What is a mutual fund?

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks and bonds that are purchased by the unit holders and managed by a professional. Members at Quinte First Credit Union have access to mutual funds through Credential Asset Management. Credential Asset Management Inc has access to some of the top fund families in Canada. These include AGF, CI Investments, Fidelity Investments and more.

There are thousands of mutual funds to choose from but they can basically be broken down into 3 types. Fixed Income funds invest in bonds, they could be government bonds or corporate bonds inside or outside of Canada. Balanced funds invest in a combination of stocks and bonds inside or outside of Canada. Equity funds invest in stocks of companies either inside or outside of Canada.

Why should I buy Mutual Funds?

Advantages to buying mutual funds include Liquidity, Diversification, Accessibility and Professional management.  Let’s look at each one.

Liquidity

Mutual funds can be bought or sold at any time.  You do not have to wait for a maturity date.

Diversification

Mutual funds allow you to invest in tens if not hundreds of stocks or bonds at one time.

Accessibility

For as little as $500 you can create a well balanced portfolio.

Professional management

The person who runs the fund, the fund manager, provides full-time experienced management on a daily basis.