Mutual Fund or life insurance?

My mother, 59 years old, wants to invest money for her retirement as well as for her children. Which one do you think is the best investment for her?

Thank you and if possible, please let me know the product name that you suggest for. =)

How old are the children? If they are adults, then she really don't need life insurance. If they are kids, then she definitely needs life insurance. I suggest getting a 20 year term insurance if the kids are dependent on her.

As for retirement, I suggest she open a Roth IRA. Though, she needs to make income legally (either from a job or from sales) in order to contribute to it. In Roth IRAs, she can put anything into it from CDs (not recommended), to money markets, bonds, stocks, and mutual funds. Only a licensed securities representative can help find the suitable investment choice for her.

Definitely a mutual fund, many life insurance salespeople will try to pass Whole Life or Universal Life policies off as being investments. Insurance is a way to transfer risk (loss of income) and protect your loved ones if you die, not an investment.

Because she is older she will most likely want a lower risk fund that holds some bonds or real-estate investments. If she is looking at it as an investment for her children then a fund that is invested primarily in stocks would be the best bet.

Without more information it's hard to make an investment recomendation. If she currenly has an income then a Roth IRA may be the way to go. I would sugest she see an investment advisor.

Life insurance should be used to help people who depend on a person for income if they die. I have life insurance so if i die, my wife and kids will have some money to make up for loosing my income.

If no one is depending on your mom for money than she should throw money into mutual funds.

Term life insurance for the mother, a 529 plan for the kids for college.

since through you she asked me -- i would open a roth ira and put the max in there and == assuming she is going to work until 67 -- than i would put thre rest into cds and let the kids worry about themselves!!!