Sunday 28 October 2012

ETF vs Mutual Fund Investments

By Jerri Lundell


When comparing ETF vs. mutual fund choices and deciding which to invest in, there are a number of important aspects to consider. Each investor should compare all factors before deciding which type of fund is better than another in regards to any specific investment circumstance. For instance, a mutual fund is a pool of funds that is formed of a capital investment by multiple individuals. These funds are managed by a professional more often than not, and the management may be considered active or passive, depending on the particular mutual fund being examined.

ETF funds are passively managed, more often than not. However, a professional manager may still be employed by the fund. An ETF fund is traded within the market similar to individual stocks at current fluctuating prices, whereas mutual funds are only traded at the end of the day, and the net asset value (NAV) is set as the last price listed on the market on any given day.

Another major difference between these two types of investments is the cost of investing and how each fund is actually created. "No load versions" of mutual funds exist, which basically means that the investor does not pay for broker assistance, but rather can place any trade individually, electronically. An ETF trade requires broker assistance in every case, so paying a commission is unavoidable.

Mutual funds in general do not allow investors to use options, including put options and call options. Leverage is not possible with mutual funds in most cases, but the flip side is that the risks are lower when leverage is not used. Mutual funds are created by investing the pooled capital of all the fund investors. ETF funds are created from shares of stock, which are then used to attract investors to the fund.

Differences between ETF and mutual funds are lengthy and involve multiple factors, and depending on your specific case or desire, certain funds may be perfect and others may be all wrong. As a responsible investor, research all of the differences and similarities between the different types, and evaluate which type best fits your needs and goals.




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