I have just come into $200,000. what is the best short term, low risk investment I can make?

buy quality stocks before they report their earnings.

Step-by-Step Stock Investing for Beginners
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Money market funds, high yield savings account

Can never go wrong with Land!!! They are not making anymore of that. Also try day-trading.

US T-bills are you lowest risk.

but you can usually get a low risk 4-5% return with other investment.

Why not become a Prosper lender? Your rate of return on investments would be remarkable well. You could spread your risk. So what are you investing in? Loans. People getting Loans from People http://www.choicepeerlending.com

You would get 8% to 29% return on your money provided that you spread your investment with loans. You can start making money within 30 days after funding the loan. Loan payments are paid up to 3 years or the life of the loan.

Take half and put it in a CD or an annuity. These have decent interest rates and can be short term, 9month-a couple of years. Put some in mutual funds or stocks. To take the guess work (and considerably less risk) out of stocks just put some green in the top 10 or 20 or 50 performers on the S&P 500 or the like

Mutual fund investing in short term treasury bonds.

I have answered this same type of question no less than 3 other times, when someone has come into money and asked where they should invest.
the answer is the same, go to your bank and talk to them. These people are professional and while a little conservative, they can point you in the right direction.
All banks usually have investment services that they can offer.
Please don't ask that kind of question here because while those who answer may mean well, but banks are professionals who do this for a living.

Short term 6 month Treasury Bills would be a good way to give yourself a "time cushion" so you can think over what to do next.

tri j has my vote! a money market fund is the best short term low risk investment you can make. I think citibank has an insured account you can get online.

Stock Market (With the FREE help of a Portfolio Manager with over a decade of experience in the Stock Markets like myself)

I find it hard to believe the really BAD advice given above and below to someone looking for a short term, low risk investment.
Land? Some people still don't realise the real estate bubble burst awhile ago. You can't just flip a house/lot short term anymore in most of the country. True there are areas that are still great for flipping. I just read in my local newspaper about a beach resort in Mich., near Chicago that is undergoing great development. But a few miles away from me, the "For Sale By Owner/or agent" signs are getting very rusty/dirty by being up so long. You have to be in the right area. To make a general statement of "buy land" in a international site as this, to a newby, is in my opinion, not the best advice.
Forex market - only if you know what you are doing.
Day trading -- so 1990s. It didn't work then, it won't now (for low risk short term investing). If you know what you are doing, and have time to follow the markets all day long, fine, for high risk people.
Annuity - they are for long term. Most have (high) surrender charges if you want your money back before 7 years.
Chase "Hot Stocks" in the S&P 500's top 10 -- remember Enron? MCI? Tyco? Cable Crossing? Calpine? JDS Uniphase? All one time hot stocks. Every famous investment professional will tell you, don't chase returns. True there are many hot stocks from a few months ago that are still hot today, but to keep them from "Enroning" you, one must keep very close track and do lots of research. Do we know if the asker is able to do this? No we do not. It may be high risk for him. Same deal for "penny stocks."
The first responder has in my opinion given good advise. Low risk, short term -- Money markets, FDIC insured bank accounts & CD's. To find the highest rates, go to www.bankrate.com.

Beware of Investment Scam!!!
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/cyberfr...

DO NOT take any offers or click any links from people

that post on yahoo! answers... they are ALL SCAMS.

An account at a money market fund that invests only in U.S. Treasury securities (Vanguard offers a fund like this), or U.S. Treasury bills (you can buy them at www.TreasuryDirect.gov, or from a stockbroker). For other short term investment ideas, see the webpage below.

I suggest you to invest in High Yield Income Program. HYIP and Forex Trading.

You can start hyip with $2000 or $10000 or $20000 or more. You wil earn 3 to 7% interest everyday from your investment.
I have provided 5 best HYIP in the link below.

Another way put 50,000 in Forex Trading with a Broker as recommended by the software in my resource box.. As forex market is open to public. It is 200 times bigger than all the stock market in the world combined. 2 trillion dollar transaction happens everyday. Thanks to Bill Clinton so you and I can participate in forex market otherwise only Big banks and big Corporations used to enjoy before 1998.
Broker gives you 400:1 levrage. So you will be trading million and get paid interest as well as what ever you sell and make profit. Say if you put $3000 from your broker account of $50000. You will be trading at 1.2 mllion market. This very powerful because of 400:1 leverage.

You should use the special forex trading software to trade and make fantastic money without loosing a dime. This software will make you professional trader in about 1 hour video traing. Rest of the money you may put it in CD's or Some Good Mutual Fund.

Here is the link to the Best HYIP programs.
http://www.meramera.com/besthyip.htm

Check into Capital Choice, they have a great Roth IRA that will get you at least 10% on your money.

try INGDirect.com they have an Electric Orange checking account with about 4.5% interest

also try EmigrantDirect.com, they have a 5.05% savings account