Stung by the deadly combination of economic recession and rising inflation, it's necessary that investors look for safer investments that can still yield relatively high amounts of return. Risk and returns are directly proportional and safe high return investments are a rare combination. High-Yield & Low Risk Investments Higher the risk, higher is the promise of return and finding low risk investments that yield high returns can be unrealistic, unless you lower your expectation. In a recessionary scenario, the investment that could be listed as 'safe' and high-yielding, tends to be quite scarce. The recommended plan of action in such a scenario is to invest a sizable amount of your savings into low risk, moderate yield investment and a small portion in relatively high risk options like stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Here are some of the safest investments offering high yields, which you could think about. Individual Retirement Accounts If you are planning for retirement, there is no better way to invest your money than in an individual retirement account (IRA). On a technical level, a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA is not really an investment vehicle, but only a savings account. However, it does earn you an interest like a bank savings account. Most importantly, money put into an IRA is not taxed until you start withdrawing from it, which means your savings can safely grow for years, until your retirement age, when you can withdraw it. IRAs are the safest investment options you could opt for and can provide a moderately high yield in the long turn due to the tax exemption. You can invest the money saved there, in certificates of deposit, which I shall talk about in the next section. Certificates of Deposit An IRA CD (certificate of deposit) is a type of time deposit that can yield high returns. Look for banks and credit institutions offering high IRA CD interest rates, with time periods ranging from 6 months to more than 5 years. Fixed or Variable Annuities Annuities are a type of insurance instrument which can provide a regular source of income in the long term. After you have made a lump sum or piecewise investment through installments in an annuity, it starts paying back periodic returns after a fixed period of time. You could opt for fixed or variable annuities that can generate high returns in the long term. Investment in Precious Metals Buying gold, silver and other precious metals is one of the safest high-yield investments which you could opt for. Silver and gold prices have been constantly increasing over the past few years despite recession. Ergo investing in gold and silver is a sound decision. Tax Liens A tax lien is the right over a property that a government may exercise when tax debt lies unpaid for long. Most US state governments sell tax lien certificates that earn more than 6% to 7% return for the buyer and also the opportunity to buy the foreclosed property on which the lien has been imposed. These are investment options that yield relatively high returns. Any option involving securities like stocks and bonds come with a high degree of risk, which hardly makes them a 'safe'. You will find a lot of people suggesting investing in raw land development, but with the condition in which the real estate market is right now, I wouldn't personally recommend that you invest in it, as liquidation of a property asset can be difficult. It's best to opt for low risk options like certificates of deposit or invest in gold and silver, which are continuously on a high growth curve. Take advice from an experienced financial adviser who can suggest you with investment options that are well aligned with your future plans and the seed capital that you are ready to invest.