Why do people buy mutual funds?

Mutual funds are a popular choice among investors because they generally offer the following features:

• Professional Management. The fund managers do the research for you. They select the securities and monitor the performance.
• Diversification or “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Mutual funds typically invest in a range of companies and industries. This helps to lower your risk if one company fails.
• Affordability. Most mutual funds set a relatively low dollar amount for initial investment and subsequent purchases.
• Liquidity. Mutual fund investors can easily redeem their shares at any time, for the current net asset value (NAV) plus any redemption fees.

What types of mutual funds are there?

Mutual funds offer professional investment management and potential diversification. They also offer three ways to earn money:

• Money market funds have relatively low risks. By law, they can invest only in certain high-quality, short-term investments issued by U.S. corporations, and federal, state and local governments.
• Bond funds have higher risks than money market funds because they typically aim to produce higher returns. Because there are many different types of bonds, the risks and rewards of bond funds can vary dramatically.
• Stock funds invest in corporate stocks. Not all stock funds are the same. Some examples are:
  • Growth funds focus on stocks that may not pay a regular dividend but have potential for above-average financial gains.
  • Income funds invest in stocks that pay regular dividends.
  • Index funds track a particular market index such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
  • Sector funds specialize in a particular industry segment.
• Target date fundshold a mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments. Over time, the mix gradually shifts according to the fund’s strategy. Target date funds, sometimes known as lifecycle funds, are designed for individuals with particular retirement dates in mind.