By and large, however, risk is pretty much a short-term phenomenon. That's particularly true in the stock market, which many regard as a quite risky investment. Let's take a look at what various investments have returned over time. Stocks have also been very good to investors. Surprisingly, the range of the returns for stocks is not that much larger than the range for bonds over the same period.
Fools recognize that the long-term odds are overwhelmingly in our favor.
We know the market shifts everyday, sometimes sharply downward. That can be absolutely gut wrenching when it occurs, but history shows us that the inexorable pressure on the stock market is upward. The biggest bang for our buck will be found in stocks. Fools opt for stocks above all else as our vehicle of choice for growth over the long term. Think now about your retirement.