How does a mutual fund work?

What?

Mutual fund shares can be purchased from the company itself or a broker. An example secondary market investors also, like the New York Stock Exchange. Per share net asset value of the funds or NAV is the price that you pay for buying a mutual fund share. It also includes the shareholder fee that is imposed by the fund, at time you make the buy. Investment advisers act as separate entities and are responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the mutual funds. Investing in mutual funds tends to lower the risk factor because they are the result of diverse investments.

The best feature of mutual funds is that these shares are redeemable. You, as an investor, can sell your shares back to the broker. In order to accommodate new investors, mutual fund companies generally create new shares and sell them. They keep selling their shares continuously till they become large.

How do I manage my investment?

Since someone else manages your investments, you need not worry about keeping constant tabs on the investment(Some bad brokers may rip you off, so watch your back) though a periodical check enhances your personal book of accounts. Managing funds is the full time job of the fund manager and he is responsible for the performance and health of the investment.

The rate of returns in mutual funds is based on the increase or decrease of the value, during a specific period. Returns of a fund indicate the track record. It is important to remember that the past performance cannot guarantee future results.

As in the case of any investment or business, mutual funds also have risks associated with the returns. It is essential to set your financial goals and requirements, before investing in a mutual fund.