How to best grow $200k?

[Mindi B.]

What would you do? You have $200k and need to grow it over the next 3 years at which point you will need to use it for another project. No goal amount has been set but at a minimum it needs to keep up with inflation. The two options you are looking at are private lending or stick it in the stock market. Buying and selling real estate is not an option due to the volatility of the market and you need the cash back out in 3 years at the latest, possibly sooner. Keep in mind you know absolutely nothing about being a private lender so allow time for a learning curve.