>> there is a risk free alternative to stocks > How is holding a bond risk free? It is a promise to give you a certain amount of money at a certain time in

>> there is a risk free alternative to stocks > How is holding a bond risk free? It is a promise to give you a certain amount of money at a certain time in the future. I Bonds. They are guaranteed not to lose purchasing power and not to have a negative return. Unless the U.S. government defaults on its debt obligations. That is as close to risk free as one is going to get :-)