Dr. Ming - all investing is risky if you don't know what you are doing. I don't like to put my financial future in the hands of someone else, so I always manage my own money.

Even though the stock market is high now and not likely a good buy, it is better to buy index funds every month. Keep some cash ready for a crash to buy the dip. You can study investing in more detail to learn about either real estate or picking individual stocks.

I wouldn't pick any individual stocks unless you have read and are comfortable with "Security Analysis" by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd. Has your money manager?