What return can you expect on a 1 million dollar investment?

In investments and finance there is no guarantee of a positive return on any investment. Even in a low risk certificate of deposit, for example, the interest maybe be several points at most. Even here the return is not guaranteed as the FDIC will only insure up to 250,000 per account. If the bank was to became insolvent, it would represent a 75 percent loss, minus any interest accrued. Lastly, the effects of inflation will further devalue any gains made by interest on the initial capital.