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Fund Classifications
By Chris Stallman

Reading a Prospectus
By Chris Stallman

A Look Into Mutual Funds
Date Added: August, 1999

By Chris Stallman  |  E-mail

   Ok, so maybe you want to buy stock but you don't know which one. Or maybe you are afraid to put your money into a stock because you might lose it. Instead of giving up on investing (big mistake), you might want to look into mutual funds.

   A mutual fund is a large pool of money that investors create which is used to buy many different stocks. Rather than just buying an individual stock, investors pool their money by giving it to a mutual fund. Because all these investors have combined their money, they can afford to buy many different stocks.

   A mutual fund is managed by a portfolio manager. This person's job is to control all of the investors' money and invest it into a group of stocks or bonds. He or she also decides how much to invest in each stock.  This person has quite a bit of responsibility so they're usually assisted by a team of analysts.

   A mutual fund has a price, like a stock. This price is called a Net Asset Value, or NAV. It tells you how much one share of that mutual fund costs.

What Makes Mutual Funds So Great?

   Mutual funds are great for people who don't want to take as much risk with their money. Mutual funds are less risky because they buy a bunch of stocks. If one stock does poorly, you won't lose as much money as you would if that was the only stock you owned.

   Mutual funds are also good for people who don't want to spend too much time investing. Portfolio managers handle their money and invest it for them.

   When you buy stock, you have to pay a commission. However, the fees involved with investing in a mutual fund are often much less in comparison.

   Many people who want to invest are somewhat afraid to actually do it. Investing is an important step to becoming rich in the long-term, so mutual funds offer a safer way to reach your goals.

 

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