Mutual fund selection decisions

Summary form only given. Selecting a mutual fund is a challenging process. Correctly deciding upon the right funds to invest in, or the right companies to invest with, determines how closely one can achieve their financial goals. Since mutual funds, and the companies that manage them, are constantly changing, a tool is needed to help guide the novice through the maze of decisions. This paper presents a model to assist in such critical decisions. It shows how one can base their decisions on a combination of the market trends, the management firm's strengths and weaknesses, and the investor's own personal goals. It then steps through how to evaluate how each of these plays a role in determining which fund, or set of funds, is appropriate for investment. The process presented is intended as a "tool" or "framework" by individuals with diverse goals who are looking for short term, long term, large, or even small investments.