Costs despite Negative Returns:

Investors must pay sales charges, annual fees, and other expenses regardless of how fund performs. And, depending on timing of their investment, investors may also have to pay taxes on any capital gains distribution they receive - even if fund went on to perform poorly after they bought shares.

Lack of Control:

Investors typically cannot ascertain exact make-up of a fund's portfolio at any given time, nor can they directly influence which securities fund manager buys and sells or timing of those trades.

Price Uncertainty:

With an individual stock, you can obtain real-time (or close to real-time) pricing information with relative ease by checking financial websites or by calling your broker. You can also monitor how a stock's price changes from hour to hour - or even second to second. By contrast, with a mutual fund, price at which you purchase or redeem shares will typically depend on fund's net asset value, which fund might not calculate until many hours after you've placed your order.

Making any sort of investment involved a certain amount of risk so it is always wise to seek advice of a professional before making any decisions.

You may freely reprint this article provided author's biography remains intact:

Bond Funds:

Bond funds generally have higher risks than money market funds, largely because they typically pursue strategies aimed at producing higher yields. Because there are many different types of bonds, bond funds can vary dramatically in their risks and rewards.

Stock Funds :

Although a stock fund's value can rise and fall quickly (and dramatically) over short term, historically stocks have performed better over long term than other types of investments - including corporate bonds and government bonds.

You can purchase shares in some mutual funds by contacting fund directly. Other mutual fund shares are sold mainly through brokers, banks, financial planners, or insurance agents. All mutual funds will redeem (buy back) your shares on any business day.

Making any sort of investment involved a certain amount of risk so it is always wise to seek advice of a professional before making any decisions.

You may freely reprint this article provided author's biography remains intact: