12 Best Safe Investments To Grow Your Money in 2025

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Thinking about investing, but feeling a little nervous? You’re not alone. It is natural to have some concerns, but you can ease your way into investing. Curious about what will give you the best return on your investment? But how do you receive the best investment returns, without sacrificing your financial future? This guide has covered all the options for safe investments.

Read on to learn the 12 best safe investments and find out which one is right for you. 

1. High-Yield Savings Accounts

The high-yield savings account is the gold standard of safe investments. HYSAs offer strong returns with minimal risk.

As of 2025, the current APYs on high-yield savings accounts range between 3.95% and 4.60%. High-yield savings accounts APYs are much higher than traditional savings accounts. 

The upside of a high-yield savings account is that it is a safe investment that is liquid. Need access to your cash? Not to worry — you can get cash anytime you need.

Why HYSAs Are a Safe Investment

• FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor.
• Higher-interest rates than traditional accounts. 
• Best for emergency funds and short-term savings. 

Bottom Line: FDIC insurance means your money is 100% safe. It’s easy to get access to our money, and rates are well above the national average savings account rate.

2. Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of deposit are almost identical to savings accounts. Most are FDIC-insured, so there’s zero risk involved.

CDs are also a liquid investment. However, there is an early withdrawal penalty if you choose to pull out funds before the CD matures. 

Why CDs Are a Safe Investment 

• Fixed interest rates for set terms — usually three months to five years.
• No-penalty CDs allow withdrawals without fees.
• FDIC-insured. 
• Best for those who want a safe return with minimal effort. 

Bottom Line: CDs usually offer higher returns than most savings accounts, but that comes at a loss of flexibility as you’ll typically owe a penalty for pulling your money out early.

3. Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes

Treasury bonds, also known as T-bonds, are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Treasuries are a safe investment, but bring lower returns. T-bonds act like a CD in many ways.

Curious about how they work? Find out here: 

• You invest with a set interest rate and a term of 20 or 30 years.
• You’ll get regular “coupon” payments for the interest while you hold the bond.
• Your principal is returned when the bond matures.

Why Treasury Bonds Are the Safest Investments

• U.S. government-backed so they are low risk. 
• Can be bought through TreasuryDirect.gov.
• Funds in excess of $250,000 will be insured by the government. 
• Varying terms:
  • T-bills are for the short term — weeks to a year.
  • Treasury notes are for the medium-term — 2 to 10 years.
  • Treasury bonds are for the long-term — more than 10 years. 

Bottom Line: Debt issued by the Treasury is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, making it as risk-free as FDIC-insured bank accounts.

4. Series I Savings Bonds

Series I savings bonds are issued by the U.S. Treasury making them risk-free with no chance of default. Interest rates are adjusted every six months based on inflation. What does this mean for you? Your money retains its purchasing power. 

Why I Bonds Are a Safe Investment 

• Useful for retirement funds, emergency savings and education costs. 
• Can’t lose value, but must be held for at least one year.
• Best for long-term savings that keep up with inflation.

Bottom Line: I bonds can help diversify riskier portfolios, and interest can be tax-deferred. Conservative investors will like a government-backed security with steady growth. 

5. Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts are similar to CDs or savings accounts. They usually offer better rates than savings accounts, but they also come with more liquidity than CDs.

You can write checks or use a debit card with the account, allowing for greater flexibility. Typically, transactions are limited to six withdrawals a month. 

Why Money Market Accounts Are Safe Investments 

• Higher interest rates than regular savings accounts.
• FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor per category.
• Best for safe, short-term storage of cash.

Bottom Line: Money market accounts are very similar to savings accounts but offer the option to write a limited number of checks each month.

6. Fixed Annuities

Are you a retiree looking for a safe investment? A fixed annuity is the best place to invest money without the risk.

You invest money with an insurance company. In exchange, the insurance company offers a fixed interest rate to allow your money to grow over time. You can take payments as a lump sum or regular payouts. 

Why Fixed Annuities Are a Safe Investment 

• Provides steady payments in retirement.
• Ideal for retirees or those seeking steady and predictable payments.
• No contribution limit so you can invest as much as you want. 

Bottom Line: Fixed annuities provide guaranteed returns, protection from market fluctuations and a reliable income stream. This makes them a secure option for conservative investors.

7. Dividend-Paying Stocks — Low-Risk Blue-Chip Stocks

Worried about the swings in the market? Unlike regular stocks, dividend stocks have a steady stream of consistent payouts even if the market fluctuates.

Companies like Apple, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson pay dividends and are considered financially healthy. Qualified dividends are usually taxed at a lower rate and therefore make dividend-paying stocks a tax-efficient investment. 

Why Dividend Stocks Are the Safest Investment 

• Stable companies that regularly pay dividends.
• Lower risk than growth stocks but still market-dependent.
• Best for long-term income with moderate risk.

Bottom Line: Owning stock in an individual company is much riskier than the other investment options, but dividend stocks will provide a steady return whether markets are up or down.

