which mutual funds are load and no-load ones?
409965
When you get the prospectus of a mutual, they have to disclose the fees, so it's pretty trivial to tell if it's load or no-load.  Just beware that no-load doesn't mean no fees.  They just charge the fees throughout the year instead.
4056
Assuming you're talking about indexing...\n\nETFs generally have lower expenses, but you buy them like stocks & pay comissions.\n\nMutual funds have higher expenses, but you generally don't (or shouldn't) pay fees to get into them.\n\nIf you're looking at periodically (say each payday) adding to the investments, mutuals may be cheaper since you don't pay comissions each time.\n\nIn the long run, an ETF that mirrors the same index as a mutual fund will be cheaper because the fund expenses keep eating away at your returns.
765057
Before investing in anything I'd suggest at least getting a basic understanding of mutual funds and investing (in general).  If you're too lazy to learn & just want a quick investment....\nVanguard Funds would be the best choice. Do the S&P500 Index Fund or the Total Market Index Fund for diversification & low cost(no commission).\n\nA Brokerage may charge account fees for such a low balance. \nFor $3000 go direct to a good no-load mutual fund company like;\nVanguard\nFidelity\nT. Rowe Price\netc.
185751
3 years or less I would have to say a CD or ING Direct.  That is not enough time for a mutual fund.
1049712
There is a low risk mutual fund out there, ticker symbol PRPFX.  It has never lost money in any year since it started in 1997, and has averaged a return of 6.5% each year.  Go to morningstar.com to get more information on it.  Also, you can acquire it without any fees at Charles Schwab.  Good Luck.
308158
There probably isn't a Water Resource Mutual Fund; However there is a Water Resource ETF. It's Powershares Water Resources, the ticker is PHO. I think the fund has what your looking for, they invest in water resource companies. You can read the prospectus at www.powershares.com
178271
Vanguard is the low priced leader in the industry. Low expenses and no loads. It is my number one choice. Fidelity has some very low expensed funds, but in comparing money market returns between Vanguard & Fidelity, Vanguard wins. The difference is slight, therefore I would choose convenience if you had a Fidelity office nearby and liked having an office to go to.\n\nAmong the fund families you have many choices, read the educational info @ bobbrinker.com\n\nContrary to the registered reps advice above, unless you are a sophisticated investor, picking a basket of stocks is nonsense. You can't possibly do the research as a sideline and hope to beat the indexes. \n\nI was a RR, Financial Ops & General securities princ. of several brokerage firms in the past. The industry wants you to buy stocks, they can't stand to see you buy no load funds.
43974
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/research_strategies/mutual_funds?cmsid=P-980434&lvl1=research_strategies&lvl2=mutual_funds\n\nIf this is too specific just go to http://www.schwab.com, click on Research then click on 'Mutual Funds'.
823551
Mutual funds let you start with low amounts. If not knowledgeable an index mutual fund is best + is cheapest in internal cost. Schwab.com or 1 of the others makes opening an account easy. If no IRA - open 1 1st. I would chose a global index fund right now\n. SWINX if going with schwab
509331
Mutual funds are pools of money that are managed by an investment company. They offer investors a variety of goals, depending on the fund and its investment charter. Some funds, for example, seek to generate income on a regular basis. Others seek to preserve an investor's money. Still others seek to invest in companies that are growing at a rapid pace. Funds can impose a sales charge, or load, on investors when they buy or sell shares.\n\nYou invest in it by purchasing the fund from the investment company.\n\nThe investment company will have a minimum requirement on how long you may hold the fund before selling.
1092607
Forbes magazine has annual lists of top producing funds, and their managers. Money magazine also does this. You can also go to Morningstar's web site (same name) and they also rank performance. One thing that I have heard and read over and over again is that you want to find a fund that has good history not only with the fund managers, but also their assistants.
75811
A fund that can sell stocks short. (Mutual funds cannot do it)
56949
www.bankrate.com\n Best mutual fund is subjective to your goals.  That question cannot be answered.
369295
Morningstar should have most anything you want to know about mutual funds: http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/Funds.html\n\nHowever, there's a good reason why they say for mutual funds that past performance doesn't mean much for future returns.  Often times, the biggest gainers in the 1 year category just took huge risks or got lucky, so use some good judgment and try to do some research before investing, rather than just picking the last hot mutual fund, which is a good way to get underperformance.
664117
Mutual funds are actively mangaged...ie, the manager takes everyone's money , pools it, and buys and sells whatever stocks seem like decent buys.\n\nETFs tend to be pretty static, ie, not alot of change in the makeup of them.\n\nETF's prices change throughout the day as the underlying stocks change price. Theoretically, you could buy in the morning and sell in the afternoon and have 2 different prices. Mutual funds TEND to get priced once a day, after the closing bell.\n\nWith much less turnover, you won't get capital gains distributions from ETFs like you would mutual funds.\n\nETFs trade like stocks...but they are "stocks" made up of other stocks.\n\nETFs are really popular now and getting more popular. Expenses TEND to be lower...if you can find some you like...that might be the route to go.
523002
They were bought out or merged.  I don't remember who by.  I should, though, I own a mutual fund through them.
466687
http://www.morningstar.com/\n\nIt allows you to pick category types and set characteristics of what you are looking for. Part of the site is free however part requires a fee. The free options are good enough for the average investor though. It covers stocks and mutual funds.\n\nBy the way, if you are just looking for expert picks be very careful following them. Personally I stay away from expert picks because many experts have an agenda of why they choose a stock that does benefit the normal, average investor. For example, why is it that most stock picks by analyists are near their all time high? Well because their trying to drive up the price so they can sell at the top while you hold the bag. Bottom line if you dont understand how to evaluate stocks on your own... dont invest in them. Get a mutual fund which is really a bunch of stocks in one. There are a lot of options also in regards to mutual funds: company type, size of companies, growth and risk potential for example. I learned the hard way in regards to the analyists back during the tech boom of the 80 and 90's. A lot of them got sued for doing what I said above. Dont think they arent still doing it.