Mutual Funds

Establish the right mix of mutual funds for you Low-risk stuff pays nothing nowadays, so you need to invest in stocks and bonds to earn a decent return.
Ingredients:
• Internet access.
• The result of your risk-tolerance test.
Instructions:
• See the model portfolios assembled using Kiplinger 25 funds.
• Choose the portfolio that most closely matches your recommended allocation. Tweak the allocations if your target for stocks doesn't align closely with one of the model portfolios.
If you're investing in a taxable account, consider using the Fidelity Intermediate Municipal Income (FLTMX) fund for some or all of your bond allocation.
Total time: five minutes.

Buy mutual funds
Ingredients:
• Internet access.
• A brokerage account.
• Your perfect portfolio.
• A calculator.
Instructions:
• Translate your portfolio's allocations from percentages to the actual dollar amounts you plan to invest.
• Next, log in to your brokerage account, and go to "trade."
• Place your orders.
Total time: up to 15 minutes.

See whether your fund managers have skin in the game
If the fund manager has money alongside yours, your interests are aligned.
Ingredients:
• Telephone or Internet access.
• Money in a mutual fund.
Instructions:
• Read a fund's "statement of additional information" to find out whether your manager has money in the fund. The statement will describe a manager's investment in broad dollar ranges, from zero to more than $1 million.
The statement is usually available on the fund's website. If not, call the sponsor and ask for the document to be mailed to you.
Total time: five minutes online or about 10 minutes for a phone call.
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