<prompt> Human: Im still learning the functions of the investing game since my Roth IRA has been funded in broad market, international, emerging markets, and bond ETFs. Not sure about the exact allocation at the moment but I opened a Target Date Index Fund 2055 with Schwab. But over the year, I really didnt see much growth. Over the ups and downs Ive probably gained only 12 from my initial investment of 5,500. I mean, Im only 26 and have quite a while to go, but it seems that this seems to me the literature that Ive been reading on retirement investing has been hyped up to the point where if you create a lazy portfolio taking advantage of low-cost indexmutualETFs youre almost seemingly guaranteed to make returns by the time you retire. Can someone clarify if Im going crazy or theres something that Im not understanding about Roth IRAs?  <response>: If your Roth IRA invests in CDs, savings accounts or individual US Treasury bonds, then the returns are guaranteed by government. Otherwise no. Roth IRA is just a container. You can invest in a lot of things, some are guaranteed, most are not. 