If you are referring to the financial meltdown, then NO, the media hasn't been too negative.  As a society, we are all "de-leveraging"---paying down debt and reluctant to borrow more. Because we gorged for years on easy credit---using our homes as ATMs, borrowing too much money and saving less than zeron---the bill has now come due.  The huge stimulus packages (whether you are in favor of them or not) will cause huge inflation down the road, as well as a weaker dollar.  If you have a VERY long time frame, common stocks still are the best bet for wealth creation; over 50 years they have returned about 8% per year.  However, if the thought of owning stock in this environment is too scary, I highly recommend U.S. Treasury "TIPS" bonds (Teasury Inflation-Protected Securities)---they pay a current yield of about 2.5%, but they will also increase as inflation rises, protecting the value of your initial investment over time and being virtually risk-free.  You won't make a mint with TIPS, but you won't lose money, either. Also, a mutual fund specializing in high-quality corporate bonds also could make sense today, as current yield on a basket of very solid companies is paying over 6%. Your best bet for getting rich fast is common stocks, but it's also the riskiest place to put your money.