<prompt> Human: I have about 20,000 saved. Its doing nothing. Every time I think the stock market has peaked, it goes higher. Every time I think an individual stock has peaked like Amazon, for example it goes higher. Every time I turn on the news, I feel like the world is going to explode, but so far it hasnt. So... what the hell should I do with this money?Options Ive thought of:Mortgage: I bought my house at a terrible time. Im no longer under water, but Ill never break even on the property. That said, Im not going anywhere, so I could pay down the mortgage 4 interest.Stocks, mutual funds... it always seems like it cant go higher, like investing now would be buying high, but then Congress passes yet another, ridiculous, corporation-pandering bill and everything skyrockets. So, do I jump in now anyway? If so, how and where?Gold. Gold is high, but its been much higher in recent years. If war comes which is a real possibility I suspect it will increase significantly.My kid is going to college in 7 years, should I pump money into the college account?Is now the time to buy bonds? Id love to find a trustworthy financial advisor who isnt just a self-serving salesman, but Im not sure that exists. So, naturally, Im turning to The Internet, which has never steered anyone wrong. Help me, The Internet.  <response>: Every time I turn on the news, I feel like the world is going to explode, but so far it hasnt. I recommend that you take a long-term perspective and disregard sensationalist reporting. The American economy has survived World War I II, the Great Depression, political turbulence through the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War in the late 1960s, the tech bubble, and the financial crisis of the late 2000s. We are in a relative golden age of business growth and peace.I recommend that you maximize tax advantaged accounts, including 401k, particularly to the extent you have matching contributions available to you, RothTraditional IRA, Health Savings Account, and 529 Savings Account. Within the tax advantaged accounts, diversify between stocks and bonds based on your time horizon and desired volatility. Once tax advantaged accounts are maximized, or if you desire additional flexibility for withdrawal, open a traditional brokerage account and pursue a similar investment strategy based on time horizon and desired volatility.I recommend continual contributions over time, rather than timing the market, so you keep your money invested. 