The Hidden Costs of Mutual Funds
Investors can research the costs of mutual funds they're considering by consulting a variety of online sources, reports Amy Buttell Crane.

Readers Favor Reasonable-Cost, Scandal-Free Funds
Forget flavor-of-the-month funds -- readers responding to this year's Mutual Fund Survey go for a balanced diet of diversified funds at a reasonable cost.

Understanding Fund Share Classes
Higher expenses and the lost opportunities that come with mutual funds can take money out of your pocket. Put those costs under a microscope, especially between different share classes. Here's how.

Letters to the Editor

Easy as ETFs

Easy as ETFs

Recently, I wanted to diversify my portfolio and take advantage of international growth, but I really did not feel confident in my knowledge of international stocks. I quickly discovered that exchange traded funds (also known as ETFs) are convenient and affordable while helping diversify a portfolio and manage risk.

Mining for Mutual Funds and ETFs
Thomas Saler details a few online mutual fund research resources you may not have visited before.

China, at Your Own Risk
Columnist Amy Buttell Crane reviews three China-focused mutual funds, noting some of the challenges facing managers of such funds.

Fidelity Magellan Fund
Profiled this month is Fidelity Magellan, once a leader among actively managed mutual funds under the direction of Peter Lynch.

BlackRock Global Resources Portfolio
BlackRock Global Resources Portfolio and iShares S&P Global Energy Sector Index Fund -- These two funds as well as the energy sector are reviewed.

The Life of a Research Analyst
The life of a research analyst at a typical mutual fund is described by Amy Crane.

A Look Inside American Funds
BetterInvesting Magazine interviewed Chuck Freadhauf, spokesman for The Capital Group Companies.

Americans Take Notice of Fund Scandals
Stock Holdings Rise

Permanent Portfolio Aggressive Growth Fund

Legg Mason Partners Aggressive Growth Fund
All-cap funds Legg Mason Partners Aggressive Growth and Permanent Portfolio Aggressive Growth are profiled this month.

Fidelity Freedom 2030
Fidelity Freedom 2030 - One of the "buy and forget" life-cycle funds that have rapidly been gaining popularity is reviewed by Amy Crane.

Fund Blogs, Podcasts and Websites
Columnist Amy Buttell Crane relates how to access some of the best new-media resources -- blogs, podcasts and online newsletters -- that are available to investors.

The Biology of Biotech
This is the second in an occasional series in "Mutual Fund Matters" on investing in particular sectors and industries through mutual funds.

Headaches for Pharmaceutical Funds
This is the first in an occasional series of articles on using funds to invest in certain industries.

Actively Managed vs. Index Funds
Actively Managed vs. Index Funds

The Index Fund's Risk Advantage
James Miller shares his views on investing in individual stocks versus index funds.

Not All Index Funds Created Equal
If you're looking for a way to match the return of certain types of investments without doing a lot of work, buy an index fund.

In Search of the Perfect Fund Manager
When you think of your dream money manager, a few candidates come to mind: Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, Bill Miller and so on. But with thousands of actively managed funds in the marketplace, few funds can afford to be so choosy. And how does an individual investor performing due diligence go about sorting the wheat from the chaff?

Managing Your Retirement Portfolio
If you're retired, or close to retirement, crafting a portfolio that meets your dual needs for income and growth can be a balancing act. Lean too far in one direction, and you risk running out of money; lean too far the other way, and you take on too much risk, period.

Micro-cap Funds Wild at Heart
If there's an area of the U.S. stock market where mainstream investors most likely fear to tread, it's micro-cap stocks. Micro-caps -- the smallest publicly traded companies -- aren't followed by many stock analysts, are extremely volatile and are tainted by association with infamous penny stocks that spammers and boilerroom brokers peddle to the unwary.

The Lure of Small-Cap Funds
Take the expression "know what you own" too literally and you'll end up investing only in what's familiar. For many investors, this results in a portfolio chock-full of well-known stocks and mutual funds.

Three Mutual Fund Screens

Three Mutual Fund Screens

Free online screening tools make finding and ranking mutual funds a day at the beach. Amy Crane describes some of the better screening resources and features.

Growth, Value -- or Both?
In the tug of war between growth and value, which philosophy is right?

A Spin Through Market Cycles
When you understand that the market and its various components cycle in and out of favor, but that no one knows for sure when these cycles will begin or end, you realize there's no point in trying to time the market.

Tax Consequences of Selling Your Mutual Funds
Alexandra Armstrong and Karen Preysnar discuss the tax consequences associated with selling mutual funds.

Dollars, Taxes
When reviewing your mutual funds, what do you need to consider to avoid a large tax bill? Amy Crane offers some insight.

How To Track the Cost Basis of Mutual Funds
Tracking the cost basis of mutual funds can be confusing. Alexandra Armstrong offers assistance.