The stock market will never be risk free in the short term, but over the decades a total stock market index fund has averaged about 10%. A balanced 70/30 stock to bond ratio will get you about 8% nominal return. Bonds alone, 4-5%. Cash money market fund have been paying around 5% for most of the last year, which is about as safe as you can get, but historically more like 2-3%. Inflation has historically been 2-3% so you need more than that to break even.