Mutual funds

Despite some impressive short-term gains, more than half underperformed their peers over the decade.

Waiting until year end to factor in portfolio volatility is risky business.

Some of the biggest laggards have managed short-term gains of more than 40%.

Among some 500 large-cap U.S. mutual funds, those with at least one-third of manager positions held by women have beaten those with none, data show.

Lower transaction costs can often come with higher expense ratios at the nation’s largest IBD.

More than half of these funds have fees higher than 75 basis points.

The ready-made strategies have been around for years, but in an era of fee wars and ETFs its popularity is exploding.

Market recovery has made the risk of missing out more pronounced this year, forcing many funds to position themselves towards historically bullish levels.

Clients opened almost 1.2 million retail accounts, boosting flows to mutual funds and ETFs, the firm reports.

Fees for the category's best performing mutual funds and ETFs are much like the price of bullion: expensive.