Lending money to Uncle Sam may not be a way to get rich quick, but you're certain to get your money back.

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS, insure that the money you take out will buy as much as it did going in. These long-term securities start out with a fixed annual interest rate, just like other government securities. What's different about the TIPS is that the government adjusts the amount of principal, based on the Consumer Price Index. (If the CPI drops - and it's been pretty flat lately - you are guaranteed to get at least the original value of your investment at maturity.)

Some experts recommend building a "ladder" of TIPS. You can buy five- and 10-year maturities directly; previously issued TIPS with three- and seven-year maturities are available on the open market. For safety, buy TIPS directly from the Treasury, not through a fund. Keep them in a tax-deferred or -exempt account.

What's the tax-smart way to structure your accounts? Confer with the tax people at G M Hietpas CPA, LLC.