Hands down, one of the biggest retirement risks I’ve come across is when investors try to play it safe.

That’s because, in hiding out from volatility, they stunt their returns and end up locked into the workforce for years longer than they need to be.

The worst thing is, many of these “safe” options sport high yields that never deliver in reality. Consider a savings account:

Source: Forbes Advisor

To be sure, the highest rates can look appealing, like the 5.8% here. But in reality, larger balances earn closer to 3.9%.

You can do a little better with a 30-year Treasury, which yields around 4.9% now. But here again, there are risks that can push financial independence out of reach.

Locking in Almost 5% for the Long Haul

First,…