You might add mutual funds or high quality stocks. The peak of the pyramid is reserved only for money that you can afford to lose by investing in higher risk products like commodities that offer a high potential for return. Financial planners recommend balancing risk and return by diversifying your investments. By investing in several vehicles, you stand to lose the least should a certain industry or investment vehicle fail to provide expected returns or fail altogether. Your pyramid changes with your goals and situation.
People are more active at certain levels of the pyramid at different life stages.
To learn more, see the monthly Mutual Fund Performance Chart on the Social Investment Forum website .