You obviously favour a low risk strategy, with medium-long terms results. "Buy-and-Hold" is no longer a viable strategy, as recent events have proved beyond all doubt. I would recommend monthly selling credit spread options as a low risk, steady growth prospect (Swing Trading Options ).  This type of trading needs a small time commitment (a couple of hours a month).  If you don't want to be so active in your trading, the best will be to ask a broker to help you find the best performing dividend yielding stocks or funds, and invest the money in some of those.  You should split your money between at least five of these, to spread risk.  You then instruct your broker to re-invest the dividends into the funds every month.  The compound growth is spectacular, and it does not matter if the price of the stock drops.  In fact, if it does drop, it is better, because your dividends are able to buy more shares, which both grow in price eventually, AND you will get more dividend yields.