Do You Know These Mutual Fund Basics?
Even during the economic downturn, mutual funds continue to be popular as investments, since they make it relatively easier to get into the market. But do you know the mutual fund basics before you invest in these vehicles? Even though mutual funds have been pitched to investors as no-brainer places to stash your cash, the results of the past year demonstrate that getting good returns is never easy.
There are thousands of mutual funds available, literally more than 10,000 are traded on the market. Together, all mutual funds have succeed in attracting $4 trillion dollars of investments! It's still possible to profit with mutual funds, but you should understand the basics to know how safe they are for you.
Until late 2008 and into 2009, mutual funds enjoyed quite a reputation for steady returns and safety. They also gave investors an easy way to diversify their holdings. Funds also help spread the market risk among various investments. even in times of economic downturn, these qualities are worth finding in a good mutual fund.
When it's created, a mutual fund will raise money from interested investors and then invest that cash in stocks, bonds, and any other securities that fit the profile of the fund. Usually there is more than one individual investment. As those investments increase in value or lose value, investors will also gain or lose. And if a fund pays a dividend, the investors get a share of those too. Most mutual funds provide talented, professional management as well as diversification.
The fund managers will continue to sell shares, raising capital and then purchasing stocks, bonds or other investments for fund portfolio. The management team is obligated to follow the stated investment objective of the fund in the purchases it makes. the proceeds of any shares bought by investors provides the cash to invest. At some point, a fund when it grows large enough, may close to any new investors, at which point it is called a "closed end" fund.
When the shareholder invest by buying shares, they receive an equity share positions in the mutual fund. At this point the shareholders each own a piece of the underlying securities owned by the fund. For the most part, mutual fund shareholders are permitted to sell their fund shares on the market at any time, but the price they get will be determined by the daily changes in the share price as it is reflected in the performance of the underlying investments.
Often you'll find that investors will select a mutual fund based solely on the mutual fund performance in the past year or years, or they might go with a tip from a friend or family member, or even make a decision to buy based on articles they read or se or the Internet. While these are frequently usd ways to select funds it is also risky, since there is no analysis of the fund itself and whether it might be appropriate for that investor.
Note that every mutual fund has individual characteristics that are unique to it, such things as the performance, the personalities of the management, what the fund's investment objectives are and so on. When choosing a mutual fund, it's better to also consider your own financial plan overall, to see if the fund fits your own objectives. Start by defining your personal financial goals first, and address your financial priorities, the amount of money you have available, and the level of risk you are comfortable with. Put down also in your plan the time line you expect your strategy to bear fruit.
It's always fun to talk about the high-flying funds and their performance returns, or then again, since the crash of 2008-2009, it's not as exciting as it once was. Nevertheless, it is a good lesson to understand that a fund's total return for the previous several months or years simply isn't a very good method for rating mutual fund performance. Whatever high returns a fund may have earned in the past, it only takes one down year for performance ratings to drop dramatically. Remember the old saying, past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Instead, determine which is the right fund for you by looking at other funds in the same category of investment, such as bond funds, growth funds, equity income funds, etc.
You should analyze the track record of a fund beyond just the recent several months, to see the fund's management syle and performance over time. By keeping these mutual fund basics in mind when you look for investments, you'll begin to create a sound investment foundation. - 23196
There are thousands of mutual funds available, literally more than 10,000 are traded on the market. Together, all mutual funds have succeed in attracting $4 trillion dollars of investments! It's still possible to profit with mutual funds, but you should understand the basics to know how safe they are for you.
Until late 2008 and into 2009, mutual funds enjoyed quite a reputation for steady returns and safety. They also gave investors an easy way to diversify their holdings. Funds also help spread the market risk among various investments. even in times of economic downturn, these qualities are worth finding in a good mutual fund.
When it's created, a mutual fund will raise money from interested investors and then invest that cash in stocks, bonds, and any other securities that fit the profile of the fund. Usually there is more than one individual investment. As those investments increase in value or lose value, investors will also gain or lose. And if a fund pays a dividend, the investors get a share of those too. Most mutual funds provide talented, professional management as well as diversification.
The fund managers will continue to sell shares, raising capital and then purchasing stocks, bonds or other investments for fund portfolio. The management team is obligated to follow the stated investment objective of the fund in the purchases it makes. the proceeds of any shares bought by investors provides the cash to invest. At some point, a fund when it grows large enough, may close to any new investors, at which point it is called a "closed end" fund.
When the shareholder invest by buying shares, they receive an equity share positions in the mutual fund. At this point the shareholders each own a piece of the underlying securities owned by the fund. For the most part, mutual fund shareholders are permitted to sell their fund shares on the market at any time, but the price they get will be determined by the daily changes in the share price as it is reflected in the performance of the underlying investments.
Often you'll find that investors will select a mutual fund based solely on the mutual fund performance in the past year or years, or they might go with a tip from a friend or family member, or even make a decision to buy based on articles they read or se or the Internet. While these are frequently usd ways to select funds it is also risky, since there is no analysis of the fund itself and whether it might be appropriate for that investor.
Note that every mutual fund has individual characteristics that are unique to it, such things as the performance, the personalities of the management, what the fund's investment objectives are and so on. When choosing a mutual fund, it's better to also consider your own financial plan overall, to see if the fund fits your own objectives. Start by defining your personal financial goals first, and address your financial priorities, the amount of money you have available, and the level of risk you are comfortable with. Put down also in your plan the time line you expect your strategy to bear fruit.
It's always fun to talk about the high-flying funds and their performance returns, or then again, since the crash of 2008-2009, it's not as exciting as it once was. Nevertheless, it is a good lesson to understand that a fund's total return for the previous several months or years simply isn't a very good method for rating mutual fund performance. Whatever high returns a fund may have earned in the past, it only takes one down year for performance ratings to drop dramatically. Remember the old saying, past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Instead, determine which is the right fund for you by looking at other funds in the same category of investment, such as bond funds, growth funds, equity income funds, etc.
You should analyze the track record of a fund beyond just the recent several months, to see the fund's management syle and performance over time. By keeping these mutual fund basics in mind when you look for investments, you'll begin to create a sound investment foundation. - 23196
About the Author:
Trying to figure out the best way to invest? Jane Calhoun is a blogger who writes about how to invest in mutual funds even in a shaky market.
posted by X - Men @ 1:20 AM
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