Steven Joshua Samuel: 5 facts about mutual funds

About half of U.S. households own mutual funds, according to an April 12 MarketWatch article by Kirk Spano. Although mutual funds are a good choice for many investors, some buy mutual funds for their retirement plan, college savings or personal accounts before understanding even the basics of how they work and what they cost.

How to choose mutual funds like a pro

Nearly 8,000 mutual funds of every stripe can be purchased directly from a mutual fund firm, through an adviser or at any brokerage firm. If you count all the different share classes, the number of funds rises to 22,655, according to Morningstar.

Mutual funds: The 5 main types explained

Mutual funds: The 5 main types explained

How to Choose Mutual Funds Like a Professional

Rather than follow the crowd into an abyss, consider these savvy strategies for picking funds.

Mutual Funds Weekly: Cheap mutual funds aren’t always better

With mutual funds, you don’t always get what you pay for. That’s often true with expensive products, since fees and other costs are a drag on investment returns. But it’s also the case with low-cost offerings, where what looks like a bargain for active management is just a loser.

How to Buy...: How to buy ... mutual funds

When choosing mutual funds, few aspects are within investors' control. Future performance isn't one of them. But expenses, risk, manager tenure and tax-efficiency are qualities that can be judged before you buy.