I have had money invested in mutual funds with Merrill Lynch for some time now. I find that I don't really come out that much ahead in the long run. Could anyone please give me some advice if there is a better way to go.

I have had money invested in mutual funds with Merrill Lynch for some time now. I find that I don't really come out that much ahead in the long run. Could anyone please give me some advice if there is a better way to go.

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Sounds like you don't know much about mutual funds and if asking on TV is your method for learning about mutual funds then my advice to you is to put your money in your mattress 'cause mutual funds are beyond your abilities.

http://www.morningstar.com/

Great website with lots of information.

Start by learning more. The Morningstar link has a "university" which has a (free) extensive education. Books like Boogle on Mutual Funds and Mutual funds For Dummies are also good starters.

Some decent fund families with low costs and fairly clean records: Vanguard, Dodge and Cox, Bridgeway. (I am presuming US based or at least access to US funds).

Cheers!

I have had money invested in mutual funds with Merrill Lynch for some time now. I find that I don't really come out that much ahead in the long run. Could anyone please give me some advice if there is a better way to go.

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They probably have you diversified and you most likely paid the load(fee)

Hang in there and don't do alot of trading.

Investing should be long term, not exciting. If possible, add money on a regular basis.

I put most of my retirement in the low cost,

Vanguard SP500 .

That's what I would recommend if you do move the investments.

This book, written by John Bogel is worth its weight in gold.

Read it and you most likely will save alot of money during your investment years.

Common Sense on Mutual Funds

by John C. Bogle

Investing should be long term, not exciting. If possible, add money on a regular basis.

Best advice. Nice and basic.

I like Warren Buffet's "the ideal holding period is forever."

You can pick plain jane funds (don't pick anything that sounds too good to be true... and on the questionaire for the fund picker... don't pick the options that say 'I want to maximize my returns and am prepared to accept short term losses... yada yada yada') from etrade and ameritrade and just contribute to them religiously.