Skip to main content
Topic index
AAIAll About Investing
Menu
All articles

Topic

Mutual Fund

44 articles

A mutual fund is a pool of money from many investors that a professional manager uses to buy stocks, bonds, or other securities. Instead of picking individual investments yourself, you own a share of the entire fund—which means you own a small piece of everything the fund holds. Mutual funds come in different types depending on what they invest in and what goal they're designed for, and they're one of the most common ways individual investors build a diversified portfolio.

The articles here explain how mutual funds work, what makes different funds different from each other, and how to think about whether a mutual fund fits your investment strategy. You'll learn what fees and expenses to watch for, how fund managers are evaluated, and how mutual funds compare to other investment types like ETFs and individual stocks.

  1. 01ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Which One Fits Your PortfolioLearn about ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Which One Fits Your Portfolio
  2. 02ETFs and Mutual Funds: What's the DifferenceLearn about ETFs and Mutual Funds: What's the Difference
  3. 03Are Index Funds Mutual Funds? How They're Related and How They DifferLearn about Are Index Funds Mutual Funds? How They're Related and How They Differ
  4. 04Index Funds vs. Mutual Funds: What's the Real DifferenceLearn about Index Funds vs. Mutual Funds: What's the Real Difference
  5. 05Money Market Mutual Funds and FDIC Insurance: What You Need to KnowLearn about Money Market Mutual Funds and FDIC Insurance: What You Need to Know
  6. 06Are Money Market Mutual Funds Safe? What You Need to Know About Risk and ReturnsLearn about Are Money Market Mutual Funds Safe? What You Need to Know About Risk and Returns
  7. 07How Mutual Funds Hold Bonds—and Why That MattersLearn about How Mutual Funds Hold Bonds—and Why That Matters
  8. 08How Quickly You Can Get Your Money Out of a Mutual FundLearn about How Quickly You Can Get Your Money Out of a Mutual Fund
  9. 09Why Mutual Funds Go Down as Well as UpLearn about Why Mutual Funds Go Down as Well as Up
  10. 10Does Robinhood Offer Mutual Funds? What You Can Buy InsteadLearn about Does Robinhood Offer Mutual Funds? What You Can Buy Instead
  11. 11How to Start Investing in a Mutual FundLearn about How to Start Investing in a Mutual Fund
  12. 12How Mutual Funds Pool Money and Buy Stocks for YouLearn about How Mutual Funds Pool Money and Buy Stocks for You
  13. 13How You Make Money From Mutual FundsLearn about How You Make Money From Mutual Funds
  14. 14How a Mutual Fund Pools Your Money and Buys StocksLearn about How a Mutual Fund Pools Your Money and Buys Stocks
  15. 15How Mutual Funds Work: The Basics of Pooled InvestingLearn about How Mutual Funds Work: The Basics of Pooled Investing
  16. 16How Often Mutual Fund Values Change and Why It MattersLearn about How Often Mutual Fund Values Change and Why It Matters
  17. 17How to Buy Mutual Funds: A Step-by-Step GuideLearn about How to Buy Mutual Funds: A Step-by-Step Guide
  18. 18How to Pick a Mutual Fund That Matches Your GoalsLearn about How to Pick a Mutual Fund That Matches Your Goals
  19. 19How to Buy Mutual Funds: The Steps From Opening an Account to Your First PurchaseLearn about How to Buy Mutual Funds: The Steps From Opening an Account to Your First Purchase
  20. 20Is an Index Fund a Mutual Fund? How They RelateLearn about Is an Index Fund a Mutual Fund? How They Relate
  21. 21ETF vs. Mutual Fund: What's the Real DifferenceLearn about ETF vs. Mutual Fund: What's the Real Difference
  22. 22Oakmark Is a Mutual Fund Company, Not a Single FundLearn about Oakmark Is a Mutual Fund Company, Not a Single Fund
  23. 23The S&P 500 Is Not a Mutual Fund—Here's What It Actually IsLearn about The S&P 500 Is Not a Mutual Fund—Here's What It Actually Is
  24. 24Is the S&P 500 a Mutual Fund? Understanding What You're Actually BuyingLearn about Is the S&P 500 a Mutual Fund? Understanding What You're Actually Buying
  25. 25When Mutual Funds Make Sense for Your PortfolioLearn about When Mutual Funds Make Sense for Your Portfolio
  26. 26Mutual Funds vs. ETFs: Which One Fits Your PortfolioLearn about Mutual Funds vs. ETFs: Which One Fits Your Portfolio
  27. 27How Money Market Mutual Funds Work and What They're ForLearn about How Money Market Mutual Funds Work and What They're For
  28. 28How Mutual Funds Pool Money and Invest ItLearn about How Mutual Funds Pool Money and Invest It
  29. 29How Mutual Funds Work: What Happens to Your MoneyLearn about How Mutual Funds Work: What Happens to Your Money
  30. 30How Mutual Funds Work: A Straightforward ExplanationLearn about How Mutual Funds Work: A Straightforward Explanation
  31. 31How Mutual Funds Work and What They CostLearn about How Mutual Funds Work and What They Cost
  32. 32What a No-Load Mutual Fund Is and Why the Fee Structure MattersLearn about What a No-Load Mutual Fund Is and Why the Fee Structure Matters
  33. 33ETF vs. Mutual Fund: How They Work and What Sets Them ApartLearn about ETF vs. Mutual Fund: How They Work and What Sets Them Apart
  34. 34What Your Mutual Fund's Expense Ratio Actually Costs YouLearn about What Your Mutual Fund's Expense Ratio Actually Costs You
  35. 35How Expense Ratios Work in Mutual FundsLearn about How Expense Ratios Work in Mutual Funds
  36. 36What the Expense Ratio Tells You About Mutual Fund CostsLearn about What the Expense Ratio Tells You About Mutual Fund Costs
  37. 37What Your Mutual Fund's Expense Ratio Actually Costs YouLearn about What Your Mutual Fund's Expense Ratio Actually Costs You
  38. 38How Open-Ended Mutual Funds Work and Why Most Investors Own ThemLearn about How Open-Ended Mutual Funds Work and Why Most Investors Own Them
  39. 39How to Choose a Mutual Fund That Fits Your Goals and BudgetLearn about How to Choose a Mutual Fund That Fits Your Goals and Budget
  40. 40ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: What Sets Them ApartLearn about ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: What Sets Them Apart
  41. 41Mutual Funds vs. ETFs: How They Work Differently and What That Means for Your PortfolioLearn about Mutual Funds vs. ETFs: How They Work Differently and What That Means for Your Portfolio
  42. 42How Mutual Funds Work and What You're Actually BuyingLearn about How Mutual Funds Work and What You're Actually Buying
  43. 43Where to Buy Mutual Funds: Your Main OptionsLearn about Where to Buy Mutual Funds: Your Main Options
  44. 44Where To Open a Mutual Fund Account and Start InvestingLearn about Where To Open a Mutual Fund Account and Start Investing