[jdoe]

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The answer will depend on the why 50K is the 5 year goal, what the consequences are for not reaching your goal, and your risk tolerance.

There is no automatic guaranteed 9%+ return.

The easiest way to put this type of investment on autopilot would be to invest in a No transaction fee mutual fund with monthly automatic investments; and automatic weekly transfers from your bank account to your brokerage account.

Your answers to the questions I listed would determine which type of fund would be the most appropriate.

Also, if you were achieving 9%+, why would you swich the funds to a CD, and forgo the potentially additional income?

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For the sake of this hypothetical, any risk over 50K is useless, and earning less then 50K is catostrophic.

Use this silly example: You know that your daughter will be kidnapped in 5 years. The ransom will be 50K for her safe return. You only have $150 per week and must invest it to grow to $50K at the end of 5 years. IE very bad if we miss and every reason to lock up the 50K if we hit that benchmark early.

I know this is a silly hypothetical, but given these conditions, how would you invest the $150 a week to gain the maximum chance of sucess?

jdoe