Investing in IRAs Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a popular way to save for retirement because they offer tax advantages and the ability to invest in a wide range of assets with varying degrees of risk.Let’s take a look at the most commonly held investments in IRAs.Key Takeaways Low-risk investments commonly found in IRAs include CDs, Treasury bills, U.S.

savings bonds, and money market funds.Higher-risk investments include mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, and bonds.Mutual funds in particular are a popular choice for IRAs because of the diversification they offer.  Savings Accounts and CDs Certificates of deposit (CDs) are also a very safe and, like savings accounts, are protected by the FDIC.

Funds in CDs are usually locked in for an amount of time ranging from three months to several years.CDs typically pay higher interest than a savings account.Treasury Bills and U.S.

Savings Bonds Next to cash, U.S.Treasury bills are the world standard for liquidity and safety.Their biggest drawback for individuals is their high cost to purchase individually.

U.S.savings bonds are also considered to be low-risk investments.They are offered directly from the U.S.

Treasury, but they are not FDIC insured because they are owned directly and backed by the full financial strength of the U.S.government.The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per individual as long as the financial institution is a member firm.

Money Market Funds and Accounts Money market funds and accounts are also very low risk.Money market funds invest in low risk, liquid securities, such as cash, cash equivalent securities, CDs, and U.S.Treasuries.

Money market accounts typically pay higher interest rates than a regular savings account.Unlike savings accounts, they often include check-writing privileges and a debit card.Some, but not all, are protected by the FDIC.

Mutual Funds and ETFs Mutual funds and, increasingly, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are popular investments found in IRAs and other retirement accounts.This is due in large part to the diversification they provide.These funds also offer the potential for higher returns than CDs, Treasury bills, U.S.

savings bonds, and money market funds.The trade off is that they also come with higher risk.Investments in funds, bonds, and stocks are not insured by the FDIC.

ETFs are similar to index funds as they track an underlying index, but unlike mutual funds they trade like stocks.Shares trade on a stock exchange and investors can buy and sell them throughout the trading day.Bonds Bonds are a debt obligation that matures on a certain date.

They also pay interest in the form of coupon payments at a stipulated rate.Agencies, such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, provide ratings on bonds.Bonds are traded worldwide, and it is possible to lose money in them.

Stocks Stocks are risky and require a lot of research.Stocks, however, may offer the most potential reward.Advisor Insight Dean St.

Marie, CFP, AAMSSt.Marie Financial Advisors LLC, Brevard, N.C.The most common IRA investments tend to be mutual funds, which are popular for the broad diversification benefits they offer.

For example, buying a mutual fund invested in Brazilian stocks would allow you to own just about every listed company in Brazil, which would be difficult to do otherwise.Another common investment is individual stocks, which offer greater returns than mutual funds if the investment does well, but at the expense of higher risks and lower diversification.Individual stocks usually make more sense as an IRA investment when you have a larger account and can buy shares in many different companies.

Other investment choices can include rental real estate, precious metals, and private placements, but these are typically for more sophisticated investors.