Top 10 highest return investments
Based on our research, these are 10 investments with high returns you may want to consider.
These numbers are only illustrative, collected from publicly available sources, and not indicative of the returns you can expect from your own investments. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Returns shown are for illustrative purposes only.
Growth stocks: 16%
Growth stocks have higher-than-expected performance and prioritize reinvesting in the business over paying out a dividend to investors. They’re more volatile, so expect to ride the downswings.
Pros
Long-term performance
Driven by innovation and market disruption
Benefit from compounding earnings
Cons
Prices can swing wildly
Typically no dividend
Can underperform value stocks when interest rates rise
Gold: 10.9%
Gold is an asset class that has had a 10.9% return rate over the past 25 years, making it an investment that cannot be ignored.
Pros
Easy to understand
Hedge against inflation
Tangible asset
Offers diversification
Cons
No income
No compounding effect as with stocks
May come with storage or management costs
Private equity: 12% to 15%
Private equity is a long-term investment where your money is used to better privately owned companies. While it may come with better returns, it also may require higher investment amounts, higher risk, and no SEC oversight.
Pros
Potential for large upside
Access to opportunities outside public markets
Opportunity to add value
Cons
Illiquid investments
High minimum investment
Higher risk
Cryptocurrencies: Swings between -49% and 168%
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that may be exchanged directly between two parties. Examples include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others. It exists only in electronic form, verifiable only through encryption, and is not backed by fiat. It’s still an emerging technology, and as an investment, many of the gains are fueled by speculation. Thus, the price is extremely volatile.
Pros
High upside
Decentralized monetary system
Easy to trade
Cons
Extremely volatile
Regulations still being worked out
Security risks
Real estate: 5% to 12%
Real estate offers real assets that can generate both a monthly income and long-term appreciation. The cost of entry can be high, and the work involved can be overwhelming, but it can build wealth for investors over time. In some markets, 5% may be considered a good return, while others aim for 12% or more.
Pros
Generates regular income
Property values may appreciate
Offers tax benefits
Cons
Property management is necessary
Fewer markets make financial sense
Maintenance can be costly
Hedge fund: 9%
Hedge funds use complex trading strategies to generate returns and mitigate downturns for their investors. The minimum investment is high, and they’re restricted to accredited investors.
Pros
May profit in both bear and bull markets
Offers diversification
Exposure to nontraditional trading strategies
Cons
High fees
Less transparency than public funds
Can underperform index funds after fees
Restricted to accredited investors
Venture capital: 13%
Venture capitalists invest directly in startups for a stake in ownership. There’s more risk with potentially higher rewards. The median performance of a venture capitalist is a modest 13%, but the top funds generate a 28% internal rate of return.
Pros
Opportunity to support new businesses
Enormous potential returns
Exposure to the private market
Cons
High failure rates
Keeps money locked up
Need to be an accredited investor
Private credit: 6.5%
Private credit is an investment that’s privately negotiated between a non-bank lender and borrower. Interest rates and terms may be more favorable to both parties.
Pros
Better yields than bank interest
More flexible terms
Provide needed funds to a company
Cons
Money is tied up for a substantial amount of time
Risk is higher
Buying or building a business: Varies
When you build your own business, you’re betting on yourself. Returns can be high, but so is the investment of time and money. Failure rates are also high, with only 35% of businesses lasting 10 years.
Pros
Unlimited upside if the business succeeds
Potential tax breaks
Full control
Cons
High failure rate
It takes an enormous amount of time and energy to build the business
Income can be unpredictable
Dividend growth stocks: 2.45%
A return like 2.45% might not seem like much, but dividends can compound while you also benefit from stock appreciation.
Pros
Regular income
Growth potential
Companies have a strong track record
Cons
Slower growth than non-dividend growth stocks
Dividends not guaranteed
What to consider when choosing investments
The highest return often depends on your personal goals and circumstances.
Putting your money all in riskier investments without diversification when you’re close to retirement may not suit your needs, for example.
Take these factors into consideration when choosing high-return investments.
Risk tolerance: Risk tolerance is how willing you are to lose money in the pursuit of higher gains. You may have a greater appetite for risk the further you are from retirement.
Time horizon: How soon you need your money will affect whether or not you can put your money in a long-term investment, such as venture capital or private equity. If you need money soon, it may not be wise to lock it up in an illiquid investment.
Diversification: Though you may have a preference for one investment over another, spreading out your money over different types of investment classes can help diversify your portfolio. Diversification is important to keep your overall portfolio strategy steady.
Tax impact: Being mindful of the tax implications of your investments may sway your decision. Some investments may offer better tax advantages, and you can strategically place investments across different account types to make your money more tax efficient.
Estate planning: How much you plan to leave to heirs can also affect what types of investments you’ll want. It may also give you a longer runway to let investments grow.
What are the safest investments with highest return?
Safe investments are those that offer security, low volatility, and/or highly stable, credit-worthy issuers. Investments issued by the U.S. Federal government, for example, are generally considered safe investments.
Safe investments that offer decent returns are the sweet spot for investors and will be different from the highest return investments. These are some investments (from November 2025) you may want to consider.
Savings I bond: Current rate at 4.03%
HYSA: Rates upward of 4%
MMAs: Rates upward of 4%
Treasuries: 3.88%
Government bonds: 4.12%
Corporate bonds: 4.10%
REITs: 3.88%
Do you need a financial advisor?
High-return opportunities are often complex and risky, and professional guidance can help balance growth and safety.
Unbiased can match you with a financial advisor who can assess your portfolio and find the investments, strategies, and know-how you need.