First things first: we don't have enough information to make suggestions as investing is a lot more about risk management than returns. There have been a few suggestions that could be great in other circumstances, but without knowing the OPs risk thresholds are most likely ill-advised.
1. the OP states that "I don't want to risk too much"
2. risk is a very subjective/relative concept - the only thing the OP has stated that risk can be related to is "checking and savings just aren't cutting it"
3. based on that alone the safest assumption is that the OP's risk capacity is relative to dismal returns from savings and checking returns - that barely keeps up with inflation
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To OP:
1. Nothing wrong with a lower risk capacity - maybe you need to work your way to managing higher risk
2. For short term goals (< 3yrs)- choose very safe investments as you cannot afford fluctuations
3. For long term goals and retirement - taxation is just as or more important than returns - interest income, capital gains and qualified dividends are taxed differently. With that in mind, looks like most if not all your current savings and investments are 100% taxable.
4. There are a number of ways to deal with taxation, best to find a good investment adviser who has a good understanding of risk management, taxation etc.
5. If you want to self manage - and don't know your tolerance - look into doing a funnel - i.e. keep 10% in highly liquid investments (Cash, Money Market etc), 20% in government/high quality corporate bonds(short-medium term), 70% in investments with additional risk (ex: 30% in managed high yield bonds, 40% in equity index funds -- if you're risk tolerance changes you could increase your equity). [change ratios to match your needs, risk etc. note: try and maintain at least 3 levels]
6. Research re-balancing strategies.
7. Read some books:
a. The richest man in Babylon(fiction) - read first, no particular order after this
b. The Ivy Portfolio
c. The intelligent asset allocator
d. The permanent portfolio
e. The Investor's Manifesto: Preparing for Prosperity, Armageddon, and Everything in Between
1. the OP states that "I don't want to risk too much"
2. risk is a very subjective/relative concept - the only thing the OP has stated that risk can be related to is "checking and savings just aren't cutting it"
3. based on that alone the safest assumption is that the OP's risk capacity is relative to dismal returns from savings and checking returns - that barely keeps up with inflation
---------------
To OP:
1. Nothing wrong with a lower risk capacity - maybe you need to work your way to managing higher risk
2. For short term goals (< 3yrs)- choose very safe investments as you cannot afford fluctuations
3. For long term goals and retirement - taxation is just as or more important than returns - interest income, capital gains and qualified dividends are taxed differently. With that in mind, looks like most if not all your current savings and investments are 100% taxable.
4. There are a number of ways to deal with taxation, best to find a good investment adviser who has a good understanding of risk management, taxation etc.
5. If you want to self manage - and don't know your tolerance - look into doing a funnel - i.e. keep 10% in highly liquid investments (Cash, Money Market etc), 20% in government/high quality corporate bonds(short-medium term), 70% in investments with additional risk (ex: 30% in managed high yield bonds, 40% in equity index funds -- if you're risk tolerance changes you could increase your equity). [change ratios to match your needs, risk etc. note: try and maintain at least 3 levels]
6. Research re-balancing strategies.
7. Read some books:
a. The richest man in Babylon(fiction) - read first, no particular order after this
b. The Ivy Portfolio
c. The intelligent asset allocator
d. The permanent portfolio
e. The Investor's Manifesto: Preparing for Prosperity, Armageddon, and Everything in Between
f. Value Averaging