Every country

The investment menu

Everything a regular person can put money into, explained without hype. Pick your country to see what is actually open to you there.

Cash and savings

  • Prize-linked savings
    A savings product that pays lottery prizes instead of regular interest; your money is safe but may earn nothing.
    risk 1 of 5: cash-like, your money stays put
  • Savings account
    Money kept at a bank that pays interest and can be withdrawn at any time.
    risk 1 of 5: cash-like, your money stays put
  • Term deposit
    Money locked at a bank for a fixed period in exchange for a known interest rate.
    risk 1 of 5: cash-like, your money stays put

Bonds: money you lend

  • Government bond
    A loan to a government that pays interest and returns your money on a set date, called its maturity.
    risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
  • Inflation-linked government bond
    A government loan whose payments rise with inflation, protecting what your money can buy.
    risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
  • Municipal bond
    A loan to a local government such as a city or state, paying interest and often carrying tax breaks.
    risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
  • Corporate bond
    A loan to a company that pays interest; riskier than lending to a government because companies fail more often.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets

Shares: companies you own a piece of

  • Depositary receipt
    A locally listed certificate that tracks a foreign share so you can buy it from home.
    risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot
  • Domestic shares
    Part ownership of a company listed in your own country.
    risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot
  • Foreign shares
    Part ownership of a company listed in another country; currency moves affect your return too.
    risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot

Funds: ready-made baskets

  • Bond ETF
    An exchange traded fund holding a basket of bonds.
    risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
  • Closed-end fund
    A fund with a fixed number of shares that trades on an exchange like a company; its price can drift from what it holds.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
  • Commodity ETF
    An exchange traded fund tracking a raw material such as gold or oil.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
  • Stock index ETF
    A fund traded on an exchange that copies a stock market index at low cost.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
  • Mutual fund
    A pool of many investors' money run by a manager who buys a basket of assets for a yearly fee.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
  • Crypto ETF
    An exchange traded fund tracking a cryptocurrency without you holding the coins yourself.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast
  • Leveraged or inverse ETF
    A fund that multiplies or reverses an index's daily move; over time the multiplication compounds losses fast.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast

Property and real assets

  • Physical gold
    Gold you own directly as coins or bars, or through a bank accumulation plan.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
  • Listed real estate fund
    A listed fund that owns income producing property and pays out most of the rent it collects.
    risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets

Prepackaged products

  • Structured product
    A packaged bet built from derivatives with a payoff formula set in advance; the formula usually favors the seller.
    risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot

Leveraged trading: borrowed exposure

  • Contract for difference
    A bet on a price move made with borrowed exposure; you never own the asset and pay daily interest on the borrowed part.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast
  • Margin forex
    Trading currency pairs with borrowed money, where small moves create large gains or losses.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast
  • Futures
    A binding contract to buy or sell something at a set price on a future date, traded with borrowed exposure.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast
  • Listed options
    A contract giving the right to buy or sell at a set price before a set date; most bought options expire worthless.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast
  • Spread betting
    A leveraged bet on a price move that is legally classified as gambling where it exists.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast

Crypto

  • Spot cryptocurrency
    Buying cryptocurrency directly on an exchange and owning the coins.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast

Other ways to put money to work

  • Peer-to-peer lending
    Lending money to people or small firms through a website in exchange for interest; borrowers can default.
    risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot
  • Equity crowdfunding
    Buying small stakes in startups through a platform; most startups fail and the stakes are hard to sell.
    risk 5 of 5: very high, you can lose everything fast