Mutual Funds

Rising fuel prices make investing in oil and gas more popular then ever before. But finding the best oil and gas mutual funds can be tricky business. Playing in energy requires knowing what you are getting involved with and a strong ability to monitor the market and know how and when to take action. If you have strong knowledge of the market and the ability to monitor your shares, then investing in oil and gas mutual funds can be a fantastic way to diversify your portfolio of investments. Choosing how to Invest Deciding whether to use your personal financial adviser …

Best Oil and Gas Mutual Funds Read More »

With 2008 approaching it’s end, we are heading towards one of the worst market drops in it’s recent history.  Retirement accounts have lost trillions of dollars with no potential of tax loss benefits.  But, what about taxable accounts?  Surely, this is a year that capital losses can be taken?  While this is usually the case with most stock investments, but most investors and boomers have to be careful about are mutual funds in taxable accounts. Paying Taxes In A Down Market As absurd as that sounds, this is a reality in down years of the market.  Nobody likes to pay …

Boomers Beware of Mutual Fund Distributions Read More »

One of the biggest questions many people ask is why their mutual funds aren’t performing as well as they should be. Mutual fund performance is a bit of a tricky subject, since part of mutual performance is based on what the markets are doing. If you have an equity mutual fund, it’s not going to do well when the stock market is down. When financial markets are down, your mutual fund performance will be down as well. On the flip side, when markets are on fire, your mutual fund performs well. Even so, many are disappointed that their returns are not keeping …

Boosting Your Mutual Fund Performance Read More »

In recent months, many dividend paying stocks, along  a favorite of investors, have been hit during the world wide financial crisis, and have cut their dividends. As a result, a number of mutual funds that invest in these stocks have also reduced their dividends. What does this mean to you, the shareholder, in these funds? Expect more dividend cuts for these, and other funds, are possible as the year unfolds. The dividend changes reflect the recent, and anticipated reduction in dividends paid by companies in 2009, in  the current low interest rate environment. Let’s take a closer look at why the …

What Do Dividend Cuts Mean For Mutual Fund Investors? Read More »

If you have received paperwork regarding a class action mutual fund settlement, the first thing you need to understand is that the documentation is not a scam. The class action lawsuit stems from the 2003 mutual fund scandal were mutual funds were involved in market-timing and late trading practices that are illegal. In 2003, New York’s Attorney General Eliot Spitzer began an investigation after receiving a tip from a Wall Street working that late trading was becoming a problem. Late trading occurs when traders are permitted to purchase fund shares after the 4:00 pm EST set time for mutual fund prices. …

What You Need To Know Mutual Fund Settlements Read More »

Deciding where to invest your hard earned money can be a challenge. With so many options available it can be tough to decide what type of investment account(s) is right for you. One option you will highly want to consider is a mutual fund. Mutual funds are a great way to invest your money into a diverse portfolio. Here is a look at what a mutual fund is, how they work and what the advantages of investing in one are. What Is A Mutual Fund When you invest into a mutual fund you are investing your money into an account …

Mutual Funds Explained Read More »

Your investment portfolio is lined with all types of mutual funds.  You have them in your 401k, your Roth IRA, and your investment account.   If you happen to notice a newsletter from your 401k custodian that states that one of your mutual funds you own is on a “watch list“, and now you’re wondering what the he** that means.  Does that mean that they are watching it because they think it’s getting ready to take off?  Or take a dive? It’s important that you understand what it means when one of your mutual funds is placed on a watch list …

Should You Sell Your Mutual Fund if it’s Placed on a Watch List? Read More »