Pathfinder: WWW Search Strategies “All about Mutual Funds” Introduction: This pathfinder tool provides assistance to anyone that would like to deepen their understanding of mutual funds. My intention is to provide you with easy to use search tools and strategies in order to navigate vast amounts of information on the internet regarding Mutual Funds. Whether you are a student who needs to complete a research paper, a young investor getting started or a seasoned professional, I am confident that you will find this tool a time saver in your quest for better investing and a more secure future!
Key Terms: Mutual Fund Capital Gain Distributions Closed-end Fund Open-end Fund Contingent Deferred Sales Load ETF or Exchange-traded Fund Expense Ratio Family of Funds Income Dividends Load Fund No-load Fund NAV or Net Asset Value Reinvestment Plan Turnover Ratio 12b-1 Fee Class of Mutual Fund Index Fund Prospectus
Search Strategy: I utilized sites such as Google and Bing as well as very specific sites such as Yahoo Finance and Investor Guide. Boolean logic was used to narrow searches down by using AND and NOT between many of the above key words. I did use OR some when I needed to expand or increase search “hits.” Also, I used quotations to focus my search to include only those exact keywords.
Resources: Yahoo Finance Comprehensive site that covers all forms of investments including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks and bonds. Contains research information, news and graphs to assist new and seasoned investors with investment strategies. Retrieve (2013, October 26) from http://finance.yahoo.com/ Google Finance A search engine dedicated to the financial markets. This site is heavily weighted towards information on individual stock performance and company information. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.google.com/finance__ Mutual fund: MSN Money This site contains information regarding the classes of funds available as well as detailed information regarding the performance of individual funds. The site also has the top performing funds as well as general information about mutual funds Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://money.msn.com/mutual-fund/ Fund Analyzer – FINRA The Fund Analyzer offers information and analysis on over 18,000 mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs). This tool estimates the value of the funds and impact of fees and expenses on your investment and also allows you the ability to look up applicable fees and available discounts for funds. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://apps.finra.org/fundanalyzer/1/fa.aspx Investopedia: Picking a Mutual Fund Provides tips and information that you need to know before buying a mutual fund or contacting an advisor. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.investopedia.com/university/mutualfunds/mutualfunds3.asp__ Mutual Fund Informer Every issue of the Mutual Fund Informer includes educational articles on topics for beginning investors and on retirement planning. The intent is to help subscribers grasp the basics of fund investing in order to find investment success. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.mutualfundinformer.com/Resources/Mutual-Fund-Websites.aspx Market Watch The site is a leading innovator in business news, personal finance information, real-time commentary and investment tools and data, with dedicated journalists generating hundreds of headlines, stories, videos and market briefs a day from 10 bureaus in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.marketwatch.com/companyinfo The Smarter Investor (usnews.com) Provides investors with 5 ways to find the best mutual funds based on an investors unique circumstances. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/2010/10/19/5-ways-to-find-the-best-mutual-funds Investor Guide The site's mission is to empower individual investors to take control of their finances and investments through the Internet. Sections that benefit everyone equally are those covering online brokers, stock information, and a comprehensive list of publicly traded companies (including home pages, research, and discussion). Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.investorguide.com/__ Stock Brokers The site’s goal is to assist both new and seasoned investors in finding the optimal online broker that meets their investment needs. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.stockbrokers.com/ Morningstar: Exchange Traded Funds This site has a wide variety of tools that will help you evaluate specific ETFs as well as learn about this very affordable class of mutual funds via articles and analyst opinions. Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/ETFs.aspx
“All about Mutual Funds”
Introduction:
This pathfinder tool provides assistance to anyone that would like to deepen their understanding of mutual funds. My intention is to provide you with easy to use search tools and strategies in order to navigate vast amounts of information on the internet regarding Mutual Funds. Whether you are a student who needs to complete a research paper, a young investor getting started or a seasoned professional, I am confident that you will find this tool a time saver in your quest for better investing and a more secure future!
Key Terms:
Mutual Fund
Capital Gain Distributions
Closed-end Fund
Open-end Fund
Contingent Deferred Sales Load
ETF or Exchange-traded Fund
Expense Ratio
Family of Funds
Income Dividends
Load Fund
No-load Fund
NAV or Net Asset Value
Reinvestment Plan
Turnover Ratio
12b-1 Fee
Class of Mutual Fund
Index Fund
Prospectus
Search Strategy:
I utilized sites such as Google and Bing as well as very specific sites such as Yahoo Finance and Investor Guide. Boolean logic was used to narrow searches down by using AND and NOT between many of the above key words. I did use OR some when I needed to expand or increase search “hits.” Also, I used quotations to focus my search to include only those exact keywords.
Resources:
Yahoo Finance
Comprehensive site that covers all forms of investments including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks and bonds. Contains research information, news and graphs to assist new and seasoned investors with investment strategies.
Retrieve (2013, October 26) from http://finance.yahoo.com/
Google Finance
A search engine dedicated to the financial markets. This site is heavily weighted towards information on individual stock performance and company information.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.google.com/finance__
Mutual fund: MSN Money
This site contains information regarding the classes of funds available as well as detailed information regarding the performance of individual funds. The site also has the top performing funds as well as general information about mutual funds
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://money.msn.com/mutual-fund/
Fund Analyzer – FINRA
The Fund Analyzer offers information and analysis on over 18,000 mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs). This tool estimates the value of the funds and impact of fees and expenses on your investment and also allows you the ability to look up applicable fees and available discounts for funds.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://apps.finra.org/fundanalyzer/1/fa.aspx
Investopedia: Picking a Mutual Fund
Provides tips and information that you need to know before buying a mutual fund or contacting an advisor.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.investopedia.com/university/mutualfunds/mutualfunds3.asp__
Mutual Fund Informer
Every issue of the Mutual Fund Informer includes educational articles on topics for beginning investors and on retirement planning. The intent is to help subscribers grasp the basics of fund investing in order to find investment success.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.mutualfundinformer.com/Resources/Mutual-Fund-Websites.aspx
Market Watch
The site is a leading innovator in business news, personal finance information, real-time commentary and investment tools and data, with dedicated journalists generating hundreds of headlines, stories, videos and market briefs a day from 10 bureaus in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.marketwatch.com/companyinfo
The Smarter Investor (usnews.com)
Provides investors with 5 ways to find the best mutual funds based on an investors unique circumstances.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/2010/10/19/5-ways-to-find-the-best-mutual-funds
Investor Guide
The site's mission is to empower individual investors to take control of their finances and investments through the Internet. Sections that benefit everyone equally are those covering online brokers, stock information, and a comprehensive list of publicly traded companies (including home pages, research, and discussion).
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from __http://www.investorguide.com/__
Stock Brokers
The site’s goal is to assist both new and seasoned investors in finding the optimal online broker that meets their investment needs.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.stockbrokers.com/
Morningstar: Exchange Traded Funds
This site has a wide variety of tools that will help you evaluate specific ETFs as well as learn about this very affordable class of mutual funds via articles and analyst opinions.
Retrieved (2013, October 26) from http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/ETFs.aspx