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Rating: 
Summary: Seriously misleading
Review: Has your portfolio taken a butt-kicking lately?Obviously, it's a fact that millions of Americans currently own and will continue to purchase mutual funds. Today many are realizing they didn't monitor, change, or properly allocate some of their funds. Obviously, many will depend on them in the future. 401Ks
are also mutual funds, as well as the traditional and Roth IRA, the 403b among others. Since so many are participating and people will continue to pour billions of dollars into them, the beginning individual mutual fund holder should have this book. It will primarily benefit those who are new to mutual funds or those who want to increase their general knowledge. Simple, precise explanations. Explanations on proper and true diversification, rates and risk of return, asset allocation, and appropriate risk based upon one's attitude, age, and stomach. It tells one how to look at how a particular fund operates and what it's invested in. Terms such as diversification, dollar-cost averaging, and the fact that past performance is no guarantee of future results are usually known to those who've followed mutual funds already. It is good to understand and calculate the true "cost" of a fund. Declining backend loaded funds are o.k. in solid performing funds that an individual will hold for a period of 5 yeas or more. But does one know if they are gong to be in a fund for five years? When a new fun manager takes over the operations and asset allocation of a fund, it is important to note how and where there may be changes. Know the difference between a micro, small, medium, and large cap index fund. How is a cap defined? Know the difference between a balance, value, international, emerging market, index, and global fund. Global fund? That means most of the investment allocation is overseas right? Nope. Often, most of the fund's holdings are in domestic (American) companies which means the global fund may have the same holdings as your U.S. blue chip, or more domestically oriented funds. Owning more mutual funds, and even funds in different families, means the more diversification correct? No. One can achieve the same diversification with 7 funds as 17. Even moreso. In addition to this book check out Bob Brinker on the radio.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Comprehensive Guide
Review: Has your portfolio taken a butt-kicking lately? Obviously, it's a fact that millions of Americans currently own and will continue to purchase mutual funds. Today many are realizing they didn't monitor, change, or properly allocate some of their funds. Obviously, many will depend on them in the future. 401Ks
are also mutual funds, as well as the traditional and Roth IRA, the 403b among others. Since so many are participating and people will continue to pour billions of dollars into them, the beginning individual mutual fund holder should have this book. It will primarily benefit those who are new to mutual funds or those who want to increase their general knowledge. Simple, precise explanations. Explanations on proper and true diversification, rates and risk of return, asset allocation, and appropriate risk based upon one's attitude, age, and stomach. It tells one how to look at how a particular fund operates and what it's invested in. Terms such as diversification, dollar-cost averaging, and the fact that past performance is no guarantee of future results are usually known to those who've followed mutual funds already. It is good to understand and calculate the true "cost" of a fund. Declining backend loaded funds are o.k. in solid performing funds that an individual will hold for a period of 5 yeas or more. But does one know if they are gong to be in a fund for five years? When a new fun manager takes over the operations and asset allocation of a fund, it is important to note how and where there may be changes. Know the difference between a micro, small, medium, and large cap index fund. How is a cap defined? Know the difference between a balance, value, international, emerging market, index, and global fund. Global fund? That means most of the investment allocation is overseas right? Nope. Often, most of the fund's holdings are in domestic (American) companies which means the global fund may have the same holdings as your U.S. blue chip, or more domestically oriented funds. Owning more mutual funds, and even funds in different families, means the more diversification correct? No. One can achieve the same diversification with 7 funds as 17. Even moreso. In addition to this book check out Bob Brinker on the radio.
Rating:
Summary: MorningStar User Guide
Review: I was so excited to find this book, after reading the usual junk, the classics, surfing hundreds of websites -- and yes, leaving lots of money on Brokers Conference Room Tables. {If only I knew then, what I know now.}
It read fast, pulling so many ideas together in a very readable manner, backed up by authors who eat, sleep and process one of the best market data-sources around.
My surprise was that it had elements of an adventure novel, by introducing me to the personalities and investment styles of Fund Managers. Suddenly the market, became real people. Annual Reports become chapters in an ongoing historical novel.
Is it oriented to Morningstar? Sure, but that's not a bad thing for a new investor trying to re-gain control of his or her financial future. It makes a good companion, to the online data.
Rating:
Summary: This book deserves FIVE STARS!
Review: I'm so glad that Morningstar came out with this great guide since I rely on their advice whenever I'm considering my investments. Also, the landscape has shifted so much when it comes to Mutual Funds over the last 2 years -- it's great to have one place to refer to when I need guidance. This book gets 5 stars as a sound investment!
Rating: 
Summary: Good discussion of Mutual Fund investing from the experts
Review: Morningstar is the recognized name in evaluating mutual funds. This book shares some of their insight. The advice is fairly straightforward and not earth-shaking: set your goals, pick an assett allocation in line with your goals and risk tolerance, diversify. From there they go into picking funds addressing such things as evaluating fund manager, looking at costs, judging past performance etc. I found the book helpful, but I am more philosophically aligned with the advice in Bogle's book (Common Sense on Mutual Funds : New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor by John C. Bogle) that emphasizes index funds. I thinking chasing hot funds can almost be as bad as chasing hot stocks. Finally, the book deals strictly with mutual funds. Probably need a second reference to fully deal with you investment life (insurance, etc).
Rating:
Summary: Good mutual fund book for beginners
Review: That is THE book I am looking for!!! It is very easy to read and follow for beginners like me. It provides an overall review about the whole industry, major players, popular funds, and basic strategies. It emphasizes a lot on the importance of diversifying the portofolio and how to do that. The book serves well to prevent beginners from making BIG investment mistakes.
Of course, it is a MORNINGSTAR book. It is all about Morningstar methods and tools. And I discovered that most of advanced tools recommended by authors are NOT free.
Rating:
Summary: Good mutual fund book for beginners
Review: That is THE book I am looking for!!! It is very easy to read and follow for beginners like me. It provides an overall review about the whole industry, major players, popular funds, and basic strategies. It emphasizes a lot on the importance of diversifying the portofolio and how to do that. The book serves well to prevent beginners from making BIG investment mistakes.
Of course, it is a MORNINGSTAR book. It is all about Morningstar methods and tools. And I discovered that most of advanced tools recommended by authors are NOT free.
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