6 Rules to Earn Tens of Thousands with Low Risk

Natalie Pace in Powerscourt, Ireland. Photo by Marie Commiskey.

6 Rules to Earn Tens of Thousands with Low Risk
A 3.5% interest rate adds up to $35,000 per million (per year). Or $17,500 per $500,000. Or even $3,500 per $100,000. That can be very helpful in today’s world. So, a dive into your wealth and retirement plan to make sure that you are getting paid a little extra safely, without paper losses, is worth it. Very few jobs offer thousands of dollars (or more) for a few hours of due diligence.
 
However, there are lots of loopholes. You might be above the FDIC limit or have an uninsured investment product. Your money market fund could be subject to liquidity fees if it gets into trouble (which they do in corrections) while yielding less income with each interest rate cut. Your annuity loses up to 9% the minute you buy it. You also want to understand the risks of that 100-Year Google bond that was just issued. This may sound very complicated. However, the safest plan in today’s Debt World can be summed up by just 6 rules.
 
6 Rules to Earn Income in a Debt World with Low Risk
 
Keep the Terms Short
Keep the Creditworthiness High
Diversify
Observe FDIC Insurance Levels
Understand the Risk
Read the Fine Print
 
Bonus Tip: An Age-Appropriate, Properly Diversified Plan
 
And here are more details on each point.
 
Keep the Terms Short
Google just sold a century bond – one where the company will not pay back the loan until 2126. The yield is attractive in today’s world of 3.5% interest rates, at 6.05%. However, is that enough income to justify having the company return the original loan to our grandchildren, long after we’re buried?
 
Ford Motor Company is also offering a very long-term bond – with a payback date of 2097, paying 7.7% interest. Ford is rated as a junk bond by Moody’s, with BBB- with a negative outlook by S&P Global, which is still investment grade. A downgrade by S&P500 takes Ford back into junk status there, too.
 
35- to 55-year bonds are quite common these days. There are many risks with long-term bonds, including illiquidity, paper losses and the possibility that the company will have to restructure their debt (the bondholders can lose principal). The restructuring of Greek bonds in 2011 put MF Global out of business. Paper losses, combined with uninsured deposits, wiped out five banks in 2023.
 
People often ask me, “Who would buy these bonds?” The answer is Main Street. We own them in our managed wealth plans, where the money manager might give us “aggressive income.” We own them in our bond funds. Even investment grade bond funds often include up to 20% junk and/or long-term speculation in them. This has a lot to do with why many bond funds have lost money over the past five years. The safe side of our wealth plan is supposed to keep our principal intact.
 

The PIMCO Active Bond ETF lost -16.20% over the last 5 years. Source: MSN.com. (c) Microsoft. Used with permission.

What do I mean when I say that long-term bonds can be illiquid? Once you buy them, no one wants to take them off your hands. If you need or want the money (to pay bills or for a more opportune investment), you might have to sell it for less than you purchased it for, if you can offload it at all.
 
As I mentioned above, the starkest reminder of the risk of long-term bonds is the bank failures in 2023. Long-term government bonds lost even more than stocks did in 2022, sparking the banking crisis of 2023. Long-term bonds lost again in 2024 and haven’t made up enough ground in the years in between to make investors whole.

Keep the Creditworthiness High
Over half of the S&P500 is at or near junk bond status. There is more risk than we might realize these days – even in investment grade.
 
Silicon Valley Bank had a BBB+ credit rating by S&P Global years before the bank failed. Have you looked into the credit rating of the bank or bond you are considering? When I am looking at the bond offerings available in the secondary market, I underweight last-century, heavily indebted companies, and lean into companies with growing revenue, robust profit margins and a treasure trove of cash. This might sound like a lot to do, and it is tricky. However, when you’re talking about protecting your money, a little due diligence will go a long way. Why not take an hour to make sure that you earn thousands safely, and educate yourself to make sure that you understand how to spot check the debt, liabilities and cash? (We’ll give you access to our Bond masterclass if you register for the Financial Freedom Retreat by Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2026.)

With regard to Google’s Century Bond, Google is a great company with an AA+ credit rating today. However, will that be the case is 2126? One of my coaching clients had been sold into a junk bond with an 85-year term. This investment lost -25% the minute it was purchased, with little chance of unloading it onto the next buyer. There are too many risks in our Debt World to have blind faith that somebody else is protecting us.
 
Diversify
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. FDIC insured levels are “per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.” Some banks are at the lowest rung of investment grade. Regional banks might have elevated exposure to empty commercial real estate. While FDIC is designed to save the day, why expose yourself to the trauma of a failed bank? (Some of the social media posts from Silicon Valley Bank uninsured depositors were frightening and heartbreaking.) I choose short-term CDs in banks with high credit ratings.
 
Diversification can include corporate bonds, treasuries and certificates of deposit. (I wouldn’t opt for money market funds at this time.) The first two rules reign supreme – keep the terms short and the creditworthiness high. If you’re looking in the bond market, the options change daily.
 
The UK’s gilt crisis was quickly solved by their central bank. However, it’s never fun to feel like you cannot liquidate a holding, whether it’s to reduce risk or to pay a bill. Money can be very stressful. Diversification reduces risk and makes it easier to sleep at night, as do the short-term and high credit quality rules.

