This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Last week, we discussed limiting investment risk in retirement planning. So what are financial planners advising people to invest in?

Stocks and bonds are the best known investments and are important to any savings plan.

Instruments like savings accounts and certificates of deposit pay a small rate of interest. They carry little risk.

Annuities are another savings instrument with low risk.

PETER D'ARRUDA: "Worldwide people can put their money in annuities, which are basically savings accounts offered by insurance companies."

But financial planner Pete D'Arruda also says it is important to make a decision about an annuity with a good financial planner. He warns that annuity agreements can be complex, and many bad ones are out there.