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u.s. mutual fund supermarkets: where are some good places to buy mutual funds?
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there are hundreds of entities which offer mutual funds - too many to adequately address here. if you need to pick one, just go with vanguard for the low low low fees. yes, this is important. a typical expense ratio of 1% may not sound like much until you realize that the annualized real rate of return on the stock market - after inflation - is about 4%... so the fund eats a quarter of your earnings. (vanguard's typical expense ratios are closer to 0.1-0.2%). if your company offers a tax-deferred retirement account such as a 401(k), you'll probably find it advantageous to use whatever funds that plan offers just to get the tax advantage, and roll over the account to a cheaper provider when you change employers. you can also buy mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (etfs) through most brokerages. e*trade has a nice mutual fund screener, with over 6700 mutual funds and 1180 etfs. charles schwab has one you can browse without even having an account.
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