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The primary reason would be that your investment dollars in a mutual fund would be spread among many stocks instead of just one. If you buy a stock and it goes down, you just lose that value - but in a mutual fund, presumably, the varied holdings balance each other out so that the value of your investment would be more stable.

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Q: Why are mutual funds a safer investment than stocks?
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What is the difference between stocks and mutual funds?

The major difference between stocks and mutual funds is that stocks are an investment in a single, individual company, while mutual funds are made up of many stocks and are typically managed by a broker. Mutual funds are generally considered safer investments than stocks, as they reduce the risk of lost, but also reduce the chance of gain.


Are bonds safer than stocks or mutual funds?

Yes they are. Bonds are debt obligations and hence the person who owes the debt is supposed to pay the money back and our money is much safer than what it is in a stock or mutual fund. Since stocks and mutual funds are related to the stock market they have an inherent risk wherein we can lose money if the market collapses.


What is the difference between a mutual fund and a bond mutual fund?

A Bond mutual fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in bonds and other government securities that are safe and have a fixed rate of return. Whereas the term mutual fund per say refers to equity mutual funds in most cases which invest in the stock market.Bond mf's are safer whereas equity funds come with a certain risk component but at the same time the returns on equity funds are much higher when compared to bond fundsAnswer:Bond funds are investment vehicles that are meant specifically for people who are looking for low risk investment options, but want higher returns than they would get from a fixed deposit. The NAVs of most bond funds don't fluctuate as much as equity funds. Bond mutual funds invest in bonds issued by the government or corporate houses. Mutual funds investment involves a group of investors pooling in their money to invest in securities, which could be stocks or bonds. Mutual funds are considered a low risk-high return investment vehicle. If you're interested in mutual fund investment, you may want to get some professional advice.


Why would treasury bills be a safer investment than buying real estate or common stocks?

Because they are secured by the U.S. government and the government has never defaulted on on its debt.


What stocks are best to invest in?

Individual stocks are a crapshoot. If the company goes bust you lose your money. Mutual funds are a much safer bet. One mutual fund might contain 100 or more stocks, so if one company goes bust you only lose 1/100, so you don't lose much. There is a lot to know and books like "MUTUAL FUNDS FOR DUMMIES" is a good reference. But in a nutshell, do this: * Buy a no-load (no sales fee) mutual fund. * Buy from a company with very low operating costs. * What kind of mutual fund? An Index fund mutual owns the stock of a stock index, like the S&P 500. It owns those 500 stocks. If that index goes up, your mutual fund goes up. *Don't buy and sell. Buy and hold for the long term (over 10 years) *Use "dollar cost averaging". That means you will buy the same $ amount of mutual funds every single month (eg. $50 or $100 per month is purchased automatically, regardless of whether the market is up or down. These principles are advocated by old Wall Street gurus like Warren Buffett. I like the "Vanguard 500" index fund. If you read the book you won't need a financial advisor. The fees that they charge can make a huge difference. Keep the commissions in your pocket, not theirs.

Related questions

What is the difference between stocks and mutual funds?

The major difference between stocks and mutual funds is that stocks are an investment in a single, individual company, while mutual funds are made up of many stocks and are typically managed by a broker. Mutual funds are generally considered safer investments than stocks, as they reduce the risk of lost, but also reduce the chance of gain.


What is difference between stock and mutual funds?

The major difference between stocks and mutual funds is that stocks are an investment in a single, individual company, while mutual funds are made up of many stocks and are typically managed by a broker. Mutual funds are generally considered safer investments than stocks, as they reduce the risk of lost, but also reduce the chance of gain.


What is the difference between funds and fund?

The major difference between stocks and mutual funds is that stocks are an investment in a single, individual company, while mutual funds are made up of many stocks and are typically managed by a broker. Mutual funds are generally considered safer investments than stocks, as they reduce the risk of lost, but also reduce the chance of gain.


Are bonds safer than stocks or mutual funds?

Yes they are. Bonds are debt obligations and hence the person who owes the debt is supposed to pay the money back and our money is much safer than what it is in a stock or mutual fund. Since stocks and mutual funds are related to the stock market they have an inherent risk wherein we can lose money if the market collapses.


What is the difference between a mutual fund and a bond mutual fund?

A Bond mutual fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in bonds and other government securities that are safe and have a fixed rate of return. Whereas the term mutual fund per say refers to equity mutual funds in most cases which invest in the stock market.Bond mf's are safer whereas equity funds come with a certain risk component but at the same time the returns on equity funds are much higher when compared to bond fundsAnswer:Bond funds are investment vehicles that are meant specifically for people who are looking for low risk investment options, but want higher returns than they would get from a fixed deposit. The NAVs of most bond funds don't fluctuate as much as equity funds. Bond mutual funds invest in bonds issued by the government or corporate houses. Mutual funds investment involves a group of investors pooling in their money to invest in securities, which could be stocks or bonds. Mutual funds are considered a low risk-high return investment vehicle. If you're interested in mutual fund investment, you may want to get some professional advice.


How do municipal bonds and mutual funds compare for investors?

Municipal bonds are considered safer so long as you make sure the city is in solid fiancial order. The risks should be quite small, but they're not going to outperform a good mutual fund so long as the economy is sound. Municipal bonds are safer and lower risk because it is a set interest rate. Mutual funds have an interest rate that varies with the stock market.


Commodity index funds are what?

Commodity index funds are funds whose assets are invested in financial instruments linked to a certain commodity index. If it's a well-balanced commodity index fund it will develop roughly the same as the index. It is generally safer to invest in index funds than specialized funds or stocks.


Why would treasury bills be a safer investment than buying real estate or common stocks?

Because they are secured by the U.S. government and the government has never defaulted on on its debt.


What benefits does bond investing have?

It is much safer investing in bonds because they are more secure. If you were to invest in stocks you are taking the chance of perhaps loosing some or all of your investment.


What stocks are best to invest in?

Individual stocks are a crapshoot. If the company goes bust you lose your money. Mutual funds are a much safer bet. One mutual fund might contain 100 or more stocks, so if one company goes bust you only lose 1/100, so you don't lose much. There is a lot to know and books like "MUTUAL FUNDS FOR DUMMIES" is a good reference. But in a nutshell, do this: * Buy a no-load (no sales fee) mutual fund. * Buy from a company with very low operating costs. * What kind of mutual fund? An Index fund mutual owns the stock of a stock index, like the S&P 500. It owns those 500 stocks. If that index goes up, your mutual fund goes up. *Don't buy and sell. Buy and hold for the long term (over 10 years) *Use "dollar cost averaging". That means you will buy the same $ amount of mutual funds every single month (eg. $50 or $100 per month is purchased automatically, regardless of whether the market is up or down. These principles are advocated by old Wall Street gurus like Warren Buffett. I like the "Vanguard 500" index fund. If you read the book you won't need a financial advisor. The fees that they charge can make a huge difference. Keep the commissions in your pocket, not theirs.


What types of investments would you suggest for a friend who is afraid to take chances with his money?

Bonds, or better yet a mutual fund that invests in bonds. They pay less than stocks, but they are much safer.


What is the importance of mutual fund rating?

The importance of the mutual fund rating is for investors to measure a fund's historical risk-adjusted performance over different time frames compared with funds that are in the same category. It is important to investors so they can feel a little safer in where they are deciding to invest their money.