To find out the percentage of your assets which should be exposed to risk, simply use the Rule of 100:
100 – (Your age) = Percentage of your assets which should be invested.
I am 22, so 78% of my savings should be exposed to some risk, and therefore a larger chance of gain. The other 22% should be tucked away in a fail-safe account such as a CD or other savings device. This is by no means the correct method for everyone, but for my needs it seems right. As a semi-active investor I’d like to see more of my net worth exposed to some potential gains. I think it is better to learn financial mistakes while you are young and can easily recover rather than when you are older and have bills to pay and a family to support.
To restructure my finances to meet this 78% mark, I am stopping my $5,000 CD which has earned only $36 after a year and a half. The current rate I am getting is 0.75% which is much lower than inflation. I will put half the money back into permanent savings and invest the other half. While I enjoy having money to invest, I also enjoy the security a pile of cold, hard cash can provide.