Final answer:
Stocks typically have the highest average return over time, reflecting their higher volatility and riskier nature compared to bonds and savings accounts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The investment option that typically has a higher average return over time is stocks. This is due to the nature of stocks being highly volatile, with the potential for significant growth or decline in any given year. For example, the S&P 500 saw a 26% increase in 2009 following a 37% decline in 2008. Conversely, the value of savings accounts changes very little annually, offering lower returns, and bonds, while riskier than savings accounts, have more stability than stocks but also lower average returns. Investors expect higher returns from riskier investments like stocks to compensate for the potential risks involved.