Step 3 of 8
Investment options
Here are common options in the Philippines, ranked from lower to higher risk. Returns are historical or typical ranges, not promises.
Pag-IBIG MP2
- Risk
- Low
- Potential return a year
- About 7% (7.12% for 2025)
- Lock-in
- 5 years
- Starting amount
- ₱500
- Notes
- Government-backed; dividends tax-free; rate is declared yearly, not fixed
Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs)
- Risk
- Low
- Potential return a year
- About 5 to 6.5%
- Lock-in
- 3 to 10 years
- Starting amount
- ₱5,000
- Notes
- Fixed coupons; issued a few times a year; can be sold before maturity
Time deposits (digital banks)
- Risk
- Low
- Potential return a year
- About 3 to 6%
- Lock-in
- 1 to 24 months
- Starting amount
- ₱1,000 to ₱5,000
- Notes
- Fixed rate; PDIC-insured; early withdrawal may lose interest
Money market funds
- Risk
- Low
- Potential return a year
- About 3 to 5%
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- ₱1,000
- Notes
- Easy to withdraw; good for short-term goals
Mutual funds and UITFs
- Risk
- Low to high
- Potential return a year
- About 3 to 10%
- Lock-in
- None (fund rules vary)
- Starting amount
- ₱1,000 to ₱5,000
- Notes
- Professionally managed; risk depends on bond, balanced or equity type
REITs
- Risk
- Medium
- Potential return a year
- About 5 to 7% dividends
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- Varies by board lot
- Notes
- Earn from property rent; must pay out at least 90% of distributable income
Stocks (PSE)
- Risk
- Medium to high
- Potential return a year
- About 8 to 10% long-run average
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- Varies by board lot
- Notes
- Needs company research; prices swing
Philippine index fund or ETF
- Risk
- Medium to high
- Potential return a year
- Tracks the PSEi
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- ₱1,000
- Notes
- Buy the market in one go; Philippine exposure only
International ETFs and stocks
- Risk
- High
- Potential return a year
- About 8 to 10% long-run average (like the S&P 500)
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- ₱500 to ₱2,000
- Notes
- Diversifies abroad; currency (FX) risk; check that your platform is registered or reputable
Crypto
- Risk
- Very high
- Potential return a year
- Highly volatile
- Lock-in
- None
- Starting amount
- ₱500
- Notes
- Can lose most of its value; only after savings and core investments are set up; use SEC-registered platforms
| Investment | Risk | Potential return a year | Lock-in | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pag-IBIG MP2 | Low | About 7% (7.12% for 2025) | 5 years | ₱500 | Government-backed; dividends tax-free; rate is declared yearly, not fixed |
| Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) | Low | About 5 to 6.5% | 3 to 10 years | ₱5,000 | Fixed coupons; issued a few times a year; can be sold before maturity |
| Time deposits (digital banks) | Low | About 3 to 6% | 1 to 24 months | ₱1,000 to ₱5,000 | Fixed rate; PDIC-insured; early withdrawal may lose interest |
| Money market funds | Low | About 3 to 5% | None | ₱1,000 | Easy to withdraw; good for short-term goals |
| Mutual funds and UITFs | Low to high | About 3 to 10% | None (fund rules vary) | ₱1,000 to ₱5,000 | Professionally managed; risk depends on bond, balanced or equity type |
| REITs | Medium | About 5 to 7% dividends | None | Varies by board lot | Earn from property rent; must pay out at least 90% of distributable income |
| Stocks (PSE) | Medium to high | About 8 to 10% long-run average | None | Varies by board lot | Needs company research; prices swing |
| Philippine index fund or ETF | Medium to high | Tracks the PSEi | None | ₱1,000 | Buy the market in one go; Philippine exposure only |
| International ETFs and stocks | High | About 8 to 10% long-run average (like the S&P 500) | None | ₱500 to ₱2,000 | Diversifies abroad; currency (FX) risk; check that your platform is registered or reputable |
| Crypto | Very high | Highly volatile | None | ₱500 | Can lose most of its value; only after savings and core investments are set up; use SEC-registered platforms |
Risk and return at a glance
- Time deposits · low risk3 to 6%
- Money market funds · low risk3 to 5%
- Retail Treasury Bonds · low risk5 to 6.5%
- Pag-IBIG MP2 · low riskAbout 7%
- Mutual funds and UITFs · low to high risk3 to 10%
- REITs (dividends) · medium risk5 to 7%
- Stocks and PH index funds · medium to high risk8 to 10%
- International ETFs · high risk8 to 10%
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