Informational Purposes Only
The following content has been prepared for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, investing, or accounting advice. Consult with an investing professional for your own investment purposes.
Availability Notice
Inclusion of Investments on this list does not guarantee continued availability for trading. Investments available for trading are subject to change periodically.
Mutual Funds 101
Mutual funds pool multiple investments to create a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Managed by professional fund managers, mutual funds allow investors to participate in a broad range of assets without directly managing individual securities.
Morningstar Medalist Rating Explained
The Medalist Rating is the summary expression of Morningstar’s forward-looking analysis of investment strategies as offered via specific vehicles using a rating scale of Gold, Silver, Bronze, Neutral and Negative. The Medalist Ratings indicate which investments Morningstar believes are likely to outperform a relevant index or peer group average on a risk-adjusted basis over time. Analyst Ratings are continuously monitored and reevaluated at least every 14 months.
Mutual Funds Categories
Mutual funds can be organized into four general categories
Allocation: Mutual funds that allocate (hence the name) to fixed income and equities. The allocation depends on each fund's goal.
Equity: A mutual fund in the equity category primarily invests in stocks.
Fixed Income: Mutual funds in the fixed-income category (also known as income) hold a basket of fixed-income securities. These securities are called fixed-income because they provide periodic income payments at a predetermined interest rate. Examples include government, corporate, and international bonds.
Money Market: Money Market mutual funds (MMFs) invest in short-term, low-risk debt securities (e.g., Treasury bills, municipal debt, or corporate bonds)
Allocation
Mutual funds that allocate a specific amount to fixed income and equities depending on the fund's goal.
Name | Ticker | Morningstar Medalist |
Vanguard LifeStrategy Cnsrv Gr Inv | VSCGX | Silver |
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Inv | VASGX | Silver |
Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Inv | VASIX | Silver |
Vanguard LifeStrategy Mod Gr Inv Shrs | VSMGX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund | VTWNX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund | VTTVX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund | VTHRX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund | VTTHX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | VFIFX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 Fund | VLXVX | Silver |
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund | VTINX | Silver |
Equity
Equity funds are those mutual funds that primarily invest in stocks.
Name | Ticker | Morningstar Medalist |
BlackRock Equity Dividend K | MKDVX | Silver |
Causeway Emerging Markets Instl | CEMIX | Bronze |
MFS Mid Cap Growth R6 | OTCKX | Silver |
Parnassus Core Equity Institutional | PRILX | Gold |
Tributary Small Company Instl Plus | FOSBX | Silver |
Vanguard 500 Index Admiral | VFIAX | Gold |
Vanguard Developed Markets Index Admiral | VTMGX | Silver |
Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx Adm | VEMAX | Bronze |
Vanguard Mid Cap Index Admiral | VIMAX | Gold |
Vanguard Small Cap Index Adm | VSMAX | Gold |
Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Adm | VTSAX | Gold |
Fixed Income (or Income)
Mutual funds in the fixed-income category (also known as income) hold a basket of fixed-income securities. These securities are called fixed-income because they provide periodic income payments at a predetermined interest rate. Examples include government, corporate, and international bonds.
Name | Ticker | Name |
Dodge & Cox Income I | DODIX | Dodge & Cox Income I |
Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Adm | VBIRX | Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Adm |
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Adm | VBTLX | Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Adm |
Money Market
Money Market mutual funds (MMFs) invest in short-term, low-risk debt securities (e.g., Treasury bills, municipal debt, or corporate bonds)
Name | Ticker | Morningstar Medalist |
Fidelity Inv MM Treasury Instl | FRBXX | NameTickerMorningstar Medalist |