which type of mutual funds should i buy that is growth or dividend?and why?
541829
For most stocks the big bull market ended in 2001. They have pretty much gone nowhere since that time.\n\nToday's bull market is in companies that produce commodities such as oil, natural gas, base metals, and precious metals. This bull market has a long way to go, so don't be put off by the fact that these stocks have been going down for a couple of weeks. They may have farther to fall, but they will likely start coming back up between now and the end of the year.\n\nSome mutual funds are set up for specific sectors such as mining or energy. If you need current income, check the prospectus (the document they always send you before you invest) or call the company to see what their payout rate is.\n\nA good plan is to invest slowly over time. If you buy now and it goes up, that's great. If it goes down, you can buy more at a lower price. Either way you win.\n\nBest of success to you.
970570
A mutual fund is exactly what the name suggests.It is a fund Created mutually by a no. of investors like me and you.each investor contributes some amount towards the fund and in turn receives units of that mutual fund in proportion to his/her contribution.\n\nThe fund manager will in turn invest that money in the  market and try to generate profits by selling and buying at appropriate times.\n\nhe will then pass on the profits to mutual fund holders(like u and me) after deducting his fee/commission.\n\nmutual funds have a lot of benefits\n1)it takes out the burden of managing your own portfolio of stocks\n2) it provides investors an opportunity to invest in stocks which otherwise are very expensive for a single person to invest \n3)it provides you access to professional management of your investment.\n\nmutual funds are primarily of 3 types\n\n1)Equity oriented funds:most of the money would be invested in equity instruments(shares):high risk and high return.\n\n2)Growth oriented funds:most of the money is invested in Debt instruments e.g.Bonds,debentures etc.:low risk ,low return\n\n3)Balanced funds: half the money is invested in debt ,half in equity:moderate risk,moderate return \n\nhope this helps....cheers
546288
Dividend Option gives you timely dividends (depending on fund manager when he feels it right), so you get some amount back....it has two options; re-investment and pay out...with re-investment you can reinvest the money and get some more units and in payout you get money as dividend.\n\nIn Growth option your NAV goes on increasing, as no dividend is declared.\n\nPast Records have shown that Growth options is better if you invest in equity and that for a longer period of time.
619663
I think it is not a good idea to buy stock in a single company.  Investing in many companies through mutual funds is less risky.\n\nAsset allocation is the most important investment decision you will make.  How you divide your investments among stocks, bonds, and cash (money markets, etc.) will determine most of the returns you receive.  So long as you maintain a mix of investments, the particular stocks, bonds, and cash instruments in which you invest are of secondary importance.\n\nIf it will be more than 5 to 10 years until you use the money, you ought to have very high risk investments; 80% stocks and 20% bonds is appropriate.  If you are within 5 years (10 years if you are very risk-averse) of using your money, gradually switch from 80-20 to 60% stocks, 20% bonds, and 20% cash.  So, when you begin to draw down your investments, such as at the beginning of retirement, you should be at the 60-20-20 allocation.  Gradually change to 10-80-10 within 10 years.  One-fourth of your stocks should be international funds, so long as you have enough in stocks to maintain the minimum balance required for an international fund.\n\nTo summarize:\nMore than 5 or 10 years from using money: 80% stocks, 20% bonds.\nAt 5 or 10 years away, gradually change to: 60% stocks, 20% bonds, 20% cash.\nAs you begin drawing down (early retirement): 60-20-20.\nOver ten years of retirement gradually change to: 10-80-10.\n\nI'm a big believer in index funds.  A mix of index funds beats 3/4 of managed mutual funds.  I think it is really advisable to read up on the "couch potato portfolio" and the "coffee house portfolio."  Scott Burns discusses these at his web site (free registration).  You can search Google.  They are simple mixes of index funds that only require rebalancing once a year.\n\nRead "Bogle on Mutual Funds."  It shows why index fund investing is the way to go.
498699
Start out by buying a standard stock mutual fund, so your money can grow while you're learning; and watch what they do.  Meanwhile, start reading about stocks.  Books like "Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham, "One Up on Wall Street" by Peter Lynch, and maybe something on the Warren Buffett style would be a good start.  Or visit websites like Smart Money or Motley Fool.  \n\nGood luck to you.
500935
One good choice would be to invest in a no-load mutual fund. I suggest either T.Rowe Price, Vanguard, or Fidelity.  Here are a couple of websites to help you choose a good performer.  Don't let an investment representative fool you into thinking he's worth the 5% or more commission he'll charge.  You can do your own homework, and probably get better results.  I know I do.  Good luck.  Don't be intimidated.\n\nhttp://screen.morningstar.com/fundsearch/FundRank.html http://biz.yahoo.com/p/top.html\nhttp://screen.morningstar.com/fundsearch/FundRank.html
450413
First I recommend, be patient.  No need to make any quick decision(s).  Keep an open mind, and listen to suggestions.  Think for yourself then, and you will make the appropriate decision.  Look at your circumstances.  If it is a windfall, and not needed right now, take $10000 of it and find a no-load mutual fund as an investment.  Then leave it alone and your investment ought to double about every 7 years.  That is what us "little" people do.  A no-load fund means, no fees to buy and no charges when you sell later on.  Hold the remaining $5000 and think some more.
