Mutual funds have become increasingly popular during the past ten years, with $51 billion invested in 1992 alone. The opportunities available to investors have vastly expanded, but with so many possibilities and so much hard sell, how can you be sure you are choosing the right funds?The Consumer Reports Mutual Funds Book analyzes and examines the world of mutual funds objectively and provides sensible strategies for building a portfolio tailored to your needs. As you look ahead to retirement, this book offers special advice on retirement planning.If you are a new investor, you can start with the basics, learning about "load" and "no-load" funds, investment principles such as dollar cost averaging, automatic reinvestment, and the tax consequences of various transactions. If you are already an experienced investor, you will gain important information on how to judge a fund's track record.Written in plain English, The Consumer Reports Mutual Funds Book shows you how to learn the risks and rewards of various funds, and then pick funds that meet your needs; evaluate a fund, with performance analyses and Ratings of funds from the experts at Consumer Reports; build a diversified portfolio of funds; and choose among various fund "families" and then get the best service from them.Whether you are just starting out or already have a substantial portfolio, The Consumer Reports Mutual Funds Book offers expert advice and practical plans that will help you get the most for your investment dollars. Read Less