<prompt> Human: Are options a good alternative to invest? This is meant to be fairly long term for retirement so some risk is ok, but I am quite conservative by nature. Im 30 with only 7k in a Roth atm for retirement.  <response>: Your dad is wrong, emphatically so. Ignore his money advice, use a Roth IRA and then max out employer sponsored accounts max these out first if there is a match. 