In investing, one wants to go for return on investment, but in my short life, I have learned that the first thing to manage is risk and then return. Fixed deposits are usually a very secure investment, and investing in the stock market can be very risky. Now, the trick is the balancing act of risk and return. You are right that fixed deposits are not going to bring us wealth, and with the current inflation rate, they will probably not even preserve our wealth. One has to look at other investment options. So, the question is, how do I invest with lesser risk in the stock market? I agree that diversification is a good approach. With banks failing in the USA, one might even consider gold and silver.