If a fund has $100 million in assets, it means it's a real player, ... The Neatest Little Guide to Mutual Funds.

You don't want a fund that had its best years with $5 million in assets.

mutual fund tax trap.

Mutual fund managers want your money in their funds. They get paid based on assets under management.

It's a point I'd make regarding any mutual fund, but it's particularly important in a mutual fund type where you expect a low absolute return. If you're paying 1 percent in expenses and you're earning just 3 percent, you're forking over literally a third of your return.

[They] say that they're going to give their child a mutual fund contribution or some kind of gift through a stock investment.