Investing in no-load mutual funds is a great way to achieve your goals -- whether you're preparing for retirement, saving for your child's college education or hoping to buy your first home. But how do you choose from the roughly 8,000 funds available?
That's where The 25 Best Mutual Funds comes in. Each year, we assemble a list of our favorite no-load funds -- the best stock and bond funds you can buy without paying sales fees. The Kiplinger 25 isn't a mere rehash of the funds with the best past performance. Instead, we get in the trenches, examining not only a fund's long-term performance compared with similar funds but also its risk level, annual expenses and manager's experience. We spend months getting to know fund managers, learning their strategies and whether they have a stable, disciplined investment process.
Our picks employ a range of styles. Some of the funds emphasize small and midsize firms, others focus on large companies. Some invest mainly in out-of-favor companies, others in fast-growing firms. Four of our picks are international funds. We also select five bond funds.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
But a list of great funds is only useful if you know how to combine the elements into an diversified investment mix. We put it all together by assembling our picks into suggested portfolios designed to meet short-term, mid-term and long-term goals.
If you keep up with the Kiplinger 25 every year, you'll notice some changes from our 2005 list. For the reasoning behind this year's picks -- and why some funds have been eliminated since last year -- see Steven Goldberg's Value Added column, Kiplinger 25: What's In, What's Out. We also offer an update of how last year's Kiplinger 25 performed.
Understanding mutual funds
Following our suggested portfolios makes it easy. But knowing the basics for yourself will help you become a smarter, better investor. Our mutual fund tutorial, a collection of stories from the latest Kiplinger's Mutual Funds special issue, explains the ins and outs of mutual funds -- discussing what to look for when buying or selling a fund and how to plan for your own dreams.
A Plan for Achieving Your Goals
The 8 rules for assembling and maintaining a fund portfolio.
8 Virtues of Great Funds
Signposts of excellence to judge funds you own or are considering.
A discussion of investment styles -- and whether mangers should be required to invest within narrowly defined limits.
Five reasons to sell a fund.
If you're petrified about making the wrong decision, or simply don't have time to manage your portfolio, a one-stop target-retirement fund or lifestyle fund can provide the diversification and safety you need.
-
Stocks Chop as the Unemployment Rate Jumps: Stock Market TodayNovember job growth was stronger than expected, but sharp losses in October and a rising unemployment rate are worrying market participants.
-
Should You Renew Your CD?With rate cuts impacting earnings, we examine if now is a wise time to renew CDs.
-
7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges LaterUnderstand the critical two-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
-
Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Clientswealth management These banks welcome customers who keep high balances in deposit and investment accounts, showering them with fee breaks and access to financial-planning services.
-
Stock Market Holidays in 2025: NYSE, NASDAQ and Wall Street HolidaysMarkets When are the stock market holidays? Here, we look at which days the NYSE, Nasdaq and bond markets are off in 2025.
-
Stock Market Trading Hours: What Time Is the Stock Market Open Today?Markets When does the market open? While the stock market has regular hours, trading doesn't necessarily stop when the major exchanges close.
-
Bogleheads Stay the CourseBears and market volatility don’t scare these die-hard Vanguard investors.
-
The Current I-Bond Rate Is Mildly Attractive. Here's Why.Investing for Income The current I-bond rate is active until April 2026 and presents an attractive value, if not as attractive as in the recent past.
-
What Are I-Bonds? Inflation Made Them Popular. What Now?savings bonds Inflation has made Series I savings bonds, known as I-bonds, enormously popular with risk-averse investors. How do they work?
-
This New Sustainable ETF’s Pitch? Give Back Profits.investing Newday’s ETF partners with UNICEF and other groups.
-
As the Market Falls, New Retirees Need a Planretirement If you’re in the early stages of your retirement, you’re likely in a rough spot watching your portfolio shrink. We have some strategies to make the best of things.
