Steady 4-5% on $5 million?
puresight: 1. Don't expect to be able to "bank" money and get a 5% annual return; in 2010, 5% is too high of an expectation for an autopilot.  But check out TIPS http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_tips_glanc...2. Get a financial education, really, because nobody cares more about your money than you.  In fact, few really care very much at all, and 80% of money managers under-perform the S&P 500 index.  So invest in YOURSELF first.  Be very picky about your professor; make her or him someone who has successfully managed money before, not just an dime nerd.  One of mine is Bernie Schaeffer, whose writing on expectational (sentiment) analysis was groundbreaking. http://SchaeffersResearch.com/3. Capital preservation must always preclude capital appreciation; always look to how NOT to lose money and the making thereof will happen.4. Making a return on investment requires you to have the vision of an assessor, who finds people, companies, commodities, or currencies who are undervalued.  So find something in which you have uncommon insight, and invest there.  Don't EVER risk money on things you don't understand.5. Sow where you go; invest in yourself (if/when you're a good investment) and in causes or persons around you whom you TRUST to succeed.  At the end of the day, creating value or enhancing worth is all about FAITH.