If you absolutely need a certain amount of money at a specific time, then you need to invest in less volatile investments such as cash or short - term bonds. (getrichslowly.org)
But that requires that you invest in volatile investments with the risk of losing money, like a stock index fund. (getrichslowly.org)
Over time the funds typically decrease holding of stocks in favor of less volatile investments such as bonds, inflation - protected securities and the least volatile of them all — cash. (traditionalira.com)