* Advantages–and occasional disadvantages–of mutual funds versus other types of investments
* Listings of recommended funds for virtually any investment goal, time horizon, and level of risk tolerance
* In-depth explanations of expense ratios, loads, and other fund charges
* Strategies for assessing a fund’s past volatility and evaluating its future risk
* Diversification techniques across investments, asset classes, and subasset classes
* Optimal investment strategies for meeting short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals
* Key points in assessing the quality of a fund’s management