32 Ways to Earn Up to 9% on Your Money Now

Yields on many fixed-income investments have plunged, but turmoil in the bond market has created new opportunities.

(Image credit: Illustration by Leo Acadia)

In addition to taking a vast human toll, the coronavirus pandemic has mercilessly infected virtually every corner of the investment world. As markets plunged and seized up, the Federal Reserve dropped its short-term interest rate to zero and began injecting trillions of dollars into the financial system to shore up credit markets and keep money flowing to beleaguered companies, households and local governments. Yields on 10- and 30-year Treasuries plummeted to record lows, and yields briefly turned negative on some short-term T-bills.

In a dash for cash, even safe assets such as municipal bonds and high-grade corporate issues tumbled in value. Sellers who needed to raise cash—mutual fund managers facing fund redemptions, investors who suddenly needed funds to meet margin calls, heavily indebted hedge funds forced to unwind positions—sold assets willy-nilly, without regard to valuation, zeroing in on the investments that were liquid and easily disposed of.

And therein lies an opportunity for income-starved investors, who can now find yields on assets such as high-quality stocks, real estate investment trusts and high-yield bonds that were unavailable in recent years. We'll guide you through levels of risk and potential reward.

Contributing Writer, Kiplinger's Personal Finance