Now you follow our managing editor as he edits his latest book "Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused" (McGraw-HIll, December 2008) on his blog : Mutual Fund Investing

Essential Knowledge
Each age has its own benefits and hurdles on the road to retirement. Here are some simple steps to achieve those goals - at every stage of life.

Retirement Planning at 20
Retirement Planning at 30
Retirement Planning at 40
Retirement Planning at 50
Retirement Planning at 60

Is your retirement plan nothing but Risky Business?

Daniel Jimenez of Bankrate.com believes he ha the answer to mutual fund picking.

It is no real surprise, by July 30, 2008, the combined assets of the nation's mutual funds decreased by $612.42 billion, or 5.0 percent, to $11.678 trillion in June.  

The Investment Company Institute has recently published a look at where we are retirement-wise.  You can download the pdf here.

"Economic growth may slow to 1.5 percent this year from 2.2 percent in 2007."  Does this come as a surprise? Daniel Kruger offers this take on the economy.

According to Drew Carter of Pensions and Investments, "The top four funds posted double-digit returns, five others returned modest returns of 5.08% to 0.91%, while all the others lost money during the period."  This maid for a rough quarter for pensions and the managers who oversee them.

And speaking of pensions: Owners of these types of retirement plans can feel a little smug. According to Rik Frehen, a Dutch finance scholar, pensions are doing better for their participants than mutual funds (the mainstay of defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s).

"Fannie and Freddiešs stocks are down about 80 percent so far this year, with losses accelerating in recent weeks." Should you be worried about your mutual funds?  John Detrixhe reports.

There is a growing concern about the money you have saved. Where it is matters.

As is common in a bear market, even the best and brightest investing professionals are hard-pressed to read the near-term tea leaves for either the economy or stock market. Gail MarksJarvis shares her thoughts.

A vastly different Congress is not likely, so understanding how to prepare your investments for an inflationary future is essential. Unlike the 1970s, today's situation is more complex. Frank Beck reports.

Investors battle the bear as the stock-market sag spilled into the second quarter, leaving little to be gained.
By Martin Skala 

How to Green a BlueCollarollar Investor

Nobel prize winning economics professor offers this for your consideration. Annuities: A New Idea?

The downside risks in annuities are something to consider and if you donšt, the attraction these instruments have can be problematic.

Taxes and Retirement Planning
Ian Salisbury, Dow Jones Newswires
June 04, 2008:

Index funds are boring intellectually, and it's temping to go active. If you're going to go active, you really have to make a commitment, because there are so many ways to get burned.

Bogle speaks: His advice for investors seems to square with a popular marketing pitch: Set it and forget it. 

ICI: Consumer retirement assets rise to $17.6 trillion
By EILEEN ALT POWELL
The retirement assets of Americans grew 7 percent to $17.6 trillion last year, with the strongest growth coming from worker contributions to 401(k) accounts and other company-sponsored plans and to Individual Retirement Accounts.

Mutual fund expenses held steady in '07
By Sue Asci
April 14, 2008                                         
The era of declining mutual fund expenses is over, and in fact, the cost of investing in a fund may soon be headed back up.

Can mutual fund managers pick stocks?
According to our measures of skill, certain funds perform persistently better than others, and the best performers tend to have a growth objective, large size, high turnover, and use incentive fees to motivate managers.

Top Performers

Picking the Forest or the Trees
THE ability to find top-performing industries is a crucial factor in determining mutual funds that are likely to perform best in the future.

How Well Do You Know... Funds and Taxes?
By WILLIAM POWER AND LESLIE SCISM
Tax time is here, a reminder for investors in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that knowing how tax issues work can make a difference in your returns.

Ouch, That Hurt and Experts Disagree on When Healing Will Begin
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Take shelter in large, stable companies? Forget about it. Flee to overseas stocks? Not a chance. How about the once red-hot Chinese market? That didn't work either. 

Use this guide to help you determine when and how to sell your fund shares

Inside each of us, hidden away and waiting to be tapped, is a   Financial Planner.  All you need do is ask the right questions.

 Many mutual fund companies don't mention soft money. 

Who needs bonds?  CDs are back and paying some healthy returns.

Our 2008 Outlook

Is there a way  you can benefit from herd mentality?

Are you looking for a mutual fund?  Screen it here.

How to fix the mutual fund industry once and for all.

How will your survivors invest their inheritance?
At what point
do I hire out?

You are a mutual fund investor.  So why should you worry about Hedge Funds?  

More than one person has asked this question over the years. At what point
do I hire out?

Created in 1974 as a way to supplement company sponsored pension plans, these plans have grown in size and popularity. Do you IRA?

Baby Boomers need is a new retirement strategy.

Is it a using the Stock Market game the best way to teach young investors?

Your fund manager will be worried about the Valuation of Your Mutual Fund  

In other fund news that will be good for all investors concerned, the S.E.C. has made the practice of directed trading illegal.