Still feeling nervous about the stock market? Have you remained on the sidelines, trying to figure out what’s the best investment to be in right now? Here are ways you can choose the best investments appropriate for your personal portfolio. (The ideas listed below are to help you consider alternatives – but are not recommendations. Make your investing decisions based on your financial goals and risk tolerance.)

Stocks: Investing in stock will require you to be a little more active in managing your investments; the days of buy and hold are likely gone for good. Since the economy is still not back to top performance, you’ll want to stay on top of your investments to ensure they continue to perform. Invest in the big name companies, those companies which perform in both good and bad markets. These are companies consumers continue to buy, their products are everyday necessities, and the management has maintained good revenues, low debt and adequate cash flow.

Bonds: Bonds can be more of a safe investment, but you still can’t be complacent when investing in bonds. As a bond holder, your returns are based on debt the company owes, not market prices for stock, however if a company fails, bondholders can be impacted too. For Federal Treasury bonds, yields are at historic lows. So, while you may have more safety with bonds, lower returns will reflect that. Take some time to research municipal bonds, federal agency bonds, utility bonds, and corporate bonds. Choose bonds backed by strong companies, or government agencies. Tax-free bonds might be an option to consider as well.

Money Market accounts and CDs: The rates on these investments are very low, as these operate similar to a savings account. Usually these accounts are insured, but not always (check with the bank to find out). They are very safe investments, but have low returns as a result. These might be the best investment for someone nearing retirement, or a parent who is about to pay for college in the next year or two. These are also a place to keep some percentage of your money while looking for other investment opportunities.

There really isn’t a best investment that works for everyone. Whatever you choose in your investment account should be based on your personal financial strategy. Don’t let anyone tell you what is right for you; it has to fit with your goals and your risk tolerance. Spend the time to put together a financial plan, and you can choose your best investments with that plan in mind.