Just some notes on funds
Balanced Index Funds
Or, if you want to get ultra-simple, you could invest in just one fund. Generally, that would mean a balanced index fund or a target-date retirement fund, which would not only create a diversified portfolio for you but also rebalance that portfolio over time. For example, Vanguard’s Balanced Index Fund (VBINX) invests in a portfolio comprising 60% stocks and 40% bonds. It earned 9.54% annually in the five years ending in July and 6.49% annually over 10 years, with a worst-year performance of minus 22.21%.