8. Corporate and Municipal Bonds 

Corporate bonds provide fixed interest payments and are generally considered low risk. Bondholders are generally paid before stockholders. Unlike stocks, corporate bonds have a fixed maturity date, so you know when you’ll get your money back.

Municipal bonds, which are issued by state and local governments, are a good option for slightly better returns with only slightly more risk. There’s almost no chance of the U.S. government defaulting. There are cases of major cities filing for bankruptcy and losing a lot of money for their bondholders, however. 

Why Corporate and Municipal Bonds Are Safe Investments 

• Corporate bonds are issued by companies, offering higher interest than government bonds.
• Municipal bonds are issued by cities and states and are often tax-free on interest earnings.
• Corporate and municipal bonds are best for investors looking for a stable income with low risk.

Bottom Line: Bonds issued by corporations are just a bit riskier than municipal bonds but usually offer just a bit more interest income. Municipal bonds issued by state and local governments are a little riskier than treasuries but come with the bonus of being untaxed at the federal level.

9. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities

Don’t want to worry about any risk? TIPS are issued by the United States Treasury, making them virtually risk-free. The principal increases with inflation ensuring your investment still retains its purchase power.

TIPS offer steady returns without major price swings. 

Why TIPS Are Safe Investments 

• Government-backed bonds that adjust for inflation.
• Pays interest every six months.
• Best for protecting long-term savings from inflation.

Bottom Line: TIPS offer lower yields, but the principal will increase or decrease in value based on the prevailing inflation rates while you hold the bond.

10. Robo-Advisors With Low-Risk Portfolios

Choosing a robo-advisor is less costly than paying a financial advisor. Robo-advisors are algorithm-driven and will automatically adjust portfolios based on market conditions. Funds are allocated between low-risk assets like bonds, ETFs and dividend stocks. 

Why Robo-Advisors Are Safe Investments

• Automated investing with diversified, low-risk assets.
• Some options offer FDIC-insured cash accounts.
• Best for hands-off investors who want safe, slow growth.

Bottom Line: Investors looking for low-maintenance, automated and diversified portfolios with minimal risk will benefit from a robo-advisor. 

11. Gold and Precious Metals ETFs

Gold historically holds its value compared to stocks. Gold and precious metals tend to increase in value when inflation increases.

Gold and precious metals in ETF form are easier to trade than physical metals. In addition, gold ETFs can be bought and sold like stock. 

Why Gold and Precious Metals ETFs Are Safe Investments

• Gold holds value even during economic downturns.
• Gold ETFs can be highly liquid. 
• Gold and precious metals ETFs are backed by physical commodities. 

Bottom Line: Gold and precious metal ETFs appeal to those seeking inflation protection, portfolio diversification and a low-risk hedge against economic uncertainty.

12. Low-Volatility Real Estate Investment Trusts

REITs focus on stable sectors like health care, industrial and residential properties. The appeal of REITs is that you get the benefit of getting exposure to real estate without having to own property.

REITs are required to pay at least 90% of their income as dividends, providing reliable cash flow.

Why REITs Are Safe Investments

• Commercial and residential property investments without owning property.
• REITs are traded on the stock exchange. 
• Best for passive income from real estate without direct ownership.

Bottom Line: REITs appeal to those looking for safe investment options, and who want exposure to real estate and a lower risk than stocks. 

Comparing the Best Safe Investments for 2025

Curious about how these investments stack up against one another? Check out this chart: 

What Makes an Investment Safe?

Your goal is to find out how to double your money without risk. Keep this goal in mind when you choose the safest investment for your financial position and portfolio.

Here are considerations that make an investment safe: 

• You want to choose investments that have a low risk of losing money.
• High-yield savings accounts and other investments that are government-backed or insured are low-risk investments. 
• Look for investments that offer steady returns even when market fluctuations are present.
• Choose investments with fixed-interest returns.
• You want to avoid investments like stocks that are subject to market volatility. 

How To Choose the Best Safe Investment

When deciding the best place to invest money to get good returns, you need to consider the answers to these four questions:

• How soon will you need the money?
  • If you need access to money quickly, consider either a high-yield savings account or a short-term CD.
  • Avoid a long-term CD or bonds, especially if you don’t want your money locked up for a long time. Early withdrawal penalties will apply with a long-term CD.

• What is the interest rate, return and risk level?
  • Ideally you want to look for a higher interest rate and lower risk on your investment.
  • The safest investments would be Treasury bonds, CDs or money market accounts.

• Is the investment FDIC-insured or government-backed?
  • FDIC insurance protects deposits in savings accounts and CDs — up to $250,000.
  • Bonds and I Bonds are treasury-backed and considered safe. 

• Do you want liquidity or higher returns?
  • Savings accounts and money market funds have immediate access to cash.
  • CDs and bonds offer higher returns, but require holding them for a set time.

Daria Uhlig, Cynthia Measom, Joel Anderson and John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article.

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