Updated Articles and Resources

By Kent Thune, About.com Guide

Mutual Funds Quiz Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Test your knowledge of mutual funds with a quiz on the basics.
What Are World Stock Mutual Funds? Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
What are world stock mutual funds? The definition of this fund type is probably not what you think.
What Are Mutual Fund Class C Shares? Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Should you invest in C Share mutual funds? Before investing, be sure to understand how the different share classes charge fees and expenses.
What Are Fund Flows? Created: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 Updated: Friday, April 26, 2013
Mutual fund flows, which are usually called fund flows, indicate how investors are investing their money in mutual funds. The flows are measures of dollars flowing into or out of mutual funds.
Lazy Portfolio Examples Created: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
There are many examples of lazy portfolio styles and structures but they do not need to be complex for the best results.
How to Build the Best Lazy Portfolio Created: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Want to know how to build the best lazy portfolio? Start with these timeless and tested investing strategies. Set it and forget it!
Systematic Investment Plan Created: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Automating your savings with a systematic investment plan is one of the smartest things you can do as an investor. Find out why automation is more about psychology and financial.
Benefits of Mutual Funds Created: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The numerous benefits of mutual funds make them the first and best choice of investment for the do-it-yourself crowd. If you are a beginner and want to know why mutual funds are a good fit for your...
The 5 Percent Rule of Investment Allocation Created: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
How much of one investment security is too much? To be properly diversified, to obtain reasonable returns while minimizing risk, pay close attention to the 5 Percent Rule of Investment Allocation.
Pros and Cons of TIPS Mutual Funds Created: Sunday, May 24, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 08, 2013
TIPS mutual funds offer many advantages to investors. TIPS are bonds issued by the US Treasury that pay a coupon on the adjusted principal of the bond. The bond is adjusted on a semi-annual basis w...
Average Expense Ratios for Mutual Funds Created: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 28, 2013
There are plenty of good mutual funds with below-average expense ratios to choose from in the universe. Therefore don't settle for expensive when you can have inexpensive AND high quality! Check o...
What is a Security? Created: Thursday, March 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 28, 2013
What is a security? Learn the definition and know examples of the different types.
How to Invest a Lump Sum Created: Thursday, March 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 28, 2013
Whether you want to invest a 401(k) or IRA rollover, a tax refund, an inheritance, or you win the lottery, there are a few smart ways to best manage a large amount of cash, no matter what the stock...
Invest Objective Definition and Examples Created: Thursday, March 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 28, 2013
When you hear the term, investment objective, what does it mean and how can you go about forming an investment objective for yourself? What are some examples?
Before You Buy a Mutual Fund Created: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Before you buy a mutual fund, be sure to know the basics and best practices of investing. These are the "do's and don'ts" of selecting and purchasing mutual funds.
10 Ways to Time the Market With Mutual Funds Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2013
If you think about it for a moment, all investing is a form of market timing, even if you consider yourself a buy-and-hold investor. As with all investment strategies and financial plans, there are...
Best Mutual Funds for Beginners Created: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Choosing the best mutual funds for beginners is not a matter of finding the best performers of the day. Instead, beginners are wise to know their investment objectives and future plans and prepare ...
What Are No-Load Funds? Created: Sunday, March 17, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
What are no-load funds? Learn about the benefits and types of loads and why smart investors choose these low-cost mutual funds.
Lump Sum Distribution - Definition Created: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
What is a lump sum distribution? What is the best way to invest the cash from a 401(k) or IRA rollover? Find out what to do when you are given distribution options from your retirement accounts.
Making Sense Out of the Structure of Mutual Funds Created: Sunday, August 02, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Technically, mutual funds are “open-end” funds -- one of four types of investment companies. Closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and unit investment trusts are the three other types...
Dogs of the Dow Mutual Funds Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
There a few mutual funds that invest in the Dogs of the Dow. However, this is not just for market timers. These 'dogs' are also among the best stocks for dividends.
Best Stocks and Sectors for Rising Interest Rates Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Market timing can be challenging but there are some logical moves traders and investors can make to invest in the best stocks and sectors in a rising interest rate environment.
Dow Theory Definition Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
What is Dow Theory and how can investors use it for market timing? Does it work or is it just another theory?
How to Time the Market With Sector Funds Created: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Learn the best way to time the market with sector funds, index funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), without taking undue risk.
Stock Market and Economic Cycles Created: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Understanding the difference between market and economic cycles and how they are related to investment performance can help determine the best timing strategies and portfolio structure.
What is The Great Rotation? Created: Sunday, February 24, 2013 Updated: Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Great Rotation refers to an investment trend of transition out of bonds and to stocks. This movement has also been called "a flight to equities."
Using S&P 500 Index P/E Ratio Created: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, February 05, 2013
If you learn how to interpret the overall value of stocks by using the P/E ratio on the S&P 500 Index, you can gain insights into the future direction of equity prices.
Alternative Mutual Fund Types Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
For the investor who wants a simple way to gain exposure to alternative investments or to find easy hedging strategies, alternative mutual funds can be an wise choice if used appropriately.
How to Invest in Closed-End Mutual Funds Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
Due to the rise of ETFs, closed-end funds have fallen out of favor with investors. However, if you know how to invest in closed-end funds, you may find advantages to other fund types.
SRI Funds - Definition Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
Socially responsible investing (SRI) seeks to encourage responsible behaviors, including those supporting positive environmental practices, human rights and religious views. Some of the best SRI fu...
Bear Market Funds Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
Bear market funds are designed to make money when the broad market benchmarks, such as the S&P 500 Index, are losing money -- a risky but simple and potentially rewarding market timing strategy. Bu...
Momentum Investing - Definition, Strategies and Funds Created: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The definition of momentum investing is just as one may guess -- a strategy of capitalizing on current price trends with the expectation that momentum will continue to build in the same direction. ...