Tuesday, December 22, 2009

How to buy mutual funds

Mutual funds is a convenient way to invest in a wide array of investments with just one purchase, and have professional fund managers earn high interest for you. It is one of the easiest ways to invest for the long term and for your retirement.

It is always a good idea to read through the prospectus to gain an idea where the focus of the mutual fund would be.

You will also need to identify your investment objectives. Such as investing for your kid's college education or saving for retirement.

Depending on your risk profile and your monthly expenses, you will have to decide what percentage of your income you should allocate to your monthly premiums.

You can read through financial magazines to get an idea of the various mutual funds available for investment. Remember to check the fund's past performance to see if their returns are worth it.

Remember to ask what are the expenses of the mutual fund. Anything above 1% can generally be considered to be expensive.

Check also how much of your investment would be capital guaranteed. Such a feature is useful so you can rest easy at nights.

Seek advice from a financial adviser if you are not sure. These professionals would be able to help you with your risk profile and recommend one for your budget and needs.