Chapter 4: A Smattering of Mutual Fund Families

A Smattering of Mutual Fund Families

As we saw, the mutual fund industry is enormous. No one person could ever become an expert in all the various mutual fund families, let alone all of the 11,000+ mutual funds available. On the class web site and below, we list just a few mutual fund families. These were chosen for either their size or their impressive returns or both. Do not think you have to limit yourself to these few families. Please research whichever other mutual fund families pique your interest.

Vanguard Funds Links to an external site.
American Funds Links to an external site.
Fidelity Funds Links to an external site. Only shows 310 or so of Fidelity's over 500 mutual funds.
Fidelity Funds and all the other funds that they offer through their web site Links to an external site. Over 11,000!
Dodge and Cox Funds Links to an external site.
T. Rowe Price Funds Links to an external site.
Franklin Templeton Funds Links to an external site.

For the Mutual Fund Annual Report Assignment Links to an external site., you will need to download one or two annual reports. Here are the links to the annual reports and prospectuses for these fund families:

Vanguard Funds Links to an external site.
American Funds Links to an external site.
Fidelity Funds Links to an external site.
Dodge and Cox Funds Links to an external site.
T. Rowe Price Funds Links to an external site.
Franklin Templeton Funds Links to an external site. Choose fund and then find [Documents]

Most all of the major mutual fund families also provide commentary and analysis for their investors. Links to commentary and analysis from our sampling of mutual fund families are below. Also included are some links to articles and web sites about some of the individuals who were instrumental in building these families into the successful companies they are today.

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? You are not alone. In fact, that feeling of taking a "sip from the fire hose" is what we wanted to instill in you. Relax. As we mentioned above, no one person will ever know everything there is to know about the mutual fund industry. However, in my humble opinion, this is one of the best aspects of mutual funds and the investment world in general. There is literally no end to how much you can learn. Whenever you are feeling bored because of a lack of stimulation, instead of the sitting passively in front of a television watching stories of everyday, hard-working people as told by rich Hollywood movie stars, you can actively research a new mutual fund family and their mutual fund offerings. You now have an open-ended hobby, pastime, leisure activity, diversion, obsession, assignment, etc. for the rest of your life!