The trick to successful fund investing is to focus less on performance and more on the things you really can control.
That means keeping your costs down, dealing only with money managers who have a record of putting their shareholders first, and making sure you have a well-diversified portfolio suited to the level of risk you can live with. That's the thinking behind the new MONEY 50, our elite list of recommended mutual funds. Only funds with low expenses and a consistent investment approach, plus a history of integrity on the part of management, made the cut.
| Ticker |
Fund name |
1-yr
return |
3-yr
return |
5-yr
return |
Exp.
ratio |
Min.
Inv. |
Style |
|
BEGBX
|
American Century International Bd Inv |
12.7% |
4.3% |
8.9% |
0.8% |
$2,500 |
Specialty |
|
AMCPX
|
American Funds Amcap A |
2.6% |
7.1% |
10.7% |
0.7% |
$250 |
Growth |
|
AHITX
|
American Funds American Hi Inc Tr A |
0.6% |
5.4% |
10.6% |
0.7% |
$250 |
Specialty |
|
AMRMX
|
American Funds American Mutual A |
-0.3% |
7.4% |
10.1% |
0.6% |
$250 |
Value |
|
AEPGX
|
American Funds EuroPacific Gr A |
16.0% |
20.6% |
21.8% |
0.8% |
$250 |
Large Cap, Blend |
|
ARGFX
|
Ariel |
-8.1% |
1.6% |
9.6% |
1.1% |
$1,000 |
Small Cap, Value |
|
ARTIX
|
Artisan International Inv |
16.6% |
20.2% |
20.5% |
1.2% |
$1,000 |
Large Cap, Growth |
|
CHTTX
|
Aston/Optimum Mid Cap N |
9.0% |
11.1% |
16.9% |
1.2% |
$2,500 |
Midcap, Blend |
|
CSRSX
|
Cohen & Steers Realty Shares |
-25.2% |
6.5% |
17.4% |
1.0% |
$10,000 |
Real Estate |
|
DEFIX
|
Delafield |
-1.4% |
9.0% |
15.9% |
1.3% |
$5,000 |
Small Cap, Value |
|
DODIX
|
Dodge & Cox Income |
4.7% |
4.2% |
4.5% |
0.4% |
$2,500 |
Core |
|
DODFX
|
Dodge & Cox International Stock |
8.1% |
18.3% |
25.5% |
0.7% |
$2,500 |
Large Cap, Blend |
|
FAMVX
|
FAM Value Inv |
-5.7% |
3.6% |
9.3% |
1.2% |
$500 |
Midcap, Blend |
|
FPNIX
|
FPA New Income |
6.5% |
4.3% |
4.7% |
0.6% |
$1,500 |
Core |
|
FPPFX
|
FPA Perennial |
2.0% |
7.3% |
13.6% |
0.9% |
$1,500 |
Small Cap, Blend |
|
FDGFX
|
Fidelity Dividend Growth |
-3.2% |
5.5% |
7.8% |
0.6% |
$2,500 |
Blend |
|
FDVLX
|
Fidelity Value |
-3.2% |
9.3% |
15.2% |
0.7% |
$2,500 |
Midcap, Value |
|
HABDX
|
Harbor Bond Instl |
9.4% |
5.6% |
5.5% |
0.6% |
$1,000 |
Core |
|
JMCVX
|
Janus Mid Cap Value Investor |
3.8% |
10.6% |
16.3% |
0.9% |
$2,500 |
Midcap, Value |
|
JENSX
|
Jensen J |
3.2% |
5.7% |
6.8% |
0.8% |
$2,500 |
Growth |
|
MINVX
|
Madison Mosaic Investors |
-5.0% |
3.2% |
7.5% |
0.9% |
$1,000 |
Blend |
|
MAVFX
|
Matrix Advisors Value |
-4.3% |
5.1% |
10.4% |
1.0% |
$1,000 |
Blend |
|
MERDX
|
Meridian Growth |
-1.7% |
6.2% |
14.0% |
0.8% |
$1,000 |
Midcap, Growth |
|
MVALX
|
Meridian Value |
2.6% |
8.9% |
13.8% |
1.1% |
$1,000 |
