United States

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.

Your country

Cash and savings

Prize-linked savingsnot researched
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 accountnot researched
Money kept at a bank that pays interest and can be withdrawn at any time.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 depositnot researched
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

Government bondavailable
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 bondavailable
A government loan whose payments rise with inflation, protecting what your money can buy.
risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
Municipal bondavailable
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 bondnot researched
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

Depositary receiptnot researched
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 sharesavailable
Part ownership of a company listed in your own country.
risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot
Foreign sharesnot researched
Part ownership of a company listed in another country; currency moves affect your return too.
risk 4 of 5: high, can drop a lot

Bond ETFnot researched
An exchange traded fund holding a basket of bonds.
risk 2 of 5: low, steady lending
Closed-end fundnot researched
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 ETFnot researched
An exchange traded fund tracking a raw material such as gold or oil.
risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
Stock index ETFavailable
A fund traded on an exchange that copies a stock market index at low cost.
risk 3 of 5: medium, moves with markets
Mutual fundavailable
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 ETFavailable
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 ETFnot researched
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

Physical goldnot researched
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 fundavailable
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

Structured productnot researched
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

Contract for differenceunavailable
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 forexrestricted
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
Futuresnot researched
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 optionsnot researched
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 bettingnot researched
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

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

Peer-to-peer lendingnot researched
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 crowdfundingnot researched
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