There are so many ways in which to invest your money: CDs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate... Even pork belly futures and gold coins are investments. And there are so many places to put your money: 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities, brokerage accounts, credit unions, and banks. What's right for you?
Well, there's a good financial planning answer to that question: It depends.
There are four main things you need to think about before you can decide how to invest your money:
Investments are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the bank, are not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal.