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It is common practice among young astrophysicists these days to investresearch time conservatively in mainstream ideas that have already beenexplored extensively in the literature. This tendency is driven by peerpressure and job market prospects, and is occasionally encouraged by seniorresearchers. Although the same phenomenon existed in past decades, it isalarmingly more prevalent today because a growing fraction of observational andtheoretical projects are pursued in large groups with rigid research agendas.In addition, the emergence of a ``standard model'' in cosmology (albeit withunknown dark components) offers secure ``bonds'' for a safe investment ofresearch time. In this short essay, which summarizes a banquet lecture at arecent conference, I give examples for both safe and risky topics inastrophysics (which I split into categories of ``bonds,'' ``stocks,'' and``venture capital''), and argue that young researchers should always allocate asmall fraction of their academic portfolio to innovative projects with riskybut potentially highly profitable returns. In parallel, selection and promotioncommittees must find new strategies for rewarding candidates with creativethinking.

Taking "The Road Not Taken'': On the Benefits of Diversifying Your Academic Portfolio