Observe FDIC Insurance Levels
An exception was made for the billionaires who had money parked at Silicon Valley Bank. However, that was an exception. Be sure to observe FDIC insured levels. I would not be an uninsured depositor. FYI: Silicon Valley Bank shareholders and some bondholders lost all their investment. This is another poster for high credit quality (and why we are using international value replacement funds in our at-risk sample wealth plan).
 
Understand the Risk
Have you read the fine print on whatever safe investment you have been offered? As an example, annuities take up to 9% of your investment the minute you buy it and lock that up for about a decade. Most of the time, annuities pay a very low ROI, without the safety that you might believe you are enjoying. Annuities are not federally insured because insurance companies are not banks. AIG would be out of business if it weren’t bailed out in 2008, with 50 million annuity and insurance customers left holding the bag of nothing. There are loopholes for brokerages that offer FDIC insured cash, as well. Brokerages are not banks.
 
Read the Fine Print
Are you aware that money market funds can impose liquidity fees under certain conditions? That could wipe out the small amount of income we’re getting. Are you aware that the conditions of that fee might be heightened right now, or that life insurance companies (annuity providers) have elevated leverage at this time? According to the November 2025 Federal Reserve Financial Stability Report:


Some open-end bond and loan mutual funds remained exposed to liquidity transformation risks that could cause asset fire sales in market downturns, as they allow daily redemptions while holding assets that might become illiquid in times of stress. Meanwhile, life insurers' use of non­traditional liabilities increased at a greater rate than their assets.
 
The Federal Reserve Board governors use euphemism. When we see alarming language, it should raise red flags.
 
Bonus Tip: An Age-Appropriate, Properly Diversified Plan
We don’t want to keep all of our investments on the safe side because the real performance lies in equities (stocks), as you can see in the chart below. The total return for the S&P500 over the 3-year period (ending in 2025) was 86.11%, or 23.01% annualized (source: S&P Dow Jones Indices).  
 

Our super performers – we allocate four hot slices – have been on fire, with some of them doubling and tripling last year. However, stocks bring volatility with them. The S&P500 dropped -19.66% in 2022, while many Magnificent 7 stocks were down by half or more. Tesla, Bitcoin and the ARK Innovation Fund plunged by -67%.
 
The volatility is smoothed out by rebalancing your wealth plan 1-3 times a year to capture gains. However, as you get closer to retirement, protection of principal becomes key (earning that 3.5% income without paper losses). Even at the start of your career, you should have some money safe – earning extra money while you sleep.
 
Bottom Line
If all of this sounds like a lot of work, just go back to the rules. They aren’t that difficult… And isn’t taking the extra hour to protect our assets worth the thousands we might earn as a result? We reinforce the concepts outlined in this blog at our Financial Freedom Retreat – spending one full day on What’s Safe. In fact, on that day, many attendees discover how to save thousands annually in their budget, as well as important strategies to prepare for retirement.
 
I can also provide educational support and guidance through my private coaching program. You’re still the boss of your money, making your decisions. However, if you would like help with the due diligence, that is what my private coaching is designed to do. Email [email protected] for pricing and information. Now through Valentine’s Day we’re offering a Baker’s dozen. Anyone who purchases a package of 12 coaching sessions will receive a 13th session free.
 
Also, I just hosted a bond master class. We’re offering access to the recording of that course as our free gift to you when you register for our Financial Freedom Retreat by Valentine’s Day.
 
*Offers expire Feb. 14, 2026.
 

Are you aware that the hot funds we've been featuring in our sample pie charts and retreats performed at the top of Wall Street in 2025? Silver tripled. Peru (copper) was on fire with over 100% gains. Even clean energy scored 55%... 

Why not treat yourself to the gift of financial freedom to create a New Year, New Me in 2026?
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Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat April 24-26, 2026 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget, invest in hot industries like AI, gold, crypto and more, and how to be in the best seat during our volatile Debt World. Register by Feb. 28, 2025 to receive the best price. (Ask for access to a recording of our Bond or Rebalancing masterclass as our gift to you, when you register by Valentine's Day.) Email [email protected] to learn more and register now.

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Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. 

Learn how to:

* Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing,
* Save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices
* Hedge against a weaker dollar,
* Invest and compound your gains,
* Green your retirement plan,
* Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies,
* Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto),
* Evaluate stocks,
* Avoid capital gains and financial predators,
* Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and,
* Know what's safe in a Debt World.

Yes, it's a complete money makeover. 
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Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. ​

"Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM
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"Many people, including educated men and women, often get into trouble when they 
neglect to follow simple and fundamental rules of the type provided [by Natalie]. 
This is why I recommend them with enthusiasm." 
Professor Gary S. Becker. Dr. Becker won the 1992 Nobel Prize in economics for his theories on human capital

"College students need this information before they get their first credit card. Young adults need it before they buy their first home. Empty nesters can use the information to downsize to a sustainable lifestyle, before they get into trouble." 
Joe Moglia, former Chairman & CEO, TD AMERITRADE.


If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.

Click through to the flyer to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register. Register by Feb. 28, 2026 to receive the best price. Teens and college students can attend for just $99.

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Photo of Natalie Pace at a women supporting women conference.

Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of The ABCs of Money for College are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. 
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Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden.​​

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Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast and watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube.

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Important Disclaimers
Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations.

ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy.  
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Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.