Mutual funds are staples of the financial industry, and they’ve been available to interested investors for over 200 years. A basic mutual fund package consists of sets of bank-issued securities, equities traded on the open market, corporate bonds and similar assets. Many people find mutual funds advantageous because the value of the total funds is less subject to serious market fluctuations. To generate the most stable financial returns, mutual funds are created with a mix of stock market investments and similar investment options. The average annual return on a mutual fund depends on several factors, especially the conditions of a bull market or a bear market.
Since mutual funds are designed to be profitable longer-term investments, they’re not as susceptible to fluctuations as some other types of investments. Over at least a 10-year time frame, the average mutual fund is likely to see average annual returns that reflect overall gains in the market. When considering starting a mutual fund, it’s a good idea to compare the offerings of several financial companies. Each one has a somewhat different approach and philosophy to setting up mutual fund options, and one type of mutual fund may be more beneficial for your individual financial goals.
During a specific number of fiscal years, the average annual return for a mutual fund will change according to overall marker return rates. As long as the economy remains relatively stable, these returns typically vary between eight percent and 11 percent. During shorter time frames of only a few years, some mutual funds can show higher returns if the markets experience above-average fluctuations. Even though mutual funds have relatively attractive rates of return, they do come with some drawbacks. These usually include required management fees paid to brokers, which can lower the average annual rate by as much as two percent in some cases. Some mutual funds can also come with administrative fees that can further lower the total pay-outs by as much as five percent. When considering any mutual fund investment, be sure to read all of the terms and conditions carefully and have your broker explain any required fee payments clearly.