Risk VS. Guarantee with your money?

As far as money goes is it better to have your money sitting in a bank with all the guarantees that the banks give such as FDIC insured and your money sitting at a guaranteed 3%( if your lucky).
3 devided by 72=24 ( rule of 72)So you won't even have a doubling period for 24 years. or is it better to asume more risk and invest in mutual funds and othe high yeild investments and give your self a shot at building wealth.

I am not looking for, Well I have "heard" investing is risky type answers Does anyone have any actual knowlege on the real risk of different investments as opposed to having your money be SAFE in the bank.

The below links discuss the risks and volatility of stocks compared to other investments. Diversified stocks are risky over the short term, but over the long term (>15 years) are great investments. (If you don't diversify properly, stocks are even more risky.)

Well I have "heard" investing is risky

I know that my savings account pays at 3.77%APR. Whoopee.

I know that on the average, my portfolio gains me over 22% and on occasion even more.

Of COURSE investing is risky. Watch "Mad Money" and read Jim Kramer's book to get excited about investing. It takes research to make money in the market. Trick is, only invest what you can spare.

I am affraid it is even worse than you first imagine. Your interest on savings are taxed each year at the full tax rate. So your net return on the 3% is assuming only the 15% federal bracket and 5% state bracket 2.4%. Heck inflation is running at 3.5% maybe more because I do not trust the government's inflation reports at all.

Now if you invest long term in a well diversified holding of equities spread over a wide geographic area ie Europe, Japan, U S, Canada, Asia, and even Latin America the historic trend has been a yield of 10%++ over the long term. Now here is the good part. If you buy and hold sound stocks then the 10%++ is compounded tax deferred until the stocks are sold. The advent of index funds makes this strategy even more doable. Or with sufficient capital even accumulating individual stocks.