When it comes to investing in the stock market, there are just so many different possible ways of making money. Sure investing in the individual stocks can be exciting because each and every single one has its own little story. However, more and more people are turning their attention to mutual funds these days; so the important question everyone is asking is as to whether or not mutual funds are safe for the small time investor. The first thing that you have to realize is that a mutual fund is actually a large portfolio of stocks already diversified for you.

When you open an account, you are not simply choosing to invest in the stock market, but you are hiring a professional investor who only makes any real money if you do. Think of a mutual fund as the hiring of a professional investor for a much lower rate then simply opening up a managed account. If you are a small time investor, then there is no way that you could ever come close to the knowledge and experience of the portfolio manager. They also have one main advantage that you do not; they pool the investor s investments together to increase their buying power and therefore increase the potential for profits. The mutual fund is also considered to be a liquid investment.

That is, if you are in short supply of cash, you can place an order for some of your investment and it is usually ready for you by the end of the business day. This of course is not the case with most stock investing or brokerage firms dealing in only stock market accounts. Of course the best way to look at a mutual fund is the simple fact that you start off with a small amount and as each paycheck passes by, you can slowly add to your initial investment. You will not have to deal with per trade fees nor will you need to keep track of hundreds of different shares of stock. It is all done for you and it is made as simple as possible.

For the small investor, not only are mutual funds the safest way to go, but they can also be the more profitable route. If you like, you can even think of a mutual fund as a savings account that generates on more then 4 times the interest without question.