Where to invest $300,000 now

Reuters’ “A$K Lauren” column tackles a question from a 38‑year‑old in Germany sitting on roughly $300,000 in cash earning 1.9%, afraid of stock‑picking and worried an AI bubble could tank ETFs the way housing did in 2008. Lauren Young tapped 18 advisors for guidance on what to do next.

The experts agree on a basic roadmap:

Start by carving out a 3–6 month emergency fund.

Clarify time horizons and goals (near‑term car or home vs. long‑term retirement).

Use safer vehicles like money markets and government bonds for short‑term goals.

For long‑term goals, accept that you need equity exposure and broad, diversified ETFs or target‑date funds, not single‑stock bets.

Recognize that leaving the full $300,000 in low‑yield cash exposes you to inflation risk and long‑run underperformance.

My comments in the piece focus on two key points: the cost of staying in cash and how to invest without making an “all‑in” bet.

On the cash problem, I’m quoted bluntly:

“Sitting on $300,000 in cash earning 1.9% isn't really a strategy — it's buying short-term comfort at the expense of long-term growth.”

I also push back on the fear that an AI bubble makes all ETFs dangerous:

“Don’t confuse AI with the entire stock market,” I note, urging a globally diversified mix across sectors and countries instead of concentrating in the Magnificent Seven or the latest theme. Broad ETFs give you exposure to thousands of companies, not just the headline names everyone is nervous about.

Finally, I recommend a phased approach so the reader isn’t paralyzed by timing risk:

Move long‑term dollars into a diversified portfolio gradually over 6–18 months on a set schedule rather than dropping all $300,000 in at once.

Use that time to get comfortable with volatility while still escaping the drag of sub‑2% cash.

The article’s bottom line, and the heart of my comments: caution is understandable, but doing nothing is still a decision—with a real long‑term cost. A simple, diversified plan implemented step by step will beat “safe” inertia for most investors over time.