Mutual Fund Rankings

Mutual Funds are broken down into 5 categories: U.S. Stocks, International Stocks, Bond Funds, Balanced Funds and Alternative Funds. These mutual funds are ranked the top performers throughout the United States and abroad. This information is based on current data of mutual fund companies.

Based on these categories, mutual funds receive rankings based on highest-rated value, highest-rated growth, daily gainers and losers, category of highest and lowest returns, highest-rated large-cap funds, highest-rated mid-cap funds, small-cap funds , high-yield bond funds, high and low risk foreign funds, top year to date performers, analysis of prior year's top performers and top conservative funds.

Online websites like TheStreet.com, MotleyFool.com or The Morningstar allows you with the click of a few keys to learn how well a mutual fund is doing. These websites have a staff of talented contributors who are up to date in the financial world.

Major television networks like CNBC feature experienced analysts who can give any investor the low down on what mutual funds are doing at that very moment.

Mutual fund companies like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Scottrade, Vanguard and T. Rowe Price have a virtual fund screener on the company's website.

The Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) is responsible for overseeing how the mutual fund companies are keep up with government standards.

There are 4 types of mutual funds: Stock funds, Bond funds, Money market funds and Balanced (Asset Allocated Funds) or Life Cycle Funds. Stock funds are on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Bond funds allow investors to gain interest from a company's loan. The risk with this type of fund is the possibility of losing the principal invested in the bond. Money market funds are the most safest investment option. Investors have the option of drawing on these funds. Money market funds are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC). Balanced funds are mixed funds of stocks, bonds, and cash reserves. These funds offer a high return dividends and interest with low risk involved. The Life Cycle Fund is one of the newest available mutual funds. These funds take the management responsibilities from the investor and put on the shoulders of the mutual fund company. This funds group together the stock, bond and money market funds for an enhanced portfolio.