As an investment professional name recognition is important. Mass Mutual or Foresters?  Is the question.  Foresters is a not for profit that pours their money back into childrens charities which is in line with my beliefs and yet know one has heard of them despite thier 130 year history.  On the other hand, Mass Mutual has a 150 year history and everyone has heard of them.
123706
I've been a financial planner for 9 years. For the first 8 years I worked for the big insurance/financial services conglomerates. I learned very quickly that your clients are not doing business with the logo on your business card, they are doing business with you.\n\nWhile the big name may help a little if you are mass marketing or cold calling, it will mean very little to your clients as long as you are providing trustworthy, accurate and insightful advice. \n\nMore importantly, does Foresters have the same level of support and resources for you practice as Mass does? If you are new to the business go where you will get the most training and support. Like I said, I spent 8 years between two different "massmutuals" and I learned alot of valuable lessons. I have since gone independent and I have never been happier. Good luck.
6407
Try some of these links:\n\nhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&oi=defmore&defl=en&q=define:Mutual+fund\nhttp://www.mfea.com/\nhttp://www.guardfamily.org/B06/B0601/A0001_D/glossary/bhs04_glossary.html
568454
while investing always aim for long term, and by opting dividend reinvestment mode you will be having more number of units in you name and there by more chances of dividends etc., in future., btw dividends are exempt from income tax
382566
It depends. A good stock will perform better than a good mutual fund.  A good mutual fund will perform better than an ETF.  Stocks are subject to more specific risk than a mutual fund or an EFT.  Unless you have a diversified portfolio of about 10 to 20 stocks, there will be less risk investing in a mutual fund or an ETF.  ETFs have lower expense ratios.  They have become very popular lately and there are hundreds of different ones available.  Mutual funds are available in the thousands.  They have a somewhat bad reputation lately because 70% underperform the market in general.  And many have very high expenses.  I do believe there are many mutual funds worth owning, especially investing in those areas where an individual has difficulty investing on his own, such as in small cap stocks, mirco cap stocks, and foreign stocks.  \n\nA good investment plan is to invest in some of each.
485365
This isn't a scam.  But, it is an odd group (Woodman of the World [WOW]).  I don't know a lot about them but they are one of several small "fraternal" organizations that bind together to form a common financial base for all the members.  International Order of Foresters (IOF) is another one.  They sell financial contracts primarily to their members, but their agents can sell outside the group, as far as I know.  With some of these organizations, you give them all of your earthly wealth, including real estate, and they promise to take care of you forever.  When you die, they keep your assets for the common good of the group.  You have to really want safety and security over everything else in life to join up.
62052
I think most financial advisors would say that is a fairly conservative long term investment. Specially if you are doing it through a mutual fund company like Vanguard which has pretty low expenses
214759
A bank and insurance company are the last places to go for a ROTH or regular IRA.  The investment choices are rarely good or they're way too expensive......\n\nIf you don't like Schwab (I think they're fine) try; Fidelity, Ameritrade, Vanguard... The fees should be reasonable. Edward Jones is also a great choice.... but you'll be paying "commissions" on almost every transaction ($400 - $600 for every $10,000 put in a Stock Mutual Fund") (they are good in their recommendations, their system watches out for consumers getting into inappropriate products).\n\nGood luck.....\nBTW: Learn more over the next year. It will make you a better investor & richer.... it's not as hard as some would want you to believe.
65323
I own and recommend the following mutual funds without hesitation to anyone, for any situation and length of time. These are the first funds in which I invested, and I've owned them all for 3.5 to 4 years. I have ranked them from highest to lowest 3 year return.\n\nBUFSX\nCAAPX\nMVALX\nDODBX\nOAKBX\n\nI advise you to do your own research and comparisons at Morningstar.com.
484530
If you're in Britain, the Co-operative Bank is good.\n\nIt's the only one with a complete ethical investment policy, and I've always found them helpful and less impersonal than the Halifax, my previous bank.
320797
Mutual funds: It is mostly composed of 25 to over 200 different companies. These companies are picked by a professional who has at least over 10 years of experience in the stock market (this person is called a professional portfolio manager). Because it invests in so many companies, mutual funds are considered to be diverse (meaning there is a low risk of losing lots of money if one company in the fund fails).\n\nThe type of insurance you are talking about that has savings in it is a "cash value life insurance." There are 3 different forms of cash value and they are whole life, universal life, and variable life. To get the money from the cash value, you will have to BORROW IT and PAY IT BACK with INTERESTS. If you wish to take it all out, you will have to surrender your policy, but a surrender charge will apply.\n\nIf you receive dividends from your life insurance, that is because you are overpaying your premiums. This is not the same as dividends in mutual funds. Dividends from mutual funds are only paid out if there are profits. Dividends from life insurance are only paid out if you overpaid your premiums.\n\nHope this helps.