Midcap, Blend |
|
MUHLX
|
Muhlenkamp |
-11.4% |
0.1% |
11.7% |
1.1% |
$1,500 |
Midcap, Value |
|
NBFSX
|
Neuberger Berman Fasciano Inv |
-4.3% |
1.8% |
8.2% |
1.3% |
$1,000 |
Small Cap, Growth |
|
NCTWX
|
Nicholas II I |
1.7% |
6.4% |
11.2% |
0.7% |
$100,000 |
Midcap, Growth |
|
OAKIX
|
Oakmark International I |
-5.3% |
12.7% |
17.8% |
1.1% |
$1,000 |
Large Cap, Value |
|
PYHRX
|
Payden High Income |
1.6% |
4.2% |
7.8% |
0.6% |
$5,000 |
Specialty |
|
PENNX
|
Pennsylvania Mutual Inv |
-2.4% |
9.1% |
15.8% |
0.9% |
$2,000 |
Small Cap, Blend |
|
RYPNX
|
Royce Opportunity Inv |
-8.3% |
5.8% |
17.8% |
1.1% |
$2,000 |
Small Cap, Value |
|
SSEMX
|
SSgA Emerging Markets |
38.6% |
36.9% |
36.2% |
1.2% |
$1,000 |
Emerging Markets |
|
SLASX
|
Selected American Shares S |
0.9% |
8.9% |
12.8% |
0.9% |
$1,000 |
Blend |
|
SSHFX
|
Sound Shore |
-0.8% |
8.2% |
12.9% |
0.9% |
$10,000 |
Value |
|
TRBCX
|
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth |
8.1% |
8.8% |
11.6% |
0.8% |
$2,500 |
Growth |
|
PRFDX
|
T. Rowe Price Equity Income |
-0.6% |
8.0% |
11.7% |
0.7% |
$2,500 |
Value |
|
PRIDX
|
T. Rowe Price International Discovery |
14.6% |
23.6% |
30.4% |
1.2% |
$2,500 |
Small Mid Cap |
|
PRNEX
|
T. Rowe Price New Era |
45.7% |
29.8% |
29.0% |
0.7% |
$2,500 |
Natural Resources |
|
TASCX
|
Third Avenue Small-Cap Value |
-2.1% |
7.2% |
14.8% |
1.1% |
$10,000 |
Small Cap, Blend |
|
VEXPX
|
Vanguard Explorer |
-0.6% |
7.5% |
14.0% |
0.5% |
$3,000 |
Small Cap, Growth |
|
VIPSX
|
Vanguard Inflation-Protected Secs |
12.6% |
5.4% |
6.6% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Core |
|
VWITX
|
Vanguard Interm-Term Tax-Ex |
4.0% |
3.6% |
3.8% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Specialty |
|
VWIGX
|
Vanguard International Growth |
11.9% |
18.2% |
20.4% |
0.5% |
$3,000 |
Large Cap, Blend |
|
VMGRX
|
Vanguard Mid Cap Growth |
8.7% |
11.9% |
15.6% |
0.5% |
$10,000 |
Midcap, Growth |
|
VGSIX
|
Vanguard REIT Index |
-22.9% |
6.2% |
15.4% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Real Estate |
|
VBISX
|
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index |
7.6% |
4.5% |
3.8% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Core |
|
VBMFX
|
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index |
7.3% |
4.9% |
4.7% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Core |
|
VGTSX
|
Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index |
11.7% |
18.6% |
22.1% |
0.0% |
$3,000 |
Large Cap, Blend |
|
VTSMX
|
Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx |
1.1% |
8.2% |
12.2% |
0.2% |
$3,000 |
Blend |
|
VWNFX
|
Vanguard Windsor II |
-1.6% |
8.3% |
13.2% |
0.3% |
$10,000 |
Value |
Data updated as of: January 4, 2008
|
