Top 5 Brokerage Firms for Mutual Funds Investment

There are many options to invest in mutual funds nowadays. Investors can choose either a discount broker or mutual fund companies to invest. There are pros and cons with each option. Some of the top brokerages for mutual fund investing are: Vanguard, Fidelity, Scottrade, etc.

Best Mutual Fund Brokerages

Intro

Whether you are investing in your regular brokerage account or retirement account, you may find mutual funds as your investment selection. To invest in these investment funds, regular investors can open a brokerage account or a mutual fund account directly from mutual fund companies.

For brokerage account, you can choose either open an account with a discount broker or a full brokerage. I’ll focus on discount brokers; hence they are accessible to most small investors. Several discount brokerages (such as Zecco Trading, Scottrade, E*trade) offer some great selections of mutual funds with low cost to purchase. You may also find a discount broker that offers no-transaction fee mutual funds.

Another alternative is by opening an account directly with the mutual fund company itself. Some of the well-known mutual funds companies are Fidelity, Vanguard, and T. Rowe Price, etc. Vanguard and Fidelity are the best ranked mutual funds companies in the U.S. These mutual funds companies also offer great selection of their fund family at low cost and no transaction fee. It also provides other crucial fund information such as performance, rating, expense fee, fund research, newsletter, etc.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) Investor Shares

Vanguard Total International Stock Index fund is part of Vanguard index mutual funds. This international stock mutual fund are popular among investors. You can find the fund review below.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Investor (Ticker: VGTSX)

The investment aim of Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index fund is to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies located in developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. This Vanguard fund is designed to track the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex USA Investable Market Index. The index includes more than 6,000 stocks of companies located in 44 countries.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: April 29, 1996
• Ticker Symbol: VGTSX
• CUSIP: 921909602
• Beta (3yr): 1.05
• Rank in category (YTD): 25%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 2.62%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.22%
• Net Assets: $ 270.60 billion
• Number of Years Up: 9 years

Top 10 Best Mid Cap Domestic Stock Mutual Funds 2012

Investing in mid cap mutual funds are known as “sweet spot” investment. Investor can participate in companies business with market cap between $2 billion and $10 billion. Some of the best mid cap stock mutual funds are: Scout Mid Cap, Brown Capital Management Mid-Cap, ING Mid Cap Opportunities, etc.

Intro

As part of stock mutual fund, domestic stock fund has three main categories such as large cap fund, mid cap fund, and small cap fund. Each category invests in different type of companies. For example, mid cap stock fund invest mainly in medium sized companies. These medium sized companies mean the companies have a market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion.

Depending upon the fund’s objective, some mutual funds may invest in other companies’ sizes. The reasons to invest in these mid cap stock mutual funds are: these equity funds have higher growth potential than large cap mutual funds, less coverage from analysts which can provide a surprise upside, and less risky than small cap mutual funds.

Brown Capital Management Small Company Inv BCSIX Fund

Investing in the small growth mutual fund has been very rewarding for investor. As part of growth fund, this mutual fund mainly invests in small cap company with high growth potential. One of the best small growth funds is Brown Capital Management Small Company fund. You will find the fund review below.

Brown Capital Management Small Company Investor (BCSIX)

The Brown Capital Management Small Company fund objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation and providing current income. This mutual fund mostly invests its assets in companies stocks with total operating revenues of $250 million or less. It usually invests in common stocks, but may invest in preferred stocks, convertible bonds, and warrants.

Top 10 Best World Stock Mutual Funds 2012

Investing in world stock mutual fund is important for investor to participate in global expansion. Some of the best world stock mutual funds are: Nuveen Tradewinds Global All-Cap fund, Royce Global Select fund, Royce Global Value fund, etc.

Intro

Since 2000, big or small companies has prepared for globalization. Over the years, business operations and investment are moving throughout this world. International stock markets have managed to hold greater prominence and account for half of the world’s market capitalization.

To invest in these international stocks, investors can choose several ways such as individual stock, mutual fund, closed end fund, and exchange traded fund. Selecting individual companies stocks may be difficult for regular investors. Choosing mutual fund, investor can get diversification and reduce risk.

One of the popular international stock mutual fund categories is world stock fund. This world stock mutual fund invests in U.S. and Non-U.S. companies stocks.

Top Rated World Stock Funds

These world stock mutual funds are ranked based on its long term performance. You may find other fund review information such as fund management, dividend yield, sales load, expense ratio fee, top holding, top sectors, etc.

Harbor Capital Appreciation Investor (HCAIX) Fund

Harbor Capital Appreciation fund is part of domestic stock mutual fund. This US stock fund is classified as large growth mutual funds. This popular fund is managed by Spiros Segalas. More fund review can be found below.

Harbor Capital Appreciation Investor (HCAIX)

The investment aim of Harbor Capital Appreciation fund is o provide long-term capital growth. This stock mutual fund invests mainly in growth equity securities of U.S. companies with market capitalizations of more than $1 billion. It may invest in common stocks and preferred stocks. This HCAIX fund may invest small part of its total assets (<20%) in the securities of foreign issuers including emerging markets.

Calamos Convertible A (CCVIX) Fund

If you are unsure whether to invest in bond or stock mutual fund, you should consider convertible bond mutual fund. Convertible bond is a type of bond that the investor can convert into shares of company’s common stock at agreed-upon price. It also provides regular income stream. Using mutual fund, investor can easily diversify its choice in these convertible securities. One of the top rated convertible mutual funds is Calamos Convertible fund.

Calamos Convertible A (MUTF: CCVIX)

The Calamos Convertible fund’s objective is to provide current income. Its secondary objective is to provide growth. This mutual fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of convertible securities issued by both U.S. and foreign companies. It may invest in any market capitalization companies. The average maturity of the convertible securities purchased will usually range from 2 to 10 years.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: June 21, 1985
• Ticker Symbol: CCVIX
• CUSIP: 128119401
• Beta (3yr): 0.99
• Rank in category (YTD): 79%
• Category: Convertibles
• Yield: 1.17%