The Everything Mutual Funds Book

by Mintzer, Richard; Littmann, Barry

• ISBN13: 9781580624190
• ISBN10: 1580624197
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Adams Media Corp

Summary

Covering both online investing and traditional mutual fund purchasing, this is the perfect primer for readers just beginning to invest. The book includes different types of mutual funds, what you should know about fund managers, understanding fees and expenses, and more. Two-color with illustrations throughout.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Matual Fund Basics: What Are Mutual Funds and How Do They Work?	1	(8)
The Growth (and Brief History) of Mutual Funds	5	(4)
Mutual Fund Investing: The First Steps	9	(24)
The Slow and Steady Approach to Investing	12	(1)
Risk Versus Tolerance	12	(3)
The Other Risks	15	(3)
Diversification	18	(2)
Allocating Your Assets	20	(1)
Asset Allocation Planning	21	(2)
Investment Objectives and You!	23	(1)
The Psychology of Investing	24	(5)
Psychological Profiles	29	(4)
Different Types of Mutual Funds: How to Choose the Fund That Is Right for You	33	(54)
Cap Sizes	34	(2)
Categories and You	36	(2)
Indices	38	(6)
Some of the Other Indices	44	(1)
Index Funds	45	(2)
Choosing an Index Fund	47	(3)
Other Index Fund Choices	50	(1)
Sector Funds	51	(13)
Growth Funds	64	(1)
Let's Get Aggressive	65	(2)
Going Long (Term)	67	(1)
Growth and Income Funds	68	(1)
Emerging Growth Funds	69	(1)
Value Funds	69	(1)
A Value Fund in Action	70	(3)
Asset Allocation Funds	73	(2)
Fund of Funds	75	(3)
Select Funds	78	(1)
International Stock Funds	79	(1)
International Indices	79	(2)
International Strategies	81	(6)
Fund Size: The Large and Small of It	87	(12)
Small Funds	88	(2)
Really Small Funds	90	(2)
Large Funds	92	(3)
Volatility	95	(4)
The Name Is Bond, Bond Funds	99	(16)
What Puts the Fun in Bond Funds?	102	(1)
Additional Bond Risks	103	(1)
Types of Bond Funds	104	(6)
The Bond Fund Prospectus	110	(2)
Bond Index Funds	112	(3)
Money Market Funds	115	(8)
Taxes or No Taxes?	118	(1)
What to Consider	119	(4)
Mutual Fund Families	123	(10)
What to Look For	126	(2)
Other Benefits	128	(1)
On the Other Hand	128	(5)
Closed-End Mutual Funds	133	(8)
Types of Closed-End Funds	137	(1)
Why a Discount?	138	(1)
The Bottom Line	139	(2)
Loads or No Loads, a Loaded Question, Plus Fees and Expenses	141	(12)
Gray Areas	143	(1)
Loads Versus No-Loads	144	(3)
Understanding Fees and Expenses	147	(6)
Brokers and Planners	153	(18)
Full Service Brokers	155	(1)
Discount Brokers	155	(2)
The Do-It-Yourself-Investor	157	(3)
Full Service Brokers Go Internet and Discount Brokers Offer Advice	160	(1)
Financial Planners and You	161	(5)
Do You Need a Financial Planner?	166	(1)
Broker Concerns	166	(5)
Fund Managers: Who Are They and What You Should Know About Them	171	(8)
Resume and Credits, Please	173	(3)
Management Styles	176	(3)
Fun Reading: The Prospectus and Annual Report	179	(10)
The Prospectus	180	(3)
Derivatives: What are They?	183	(2)
The Annual Report	185	(2)
Legally Speaking	187	(2)
Keeping Track of Your Mutual Funds	189	(12)
Looking at Returns	191	(2)
Following (and Finding) Funds Online	193	(3)
The Top Five	196	(1)
Reading the Newspaper	197	(4)
Mutual Funds and Taxes	201	(12)
Taking the Fun out of Funds	202	(1)
Two Types of Tax Bites	202	(1)
A Closer Look	203	(3)
Cost Basis	206	(1)
How Much Do You Actually Pay?	206	(3)
Choosing Funds: What to Watch for to Be Tax-Efficient	209	(2)
Tax Planning: A Basic Review	211	(2)
Mutual Funds and Retirement Plans	213	(12)
The Long, Long Term	214	(1)
Apathy	215	(3)
Retirement Strategies	218	(1)
Variable Annuities	219	(3)
Variable Life Insurance	222	(3)
Buying, Holding, and Selling Your Mutual Fund Shares	225	(20)
Buying	228	(2)
Buying Additional Shares	230	(3)
Automatic Reinvesting	233	(1)
Dollar Cost Averaging	233	(1)
Value Averaging	234	(1)
Automatic Investment Plans	235	(1)
Market Timing	235	(1)
Lump Sum Investing	236	(2)
From Buyer to Shareholder	238	(1)
Selling Your Shares	238	(3)
Systematic Withdrawals	241	(2)
Online Trading	243	(2)
Asset Allocation: Some Plans of Action	245	(16)
The Conservative Allocation Route	248	(3)
The Middle of the Road Allocation Route	251	(2)
The Aggressive Allocation Route	253	(5)
Asset Allocation---A Final Word	258	(3)
Conclusion: Some Positives and Negatives	261	(10)
All That Glitters Isn't Gold!	262	(2)
Common Complaints about Mutual Funds	264	(4)
Conclusion	268	(3)
Index	271