Diversification across bonds, cash and stocks and across currencies and across managers and mainly with large, bank backed managers well ranked by eg Morningstar: you might not do as well as some, but you should be partially protected against inflation, stock market collapse (a la Japan for 20 years) and currency debasement with lower variation in earnings but slightly lower earnings than many other people but you should also have smaller losses than most people who take a less diversified approach when things are "hitting the fan". You will never regale your friends with stories about how you made it big time, but nor will you weep as you explain to your family that you have lost half or all your money or even your house as some people did in Australia in 2007/8 through geared investing t