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A Cautious Investor
Question: I'm 44, working at a university. My position is not secure nor stable. I have $40,000 in CD. How do I make my money grow? I would like to have a short term investment. Where should I put my money? I hate to think about retirement... saw many people try to save money for their retirement but it turns out they die before they can use their money. Sorry if my idea is strange. Thanks. Lekas
Answer: Your idea isn't strange. You've focused on a risk all of us take when we set aside money for the long-haul. However, your question also highlights how limited your choices are when you want to stick to short-term investments. There is a trade-off between risk and return. And by limiting the risk you're willing to take in the market, you're also limiting your potential return.
That said, the way for your money to grow is to add to savings. You can then preserve the value of your savings by investing in certificates of deposit (as you're doing), Treasury bills, money market mutual funds, and the like. And, of course, this money is available to you if you lose your job.
Still, how about putting a small slice of money into your university's retirement savings plan? Most universities offer their employees a good pension plan made up of low cost mutual funds.
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Chris Farrell Marketplace Money personal finance guru
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