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Mutual funds have become popular because they offer 4 advantages:

• Diversification. A single mutual fund can hold securities from hundreds or even thousands of issuers, far more than most investors could afford on their own. This diversification sharply reduces the risk of a serious loss due to problems in a particular company or industry.

• Professional management. Few investors have the time or expertise to manage their personal investments every day, to efficiently reinvest interest or dividend income, or to investigate the thousands of securities available in the financial markets. They prefer to rely on a mutual fund's investment adviser. With access to extensive research, market information, and skilled securities traders, the adviser decides which securities to buy and sell for the fund.

• Liquidity. Shares in a mutual fund can be bought and sold any business day, so investors have easy access to their money. While many individual securities can also be bought and sold readily, others aren't widely traded. In those situations, it could take several days or even longer to build or sell a position.

• Convenience. Mutual funds offer services that make investing easier. Fund shares can be bought or sold by mail, telephone, or the Internet, so you can easily move your money from one fund to another as your financial needs change. You can even schedule automatic investments into a fund from your bank account, or you can arrange automatic transfers from a fund to your bank account to meet expenses. Most major fund companies offer extensive recordkeeping services to help you track your transactions, complete your tax returns, and follow your funds' performance.