Anybody planning to invests in mutual funds for their IRA?

I'm researching mutual funds, and i'm having a tough time. My top choice right now is Principle, but that's because I just don't understand very well the products that are provided from companies like UBS, Schwab, and Merrill.

I'm looking at low risk portfolios such as bonds. In any case, which investment companies do you all use?

i have oppenheimer? my friend who works at ameritrade suggested that to me...so that's what i'm using.

i don't know much about it either, so i just trust my friend to work my funds for me.

but i have other funds other than my ira so...just have a diverse portfolio and you should be fine.

im using fidelity..

basically if you're young you don't want bonds because low risk also translates into low returns. historically speaking, small cap funds have higher returns than large cap funds. value funds historically have higher returns than growth funds.

I use Vanguard for index funds, has the lowest expense ratios of anyone but has a higher minimum initial than its competitors. I also have an ameritrade account to buy ETFs for international asset allocation and can also buy vanguard equivalent etfs. Whatever you choose, pay attention to the load (front & back) and the expense ratios.

Vanguard is indeed very good.

Every fund manager develops their own strategy depending on the financial circumstances of the particular country in which they are investing in. Hence it really depends on where about you are located. Vanguard, ML, UBS, GS, and many other boutique managers are really good in Australia, but I am not sure if they are any good elsewhere though.

what do you guys think of the stunning collapse of Bear Stearns? A few people lost hundreds of million dollars today.

i've rounded my selections to Vanguard, Fidelity, Oppenheimer, and Bank of America. I'm going to play it safe though and invest in mutual funds with heavy bonds allocation.

considered inevitable and expected by certain observers...

things are not looking good.

bear stearns had terrible risk management
they were screwed starting earlier last summer when its two hedge funds blew up
a bank is only as good as its credit

Index funds... Vanguard(low fees)... in a tax deferred account or better yet a Roth would be the way to go.