If you have a 401K, contribute AT LEAST as much as what your company will match - it's free money. If you can max it out, do it. If you get a raise, invest all of it - you were doing ok on what you earned before, right? As to where you should put your inve$tment moniez, it depends upon your age, the amount you have saved now, your current income and spending levels, your debt level, what expenditures you have coming up (e.g. college for kids), and a host of other things. My advice: See a financial planner, try to find one that works on a percentage of the assets under advisement, typically 1% - 1.5%. Avoid insurance salesmen. They're looking to sell you something from which they'll earn a commission.