John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio Fund (JALBX)

One of the popular moderate allocation balanced mutual funds is John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio. In general, this balanced fund has 4 categories such as conservative allocation, moderate allocation, aggressive allocation and world allocation.

John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio (JALBX)

The investment objective of John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio fund is to provide a high level of current income and growth of capital. This moderate allocation mutual fund utilizes most of its assets to buy other funds which invest primarily in equity securities (<60%) and in fixed-income securities (40%). You can also check my top balanced mutual fund article.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 10/15/2005
• Ticker Symbol: JALBX
• CUSIP: 47803V481
• Beta (3yr): 1.14
• Rank in category (YTD): 29%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution: 2.96%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.54%  
• Net Assets: $ 22.35 billion
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 19.00%

updated on 6/6/2012

Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund CXHYX

The Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond fund (CXHYX) is a top rated muni bond mutual fund. This fixed income fund provides tax free high yield income from lower-grade municipal debts.

Delaware National High-Yield Muni Bond A (CXHYX)

The investment aim of Delaware National High-Yield Muni Bond fund is to achieve a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund utilizes majority of net assets to purchase the medium- and lower-grade municipal securities. It will invest its assets in securities with maturities of various lengths with effective maturity between 5 and 30 years.

Fund Profile

Delaware National Hi-Yld Muni Bd

• Fund Inception Date: 09/22/1986
• Ticker Symbol: CXHYX
• CUSIP: 928928241
• Beta (3yr): 1.41
• Rank in category (YTD): 30 %
• Category: High Yield Muni
• Yield: 4.74%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.85%
• Net Assets: $ 310.62 million
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Average Duration: 7.00 years
• Average Maturity: 11.44 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 57.00%

Updated on 6/5/2012

Best Vanguard Mutual Funds 2012

The Top 10 Best Vanguard Mutual Funds of 2012 are Vanguard Total Stock Market Index, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index, Vanguard Wellesley Income, etc. You will find each fund review.

Introduction

The three top mutual fund families are Vanguard, American Funds and Fidelity. The Vanguard mutual funds are popular among cost conscious investors. The funds provide low expense ratio and no sales load.

The funds also provide diversification hence mutual fund holds more bonds or stocks than anyone could ever buy. Investors can buy and sell these funds easily on any business day for easy access to their money.

Vanguard provides actively managed mutual funds and passively managed index mutual funds. These funds can be classified into variety categories. These categories are U.S. domestic stock, international stock, emerging markets stock, diversified bond, tax free municipal bond, and balanced fund.

New: Best Vanguard Mutual Funds for 2013

Best Vanguard Mutual Funds

These best Vanguard mutual funds are selected based on the following criteria:

• It has no transaction fees or sales load
• It has great long track record
• It has low minimum initial investment requirement of $3,000
• It provides diversification into variety of asset allocation

You will find other fund information and review such as fund manager, sales load, expense ratio fee, Morningstar rating, fund performance, top holdings, etc.

Top 10 Best Vanguard Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX)
2. Vanguard Small-Cap Index (NAESX)
3. Vanguard Total International Stock Index (VGTSX)
4. Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX)
5. Vanguard REIT Index Fund Investor Shares (VGSIX)
6. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX)
7. Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities (VIPSX)

DWS Strategic High Yield Tax Free A (NOTAX) Fund

One of the top rated high yield muni bond mutual funds is DWS Strategic High Yield Tax Free fund. This mutual fund invest in non investment grade municipal debt obligations. More review can be found below.

DWS Strategic High Yield Tax Free A (Ticker: NOTAX)

The investment objective of DWS Strategic High Yield Tax Free fund is to provide a high level of income exempt from regular federal income tax. This DWS fund invests most of net assets in municipalities bonds across the U.S. whose income is free from regular federal income tax. It invests some part of net assets (<20%) in bond whose income is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT). It invests about ½ of total assets in investment grade municipal securities and another half of assets in high yield debt securities.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: May 1, 2000
• Ticker Symbol: NOTAX
• CUSIP: 23337W105
• Beta (3yr): 1.54
• Rank in category (YTD): 34%
• Category: High Yield Muni
• Distribution Rate: 4.80%

Intrepid Small Cap Fund (ICMAX)

Intrepid Small Cap fund is classified as small value mutual fund. This small cap stock mutual fund has no sales load and rated among the best in its category. It also has a good long term performance. More review can be found as follows.

Intrepid Small Cap (MUTF: ICMAX)

The investment objective of Intrepid Small Cap fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. This domestic stock fund uses its assets to purchase equity securities of undervalued small capitalization companies. It invests in small capitalization companies that comparable to companies in the Russell 2000 Index, the S&P Small Cap Index or the Dow Jones Wilshire US Small Cap Index.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: October 3, 2005
• Ticker Symbol: ICMAX
• CUSIP: 461195109
• Beta (3yr): 0.84
• Rank in category (YTD): 99%
• Category: Small Value
• Distribution: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%

Tocqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX)

One of the popular and best precious metals mutual funds is Tocqueville Gold fund. This Tocqueville fund has been rated among the best gold mutual fund. Details about this fund review can be found below.

Tocqueville Gold (MUTF: TGLDX)

The investment aim of Tocqueville Gold fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. This precious metals equity fund uses its assets to purchase gold and securities of companies engaged in mining or processing gold. The companies may be located around the world, either developed market or emerging markers. It may also invest in other precious metals.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: June 29, 1998
• Ticker Symbol: TGLDX
• CUSIP: 888894862
• Beta (3yr): 68.94
• Rank in category (YTD): 21%
• Category: Equity Precious Metals
• Yield: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.25%

Top 10 Financial Sector Stock Mutual Funds 2012

This post is about top 10 financial sector stock mutual funds of 2012. Best funds are Prudential Financial Services, Burnham Financial Industries, FBR Small Cap Financial,  Royce Financial Services, etc.

Best Financial Mutual Funds

Intro

U.S. domestic equity mutual fund may specialize in a specific sector of the stock market. These specialty categories are financials, communications, natural resources, real estate, utilities, technology, health care, and miscellaneous.

These sector equity funds invest in its specific sector according to the fund objective. For instance, the real estate sector stock mutual fund will invest its assets in companies operated in real estate industry, etc.

The financial sector stock fund typically uses its assets to purchase stocks of companies operated in financial or banking services. It may include brokerage, investment, insurance, credit services, and asset management business. More details can be found in its fund prospectus.

Best Financial Mutual Funds

These best financial sector equity funds are selected based on its long term performance. You may find information such as fund review, yield, performance, management, load, rating, top stocks, etc.

Top 10 Financial Sector Stock Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Prudential Financial Services A (PFSAX)
2. Burnham Financial Industries A (BURFX)
3. Kinetics Market Opportunities Advisor A (KMKAX)
4. FBR Small Cap Financial Investor (FBRSX)
5. Royce Financial Services Service (RYFSX)