267925
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR POSITION. IF YOUR A FAMILY MEMBER IT SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO SPEAK WITH THE FAMILIES ATTORNEY AND GET THE INFORMATION. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING, THESE TRUSTS ARE RECORDED BUT AREN'T GENERALLY A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE WISE TO DISCUSS W/AN ATTY. IF YOU HAVE A GENUINE NEED TO KNOW A JUDGE COULD GRANT A REQUEST TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO YOU.
285432
I'm a professional investor.  I highly recommend that you invest inside of a ROTH IRA.  Not only for the tax benefits, but as a young person, if you need the money for a house down payment, you can get money out of a Roth.  I would strongly consider avoiding stocks if you're a beginner.  You're competing with professionals who do this for a living and you may get lucky, but 99% of beginners *eventually* take themselves to the cleaners.  You probably don't have a ton of capital to begin with, so a diversified mutual fund makes the most long-term sense.\n\nI do recommend beginning to invest in college.  It's a great habit to form.  I did the same.  While my buddies were out buying much nicer cars and even boats with money they saved, I was socking money into a retirement account.  The difference an appreciating IRA makes in comparison with a depreciating vehicle is mind boggling.\n\nStart now.  Start simple and diversified with a mutual fund.  Invest inside of a Roth IRA.\n\nIf you really want to trade stocks, then be willing to lose 50% or more of what you're starting with.  Most people I know, do.\n\nGood luck, email me with any questions,\n\nJared
315935
If you want to EARN A 10-15% RETURN WITH A SECURED INVESTMENT, listen up. I am working with this company called ARTSTAR MANAGEMENT. They offer a 10-15% RETURN on your money. They can work with any money including IRA’s, and 401k’s, OR CD'S. They pay interest directly to you monthly and the investment is SECURED!!!! But they do have a minimum investment. Give this place a call it’s a great way to park money for safety and get a good return. Here is the address www.webuyhouses2.net Fill out a form and they will send you a no-obligation information package and you can compare their investment to the mutual funds and such. HAPPY INFORMED INVESTING!!!
407354
Are you thinking of a ROTH IRA?  It is named after the author of the bill allowing/creating this type of investment that allows for tax free withdrawals at retirement because the contributions have already been taxed.  Unlike a traditional IRA where the contributions are pre-tax and you pay the taxes once you begin withdrawing at retirement.\n\nRoth was the legislator who contrived this investment.
403449
1) The minimum investment in mf-mis is varied from amc to amc.If u want to invest in growth option the amount is arround Rs 10000/-.But if u want to invest in monthly dividend option the minimum amount is arround Rs25000/-.\n2) No the monthly dividend is not assured.It may fluctuate,may not pay every month.\n3)Very good question.This is as per your risk return appetite u should compare it which 1 is best for u.If u are a tax payer then mutual fund-mis is the best option for u.if u invest in growth option only long term capital gain tax is applicable to u.But if u invest in mly/qly/yly dividend option dividend is tax free in the hands of u but amc have to pay tax to government.So growth option is the best for absolute return.U may opt for systematic withdrawal plan.In the case of pomis it is assured @8% to u.but interest is fully taxable.
562339
If you are from India, check out the  link below. \n\nBasically, they are a pooling of investors that would rather have someone else do their investing for them.  They give their money to a mutual fund manager and the manager does the investing. For a fee, of course.  There are all types of mutual funds. Ones that invest in growth stocks, ones that invest in bonds, ones that invest in undervalued stocks, ones that invest in foreign stocks, and relatively new, ones that invest in a market average.  The last came about because mutual funds in general--70%--could not get a better return than the market in general. \n\nThat does not mean that all mutual funds are bad. But is does mean that you have to do your home work before buying one.  You can get your money back by just giving them a phone call or sending a request over the internet. Some mutual funds are sold by stock brokers and the funds are held by the broker and you sell them by calling the broker.  Every year at year end the mutual fund distributes the money that they realized on their investments.  That has pluses and minuses.  The plus is that you get the money. The minus is that you have to pay taxes on it. The index funds do not distribute so much because they do not sell their investments so often. So they are an advantage in that respect.
52813
Some may be oughtright frauds where no such stock exists.  Some may be frauds wherein a licensed broker wants you to invest with him and it's all a big boiler room scam.  Some may be actual listed companies that are not following SEC rules on truthfully reporting their finances.  \n\nBut all are attempts to get you to part with your money.