As an investor, you have many options.
Investment should work together to help you accomplish your financial goals.
Investment Products
Types of investments
Part of the investment planning process is making investment choices that fit your investment strategy. Those investments should work together to help you accomplish your financial goals. We’re dedicated to providing you a wide range of investment products and services to help you meet them.
As an investor, you have many options. Common types of investments include:
Stocks - An investment giving you partial ownership in a company based on the number of shares you purchase. Stocks tend to fluctuate more in the short term, but may perform well over time.
Bonds - An investment that functions as a loan to a government or institution in return for regular interest payments. Bonds can provide more stability than stocks, even though bonds have historically provided lower returns than stocks.
Mutual funds - A fund allowing you to pool your money with others in a professionally managed portfolio. Mutual funds offer diversification through a mix of investments, such as stocks or bonds.1
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) - A basket of securities traded throughout the day — just like individual stocks — on a national stock exchange. Like mutual funds, you purchase shares of an overall fund rather than individual investments.1
Annuities - A contract between you and an insurance company requiring the insurer to make payments to you, either immediately or in the future. You make contributions to the annuity for a guaranteed income stream.2
Brokered certificates of deposit (CDs) - Brokered CDs are issued by banks, purchased in bulk by securities firms and sold to clients. Investors do not receive physical certificates for their brokered CDs, but instead receive a periodic account statement detailing their CD holdings. Brokered CDs’ market value may fluctuate over time.
Contact a Financial Advisor to learn more about the types of investments to consider for your portfolio.
Next steps
Understand the variety of investments available.
Talk with your Financial Advisor about investment choices.
1Investment returns may fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
2Variable annuities are long-term investments appropriate for retirement funding and are subject to market fluctuations and investment risk. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Guarantees apply to minimum income from an annuity; they do not guarantee an investment return or the safety of the underlying funds.
Wells Fargo About Money Podcast
Listen to Wells Fargo About Money featuring Michael Liersch. In season one, hear about the tough conversations that people may need to have about money. Wells Fargo About Money is a new podcast series presented by Wells Fargo. By understanding our money behaviors, we all have the opportunity to make better money decisions.
Listen now
Calculators
Use our financial calculators to help you run the numbers to see where you stand in your investment plans.
Calculators
2026 Outlook: Trendlines over headlines
Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s 2026 Outlook goes beyond headline noise to focus on durable trends—interest-rate cuts, tax incentives, and AI-driven growth. See what these could mean for stocks, bonds, real assets, and alternative investments.
Get the report