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How to navigate risk and return

A smart approach to investing involves balancing your goals and timeline with your risk tolerance. If you're unsure where to start, open a Betterment account, and we'll help you find the right account.

Lower risk/reward

Higher risk/reward

Cash only

High-yield cash

Earn interest on your savings with no market risk and access your money whenever you need it.
- Yield
  
  3.50% APY (variable)
- Principal risk
  
  FDIC insurance up to $2M through program banks
Bonds only

Goldman Sachs Tax-Smart Bonds

Gives higher-income individuals a personalized bond portfolio to generate additional after-tax yield.
- Yield
  
  2.24%
- Principal risk
  
  Very conservative
Stocks and bonds

Investing portfolios

Build wealth for the long-term with one of our diversified portfolios of stocks and bonds.
- Returns
  
  See performance
- Principal risk
  
  Moderate to aggressive

Annualized blended 30-day SEC yield as of 12-09-2025. Yield for Goldman Sachs Tax-Smart Bonds assumes an individual filing single who resides in California with a 35% federal tax rate and $260K income. Yield is not performance. Cash Reserve offered by Betterment LLC and requires a Betterment Securities brokerage account. Betterment is not a bank. FDIC insurance provided by Program Banks, subject to certain conditions. Learn more.

What should you do with your money?

We have the accounts that make it easy to decide. From growing your savings to building long-term wealth, you can be invested with your preferred balance of risk and return.