"Stocks...are you ready?" You buy a stock and while you hold it, its value and your account value increase or decrease based on the company's performance and other factors. In other words, you could lose money. Read more about stocks.

Risk - Stocks have high risk compared to bonds and cash. Their value MAY swing widely. Not only is your potential return at risk, so is your principal (or the amount of your original investment).

Return - In exchange for higher-than-average risk, stocks have a higher potential for returns. In addition to company performance, stock value can be influenced by interest rates, industry trends, economic conditions, and the strength or the U.S. dollar.