When you first get into investing, you have to have a clear idea of what it
is you want to accomplish. Most people have long term financial goals like
saving for retirement or saving for a second home or maybe to put the kids
through college. You also have a time frame. You have 20 years to make this
money, or if you get into investing at a younger age, you could have 40 or
50 years to spend investing before your goal comes due. These are all
vitally important questions that you need to have answered before you start
investing. They will tell you what sort of fund to select for your
portfolio. Here are a few general tips for selecting a fund that′s right
for you.

If your goal is to (more…)

So, you’ve decided to jump into the mutual fund investment game. While
mutual funds have shown themselves over time to be a safer bet than
regular stock trading, there is always the chance you could lose your
shirt. But the type of fund you choose will have a lot to do with the
amount of risk you take on and the kind of return you’re looking for. For
starters, mutual funds are usually broken down into six main categories.

Equity mutual funds allow you to invest in typical shares of common,
everyday stock.

Fixed income mutual funds allow you to invest in corporate or government
securities that usually offer a set rate of return on your investment.

Balanced mutual (more…)