41962
Go to bookstore and get Mutual Funds for Dummies or Investing for Dummies.  They will have easy to understand concept and descriptions.  More information is better when it comes to investing.  Take your time.  Start saving money now and get into the habit.  Put it into a savings account now while you are learning about mutual funds.  When you feel ready, then you already have some money saved up.
1130857
Property investment is much more stable and sound, but the maintenance and up keep is a big responsibility.  The value still has a chance to go down.\n\nShare or stock investment is exciting but volatile where it will go up or drop flat.  Mutual Funds are between the two.  Bonds are below property investments.
622216
This is absolutely not your best option!!! TRUST ME, I KNOW!!! Mutual funds are always the way to go but if you are looking to make your money grow fast....invest in CHEESE. The 2nd richest man next to Bill Gates is a cheese man. last year their stocks split almost 2 a month. I did and by the end of last year I was very very wealthy!!!! I'm 26 and finacially have the resources to retire and live comfortably until I'm 85 and never work another day in my life. AINT LIFE GRAND!!!!!
290600
Dude, you need to check out what is called an indexed mutual fund. The way it works is the company guarantees your full invested capital; so you can't lose that. The money that they make is added to the value of your fund, but you have to lock it in for a minimum amount of time; can be as long as ten years. This is a good place to start out. If your feeling more daring invest in silver or mining companies like Pan American Silver trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PAA. This baby is on rails right now, you can check them out on their web site and research their history. Hey your the blunt guy aren't you? Well good luck towards your first million and keep living the American dream.
436540
there are mutual funds with small initial investments. $500 for example. Some even less. That is a good way to start. I have included a link through Yahoo finance showing funds of that nature that are rated better than average by Moringstar. Yahoo sometimes does not provide correct information so you need to use this as a starting point and research a little furture. \n\nAnother way is to open an on line brokerage account and buy shares directly in good solid companies that have a good track record and pay dividend that have tended to increase over time, such as BAC, for example. But that is more risky without having at at least 5 and preferably 10 different stocks in your portfolio to reduce the risk of a piece of bad news causing disaster. You also have the option of buying exchange traded index funds. That is an inexpensive method to participate in general market trends. I personally do not like the idea, but a lot of people do.
1119494
Just starting out, a mutul fund is a good approach. Some you can buy from brokers like Fidelity or TD Ameritrade.  Others you need to buy directly from the mutual fund company.  There are some good funds but most are not so you must do your research.  To begin with search for funds that have a good long term record and are invested mostly in stocks.  Windsor fund is one offered by Vanguard although its record over the last 5 years has not been too good.  The best performing funds over the last 5 years have been gold funds, oil funds, and foreign market funds.  Your guess is as good as mine as to whether that will continue but China looks rather more enticing than the U S for sure.
782280
It's interesting that you refer to this as spending and gambling, rather than investing.  Two highly important factors are your tolerance for risk, and your time horizon.  You didn't give us information on either of those points, so it's not possible to give really sound advice.  Why are you focused on stocks, rather than on mutual funds?\n\nGo buy a copy of Money magazine and see what you learn.  Many companies have DRIPs, which is dividend reinvestment plans, and let you buy shares for no fees, or very low fees.  That can save you a lot in commissions.\n\nLook for companies that are leaders in their industries, meaning they are the #1 or #2 player in that segment.  And that have a history of earnings (profit) growth.
502652
E Trade is good, but you will have to pay every time you buy/sell a stock. Why not get a no load mutual fund invested in a Roth IRA (minimal openeing balance) at Vanguard or Fidelity. You are a great age to start an IRA.
1171141
Invest in HDFC Prudence........]\nYou can get more infos at\nhttp://www.valueresearchonline.com\nhttp://www.moneycontrol.com/mutualfundindia/\nhttp://mutualfunds.moneycontrol.com/mf/bestpicks/index.php\n\nYou can select the fund depending uopn your preferences and risk taking ability.
730019
Barclays LifePath 2040 will be good if you're not sure what you're doing.  The fund will rebalance over time so that it is invested more aggressively while you're young and changes to a more conservative mix as you get closer to retirement.\n\nIf you don't go this option, here are some other ideas:\n\n-The Vanguard 500 Index Inv mimics the S&P500 (so it's a large cap fund, mimics an index, and has low expenses)\n-Get some mid caps & small caps by going with the Dreyfus Mid Cap Value and the Fidelity Advisors Small Cap\n-Get international exposure by investing maybe 5-10% in the Fidelity Adv Diversified Intl fund\n-I wouldn't recommend any fixed income (bonds) at your age since I think they are too conservative.  If you really wanted to you could maybe go with 5%, but I don't think it's necessary.\n-Make sure you put your money somewhere other than HighMark Diversified MM Fid--this is a money market fund and isn't a good option for a 25 year old