Anyone who takes the time and trouble to invest their hard-earned money wants to maximize the amount they get back while minimizing the risk of taking a loss. With banks paying well under 1% on deposits, it is simply no longer an option to put money in the bank--at least not if you are depending on it growing and bringing back a decent return. At the same time, while some investments--such as junk bonds or certain types of startup companies--have the potential of bringing back significant returns on your investment, the chance of losing your money is so high that all but the bravest (or most foolhardy) investors would not sink a large portion of their portfolio in them.
