Last week, we discussed limiting investment riskin retirement planning.So what are financial plannersadvising people to invest in?Stocks and bonds are the best known investmentsand are important to any savings plan.Instruments like savings accountsand certificates of depositpay 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 moneyin annuities, which are basically savings accountsoffered by insurance companies."But financial planner Pete D'Arruda also saysit is important to make a decisionabout an annuity with a good financial planner.He warns that annuity agreements can be complex,and many bad ones are available.Pete D'Arruda says good planningmeans placing money into financial securitiesand accounts that have different risk levels,using asset allocation.PETER D'ARRUDA: "So true asset allocationis having some in stocks, some in bonds,some in mutual funds, but then some in other placeswith guaranteed income and then safetyand liquidity kind of accounts for emergencies."This method of savings follows the old sayingyou should not ‘put all your eggs in one basket.'But that is not for everyone.Sande Taylor is with investment companyCharles Schwab in south Florida.She advises investors every day.She says many investors have a personal style.There are conservative investors.SANDE TAYLOR: "A conservative investorby definition typically has eighty percentof their portfolio within fixed income markets and cash."Even in retirement, Sande Taylor says,some people have their entire financial portfolio,or set of investments, in stocks.They are the aggressive investors.In saving for retirement, there can be a differencebetween what people believe and what they actually do.In a recent Charles Schwab study, most Americans saidthey believe it would be easier to savefor retirement if they were single.But the study found that eighty-five percentof married people had started saving,while only two thirds of singles had.Sande Taylor says younger people may seek short term goals.SANDE TAYLOR: "The younger individuals look at it and think,‘Well retirement is so far away,I'd rather focus on my shorter term goals.'"But she says there are big gains to be madeby starting early and planning for the future.SANDE TAYLOR: "If you start in your twenties,you have the abilityto actually contribute less per contribution,and achieve a higher longer term goal because that moneyis compounding over a longer period of time."The important thing, says Sande Taylor,is to identify your retirement goals and lifestyle.That means realistically planning for how much you will spend.Ms. Taylor advises people to expectto have eighty-five percent of the expenses they hadwhen they were working.And, she says, healthcare costs should be a major consideration.And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report.