I have $143,000 cash that I’d like to invest for my retirement — what should I do with it?
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A comfortable home and a healthy nest egg are crucial for ensuring financial security in retirement. With $143,000 in cash, it’s important to avoid letting it sit idle, as inflation and missed opportunities could erode its value.
But what should you do with that money? As a retiree, you must be cautious with your investments. However, being too conservative could also hinder growth, as $143K isn’t a ton of money. Fortunately, if you already own a home, you at least know you’ve got an asset to fall back on if needed.
Here are some things to consider before you invest that cash.
The U.S. is undergoing a shift in leadership, disrupting the status quo with significant policy changes. At the same time, rising international tensions have increased the risk of global conflict. As such, the stock market may be more volatile than ever in the coming years.
With global conflict and political change increasing market uncertainty, investing can feel risky. But avoiding investments altogether carries its own risk—your money could lose value over time.
A balanced approach is key: mix higher-return equities with safer assets like bonds. A common guideline is subtracting your age from 110 to determine your equity allocation. For example, at 66, you might invest 44% in stocks and 56% in bonds.
This strategy helps protect your portfolio during downturns, especially if you hold some cash. For retirees, minimizing losses and reducing market exposure is essential to preserving income.
If you’re looking for other options to fund your retirement and preserve your wealth, you should consider investing directly in gold.
Historically, gold has served as a hedge against inflation and market volatility. Many investors turn to “safe haven” assets like gold during economic and geopolitical instability to preserve their wealth.
Current market conditions have helped propel the price of gold to record levels with the precious metal recently hitting $3,881 as of October 2025.
There are lots of gold assets to choose from, including gold bars, coins and gold stocks.
A gold IRA is one option for building up your retirement fund with an inflation-hedging asset.
Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.
With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.
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Once you’ve figured out your ideal asset allocation, the next step is deciding what to invest in. A solid starting point for domestic equities is an ETF that tracks the S&P 500. These funds offer broad exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, historically averaging around 10% annual returns. They’re low-cost, not actively managed, and provide instant diversification.
To invest in ETFs, you could start with a smaller amount and work up from there. One way that might help is by automatically investing your spare change with Acorns.
The app automatically rounds up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into a diversified portfolio. This means that every transaction — from your morning coffee to grocery shopping — contributes to building your savings, or investing in ETFs.
As you continue your investment journey, make sure you have a financial cushion. Setting aside a few months of living expenses in a high-yield savings account, helps to grow your wealth and ensures quick access to cash.
One way you can grow your cash is with the Wealthfront Cash Account, which can help you build an investment base through a combination of high-interest rates and ease of access.
A Wealthfront Cash Account can provide a base variable APY of 3.75%, but Moneywise readers can get an exclusive 0.50% boost over their first three months for a total APY of 4.25% provided by program banks on your uninvested cash. That’s over ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s September report.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, you can ensure your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, the Wealthfront Cash Account has balances of up to $16 million insured by the FDIC through program banks.
Such accounts offer interest rates that are often 10 to 12 times higher than the national average for traditional savings accounts, which currently stands at around 0.41%. Unfortunately, over 82% of Americans aren’t using such high-yield savings accounts — leaving money on the table, according to CNBC Select. So, it’s important to shop around and compare rates.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
