Looking for a trusted resource to help you add mutual funds to your investment strategy? With straightforward advice and a plethora of specific, up-to-date fund recommendations, personal finance expert Eric Tyson helps you avoid fund-investing pitfalls and maximize your chances of success.
Meet mutual funds — get an introduction to mutual funds and follow along financial housecleaning tips to get your personal finances in order
Know your options — discover the many fund-investing options out there and gain the know-how to decide which is right for you
Pick a winner — find out which funds and fund companies are worth investing in and get helpful advice on the best venues and avenues for buying funds
Fine-tune your portfolio — explore the basic strategies of portfolio construction and start building your portfolio to include mutual funds that match your specific financial goals
Stay ahead of the pack — maintain your portfolio, evaluate your funds' performance, and keep current with the best mutual fund information sources
Open the book and find:
Important investing concepts
Why you should opt for mutual funds
Where to find the best funds
Open-end vs. closed-end funds
Sample portfolios
How to avoid fund-investing pitfalls
When to enlist the services of an advisor
Which financial "gurus" to avoid
Common fund problems and how to fix them
Learn to:
Plan and implement a successful investment strategy that includes mutual funds
Find the best-managed funds that match your financial goals
Avoid fund-investing pitfalls
Select among mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other investing options
Part I: Mutual Funds: Sharing Risks and Rewards.
Chapter 1: Making More Money, Taking Less Risk.
Chapter 2: Mutual Funds: Pros and Cons.
Chapter 3: Funding Your Financial Plans.
Part II: Evaluating Alternatives to Funds.
Chapter 4: Selecting Your Own Stocks and Bonds.
Chapter 5: Exchange-Traded Funds and Other Fund Lookalikes.
Chapter 6: Hedge Funds and Other Managed Alternatives.
Part III: Separating the Best from the Rest.
Chapter 7: Finding the Best Funds.
Chapter 8: Using Fund Publications.
Chapter 9: Buying Funds from the Best Firms.
Part IV: Crafting Your Fund Portfolio.
Chapter 10: Perfecting a Fund Portfolio.
Chapter 11: Money Market Funds: Beating the Bank.
Chapter 12: Bond Funds: When Boring Is Best.
Chapter 13: Stock Funds: Meeting Your Longer Term Needs.
Chapter 14: Specialty Funds: One of a Kind.
Chapter 15: Working It Out: Sample Portfolios.
Chapter 16: Applications, Transfers, and Other Useful Forms.
Part V: Keeping Current and Informed.
Chapter 17: Evaluating Your Funds and Adjusting Your Portfolio.
Chapter 18: The Taxing Side of Mutual Funds.
Chapter 19: Common Fund Problems and How to Fix Them.
Chapter 20: Fund Ratings and Forecasters.
Chapter 21: Harnessing Your Computer's Power.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 22: Ten Common Fund-Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
Chapter 23: Ten Fund-Investing Fears to Conquer.
Chapter 24: Ten Tips for Hiring a Financial Adviser.
Appendix: Recommended Fund Companies and Discount Brokers.
Index.
