, only 20% of workers nearing retirement are confident they have enough resources to retire comfortably.
The fear of outliving your savings is very real. But an annuity can help mitigate that risk.
With one, you'll lock in your contributions and guarantee a set payout. However, it's important to understand how an annuity works. Because, in some cases, the payouts can diminish or stop altogether over time.

Types of Security Investments

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents have very low risks and are liquid. You can buy these assets or sell them quickly without incurring any costs. Cash includes money market mutual funds, savings accounts, money-market deposit accounts, and cash equivalents such as Treasury bills.

Bonds: Bonds have fixed or variable interest rates and maturities. Bonds are usually issued by governments and corporations.

Stocks: Stocks, also known as equities, are shares of ownership in a company. Stocks have a variety of risks including stock price fluctuations, market risks, and uncertainty of dividends.

Stocks

Stocks are typically considered the most risky form of long-term investment. This is because their value can fluctuate greatly over time. However, stocks can also be highly profitable.
There are two main types of stocks: common stocks and preferred stocks. Preferred stock is a hybrid investment that typically has the lowest risk, but offers lower rewards than common stock. The investor of preferred stock typically receives dividends and the right to vote. With common stock, the investor does not receive dividends, but does have voting rights.
Bonds
Bonds, which are issued by companies or the government, are another common form of long-term investment. Bonds have lower interest rates than stocks, but carry less risk. The interest rates are fixed, and bond buyers receive a fixed amount of money when the bond matures.
Annuities
Investors who are looking for low-risk investments can consider annuities. Annuities are insurance policies that pay out a set amount of income over a set period of time. Annuities are considered highly secure investments because the insurance company has a stake in making sure the annuities are profitable.

Bonds

While bonds are riskier than stocks, they offer higher rewards. For example, if you invest $100,000 in bonds that pay 3% interest, you will earn $3,000 in interest annually.
Stocks
On the other hand, if you invest $100,000 in stocks and the company's stock price increases 10%, your $100,000 is worth $110,000.

Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are managed pools of investments, and the funds' managers buy and sell securities according to specific investment strategies. Mutual funds come in a variety of investment styles, such as growth, value, large-cap, small-cap, international, emerging markets, fixed income, and sector. Some funds specialize in specific asset classes like stocks, bonds, or cash.

Gold IRA: Should You Open One To Save For Retirement?

The Bottom Line

Investing in gold is a smart idea, and while there are benefits to holding physical gold, you can also invest in gold through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Both options have pros and cons, so review them carefully before making an investment.