What Online Resources are Available to Help Me Invest in Mutual Funds?

A mutual fund is a collective investment which pools the money of multiple investors to purchase bonds, stocks, and other securities. Typically, these accounts are professionally managed by a fund manager who makes investments according to the fund’s objective and level of risk investors are comfortable with.
Learning about mutual funds can assist you with making sound financial decisions that support short and long term goals. There are several resources online that can help you invest in mutual funds.

Materials About Mutual Funds from Government Sources

Mutual funds must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As such, the SEC has an entry on their website which gives an overview about mutual funds. The entry includes links to other parts of their site which explain terms you may not be familiar with such as deferred sales loads and redemption fees.
The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) is a government agency which insures money a person puts into the bank. If the bank defaults, then the depositor is guaranteed to receive up to $250,000 per insured bank they have an account with. Mutual funds are not insured and the FDIC has a page on their website explaining why. This is important information to know because you may not have any recourse should the mutual fund fail.

Mutual Fund Information from Independent Sources

The Vanguard Group is an investment management company that has been in business since 1975. They manage approximately $1.6 trillion in mutual funds. They operate a website geared towards personal investors with information about mutual funds and other savings products. They also allow you to build an investment portfolio online at the same site.
The Motley Fool is a financial services company started by David and Tom Gardner in 1993. In addition to providing information about mutual funds and other investment products, the site hosts forums where investors can collaborate and share their financial strategies.
Market Watch, a part of the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, is another investor education site. They have an entire section devoted to sharing information about mutual funds. They also provide a tool which allows investors to find information about a particular mutual fund. This is helpful when you are researching your available options. They also have a newsletter you can sign up for to get financial tips delivered right to your email box.
There are a number of other online sources that can help you invest in mutual funds. It is best to speak to an attorney or a qualified accountant prior to making any investments.
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