Investment Options for Safe Money - Low Risk
Updated: Mar 5
Introduction
All investments have some sort of risk, but some investments are insured, and your likelihood of losing your money is all. You can tie your investments to government-issued debts, and the only way you won't receive your money is if the country goes to 0. Saving money won't earn you money, and you'll lose buying power from inflation. Investments aren't just putting your money to work; you can have your money pay off debt or invest in other offers to make passive income. As with any investment, their is risk so beware of how much you invest. Let's dive into the post.
High Yield Savings Account
High-yield savings accounts are one of the easiest ways to make money with no risk. Your money is FDIC-insured up to $250,000. You're not genuinely investing your money either; you're just saving it in the bank. If you have cash in a savings account and it's paying a low-interest rate, then it's time to switch to a high-yield savings account.
Best High Yield Savings Accounts
Bank | APY | CTA |
 | 3.75% Savings APY 2.50% Checking APY | ​Sofi |
 | 3.40% Savings APY 0.10% Checking APY | ​Capital One |
 | ​4.55% Savings APY | ​UFB |
 | ​4.13% Savings APY | ​Upgrade |
All of these accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
Here's the maximum amount you can earn from each bank's high-yield savings to be covered by the FDIC:
Bank | Maximum Earning |
| $9,375 |
| $8,500 |
​ | $11,375 |
| $10,325 |
Rates will change depending on the time of your reading.
Treasury Bonds
The U.S. Treasury Bonds are long-term debt securities. You loan out your money to the government, and they pay you at a fixed rate. Treasury Bonds are sold directly on Treasury Direct with two maturity dates of either 20 or 30 years.
The rates are similar for the two at the time of this writing:
20 years: 3.875%
30 years: 3.625%
You only have to pay federal taxes on the money you earned; no state tax applies. Bonds pay you a fixed amount every six months until they mature. Treasury bonds are a nice way to earn passive income, and you can take advantage of locking in high-interest rates for several decades.
Certificate of Deposit (CD)
A certificate of deposit is a financial product offered by the bank to hold your funds for a set period. Because they have your funds secured to be loaned, you'll earn a higher interest rate. CDs are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. These are generous interest rates to put your unneeded money to work, but we truly never know when we'll need money. Even if you have an emergency fund set up, you may find yourself in a situation where you need funds right away. There is a solution to this, so you won't have to worry about losing your funds. If you have money laying around in savings and are sure you won't need it, then CDs are a good way to produce income with your savings.
Best CD Rates
Bank | APY | Term | CTA |
​ | ​5.00% | 11 months | |
 | 4.50% | 12 months | |
 | 5.00% | 18 months |
These are generous interest rates to put into work for unneeded money, but we truly never know when we'll need money. Even if you have an emergency fund set up, you can come to a situation where you need the money right away. There is a solution to this.
Ally No Penalty CD is the best option. You earn 4% APY for an 11-month term, and you can withdraw your money after 6 days with no penalty.
Depending on the bank, you'll have to pay a penalty for early withdrawal.
Penalties for Early Withdrawal at Major Banks
Image by Forbes
Sacrificing a small percentage of interest for no fees is a big advantage, and you can take it out anytime. Maybe you got laid off from your job or a new investment opportunity came up. No penalty CD is one of the best zero-risk investments.
Paying Off Debt
Although it might not seem like an investment, paying off your debt decreases your monthly payment and increases your net profit. Sometimes this is the best option because of high-interest debts like credit cards, student loans, and personal loans. Usually, these interest rates are higher than what investments have to offer. Credit card interest can get up to 30%, and there aren't any zero-risk investments with that type of return. So, the best option is to repay your debt. Stoff by paying off your highest-interest debt and continue paying off all your debt to maximize your earnings.
Bank Account Bonuses
This will only take a few minutes to open and some time to receive the reward. The cost of acquiring new customers for banking services is around $200. So, banks offer nice incentives to keep long-term customers and profit from them.
Best Bank Account Sign Up Bonuses
Bank | Bonus | CTA |
 | ​$200 Bonus | |
| ​Earn up to $275 | |
 | ​Earn up to $300 |
It's as easy as that. Just by opening a bank account, you'll get bonuses. Some bank accounts require direct deposit, and almost all of them require a set period of time before collecting the bonus. This strategy can be effective, and you can earn money just by moving bank balances around.
Advertise on your Car
Want to earn additional money with your car? Advertising in your car is a perfect way to earn additional money with no risk! All you have to do is sign up for a program and have your car taped with advertisements.
Best Website for Advertising on your Car
Company | Earnings | CTA |
 | $175+ per campaign | |
 | Earn from $180-$450 per month | |
 | Earn $350 - $1,500 per campaign |
All you have to do is wrap your car and continue driving. You're earning passive income! This strategy is also zero-risk and won't cost you anything. Taping your car doesn't damage it. This is a nice way to earn additional income and pay off your car.
Conclusion
These are all the investment options with safe returns. All of them have different requirements. You need capital for the fixed interest accounts, a job to do the bank bonuses and pay off debt, and a car to advertise on. These are all the general things that most people have, so why not earn extra money with no risk? What are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose!
This isn't financial advice. Conduct a professional financial advisor for investment advice.