Saving money to fund a comfortable retirement is perhaps the biggest reason people invest. As such, finding the right balance between risk and investment return is key to a successful retirement savings strategy. Here are a few suggestions for ensuring you make the smartest possible decisions with your retirement savings:When done right, a total return portfolio is one of the best retirement investments out there. It is not a stand-alone investment; it is a strategy that uses a balanced, diverse blend of stock and bond index funds that provide retirement income in the form of interest, dividends, and capital gains. When you invest for retirement, you typically have three main options: You can put the money into a retirement account that's offered by your employer, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. ... You can put the money into a tax-advantaged retirement account of your own, such as an IRA.