There is no risk-free investment. Once you begin to accumulate wealth, risk is a fact of life. You can’t avoid it, you only get to choose what kind. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. If you bury your cash in the backyard (or in an FDIC insured bank account at today’s near zero interest rates) and dig it up 20 years from now, you’ll still have the same amount of money. But even modest inflation levels will have drastically reduced its spending power. If you invest in stocks, you’ll likely outpace inflation and build wealth but you’ll have to endure a volatile ride.
