MUTUAL FUNDS MADE EASY!

Explains the advantages of investing in mutual funds, tells how to select and evaluate funds, and discusses risk and investment strategies

Perritt, a contributing editor of Forbes magazine and author of seven investment guides, including The Mutual Fund Encyclopedia, adds a new volume to the already crowded field of investment books. Like IDG's bestselling Mutual Funds for Dummies, published earlier this year, this book is designed to appeal to the fledgling investor who wants some guidance in picking from the 6000-odd mutual funds now available. In a straightforward, serious style, Perritt offers advice on selecting funds and tips on deciphering the often confusing mutual fund data found in newspapers and fund prospectuses. The book covers the important topics: the different types of mutual funds; how to figure out capital gains and losses; how to research funds before investing. Perritt's strength is offering specific strategies: he advises against investing in foreign-based funds because the funds are not properly registered with the SEC, so potential investors have no protection against fraud. Perritt also cautions readers to hold off on new funds until their shares have been available to the public for at least one year, in order to see how the management reacts to market conditions. Perritt includes a list of 100 different equity funds that he recommends for further investor consideration. The mutual fund industry receives so much media attention that it's hard to imagine any book offering unexpected insights. This book doesn't break new ground, but it will be useful for novice investors or those who want to select their own funds without relying on a broker.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

With most retirement plans now offering the choice of designating contributions for various investment options, many individuals who had only been interested in saving for the future now find themselves having to understand the difference between no-load and load mutual funds or trying to wade through piles of mind-numbing prospectuses. Others, investing for the first time, find the relative security of mutual funds appealing. Perritt has headed his own Chicago-based investment advisory firm for more than 10 years, and his annual Mutual Fund Encyclopedia has become a standard basic source. He now targets investment beginners with this clear and simple but thorough--and inexpensive--guide. He explains how mutual funds work, how to choose funds, and what risks are involved. He also recommends discount brokers, profiles mutual fund "families," and briefly describes 100 equity funds representing a range of investment strategies. Recommended for public library investment collections but especially for smaller libraries with limited budgets. David Rouse