Mutual Fund Basics

By Lee McGowan, About.com Guide to Mutual Funds

What is a mutual fund? How do mutual funds compare to closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and other investments? An understanding of the structure, fees and types of mutual funds will help you decide if mutual funds are for you.

1. Mutual Funds 101
2. Benefits of Mutual Funds

Mutual Funds 101

Everyone wants to know what they are buying prior to the purchase. The same holds true for mutual funds. What is a mutual fund, how do you pay for it and are there any tax consequences?

• What Is a Mutual Fund?
• Making Sense Out of the Structure of Mutual Funds
• Understanding Mutual Fund Fees

• Buying a Mutual Fund
• Why Read the Mutual Fund Prospectus?
• Mutual Fund Capital Gains Distributions

Benefits of Mutual Funds

Once you have the basics down, you may want to know more details about the benefits of mutual funds. There are many benefits of investing in mutual funds; these articles will help you become familiar with several of the benefits.

• Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Mutual Fund
• Diversification: The 3 Most Important Things About Investing
• 3 Advantages of Professional Money Management
• Regulations of Mutual Funds
• Variety of Mutual Funds