The recession hasn’t exactly been a keen investor’s best friend. 

With the Fed introducing legislation based on quantitative easing (which means that interest rates will plummet to historic lows) and the markets performing shaky at best, many of the savviest investors are opting to pull out their money before incurring any more losses.  However, it’s important to note that even in the current economic climate, smart investments can still be made with less risk involved.  The key to protecting your hard-earned money while earning a tidy profit is not how much you invest; rather, it’s where you put your money in the first place.  Consider these alternative investment options to keep your money right where it belongs – in your pocket!

Indexed CDs have become increasingly attractive to savvy investors over the years, and it’s not because it offers protection against principal loss; indexed CDs are one of the most effective investment options in the face of inflation, which the Fed predicts will drastically increase over the next decade.  Lock in your interest rate now and ensure that your CD lasts for no longer than five years, as the recovering economy will do a long-term locked-in CD more harm than good.  Financial experts typically recommend locking your money in an indexed CD for no longer than eighteen months.  Before investing, be sure to research which CDs offer the best rates over an eighteen-month period; a great resource can be found at www.bargaineering.com. 

If an indexed CD isn’t your cup of tea, then try the indexed annuity out for size.  Once the bane of investment advisors everywhere, indexed annuities are quickly becoming one of the preferred investment options for baby boomers reaching retirement.  An indexed annuity is simply a contract with an insurance company that guarantees a minimum interest payment; an additional benefit is that your indexed annuity (which is linked to the stock market) can generate even more cash flow if your stocks do well.  Indexed annuities offer a great investment opportunity for those looking to protect their money while dabbling in the unstable world of Wall Street.

Like with many investment schemes, however, make sure you understand the minute details before leaping into indexed annuities.  Don’t lock your money in one for more than ten years, as you run the risk of making little more than the interest rate, even with inflation.  Be sure that your insurer will honor the promoted interest rate for the entire length of the annuity, as many insurance companies fail to advertise which interest rates are permanent and which are merely promotional.  Be sure to involve your investment advisor in any considerations regarding indexed annuities, as he or she can point out esoteric details that may have first escaped your notice.

Not all investments retain an all-or-nothing mentality; in fact, you’ll find that many investments are tried-and-true methods for generating a tidy sum of money that can go towards retirement.  These alternative investments will go a long way towards protecting your money while still generating a surprising amount of cash flow straight into your savings.

Authored by Kenneth Himmler, Sr.