2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
BEST NO-LOAD MUTUAL FUNDS
Introduction: The Best Performing No-Load Mutual Funds on the Market and a No-Load Mutual Funds List
Investing in a mutual fund is one of the most common and advantageous investments that one can make. According to Investopedia, “ a mutual fund is simply a large group of people who lump their money together for a management company to invest.”
With most investments, there are usually many different fees and charges. No-fee mutual funds or no-load mutual funds are unique in that they don’t charge any sort of fee for the investment.
Award Emblem: Best No-Load Mutual Funds
In this brief article, AdvisoryHQ will review some of the top no-load mutual funds on the market. We will begin by offering a no-load fund definition. Next, we will offer a quality comparative table of the main features of the best no-load index funds.
In our FAQ section, we examine what to look for in the best no-load fund as well as where to find a top no-load mutual funds list. Finally, we offer a complete review of the six best performing no-load mutual funds.
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What Is a No-Load Fund and No-Load Fund Definition?
Whereas most mutual funds charge you for a fee for the purchase of shares or units plus an initial sales or transaction fee, a no-load fund doesn’t charge you any sort of fee for making the investment in the mutual fund.
One no-load fund definition offered by Investopedia states that “a no load fund simply means that you can buy and redeem the mutual fund units/shares at any time without a commission or sales charge.”
Why would anyone choose to invest in a regular-load fund when a no-load fund offers similar investment opportunities without any sort of fees? In the past, some people believed that no-load mutual funds didn’t perform as well as paid funds. In essence, the extra fees charged were a way to guarantee a better return on your investment.
Most investors today, however, believe that there is little difference between a load mutual fund and a no-load mutual fund. It is important, however, to realize that many of the top no-load mutual funds will charge you a fee if you withdraw your funds before a stipulated time. This early withdrawal fee associated with no-load index funds or no-fee mutual funds can add up if you’re not looking to make a long-term investment.
AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best No-Load Mutual Funds
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the best no-load fund names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that mutual fund):
- Dodge and Cox Stock
- Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio
- Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio
- Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS IA
- T. Rowe Price Media & Telecommunications
- Vanguard Equity Income
Image Source: Pixabay
Top 6 Best No-Load Mutual Funds | Brief Comparison
Best No-Load Funds | Last Year’s Return | 3-year | 5-year |
| Dodge and Cox Stock | 16.60% | 9.08% | 16.97% |
| Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio | 13.7% | 36.5% | 32.6% |
| Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio | 18.4% | 24.1% | 19.8% |
| Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS IA | 11.8% | 20.1% | 14.9% |
| T. Rowe Price Media & Telecommunications | 12% | 18% | 15% |
| Vanguard Equity Income | 10.26% | 8.61% | 13.76% |
Table: Top 6 Best No-Load Mutual Funds | | Above list is sorted alphabetically
What to Look for in No-Load Index Funds or a No-Load Mutual Fund
When searching for a great no-load mutual fund, it is important to take into account various factors. Most people who choose load mutual funds (with fees) over the best no-load funds do so because they feel that they aren’t prepared to make investment decisions on their own.
With the best no-load mutual funds, you are essentially purchasing mutual funds on your own. The most important part of purchasing the best no-load mutual funds, then, is doing your homework on which types of funds you think will do well for you and offer you a healthy return on your investment.
Furthermore, with the best performing no-load mutual funds, it is also important to find mutual fund companies that offer a wide variety of investment options. By finding the best no-load fund that offers a number of varied investment options, you are keeping your options open in order to find the best overall investment scheme.
Furthermore, when choosing between the best no-load mutual funds, it is also important to find companies that offer a no-load mutual funds list with low expense ratios. Most of even the best no-load mutual funds come with a cost of distribution fee known as the 12b-1 fee. However, the top no-load mutual funds will either cancel this fee or make it so low that it ends up as a negligible expense.
Lastly, it’s important to find companies offering the top no-load mutual funds that have sound investment philosophies. Anyone can bill themselves as an investor that offers a top quality no-load fund. However, researching a company’s history and finding signs of experienced management is important when trying to discover the absolute best no-load mutual funds out there.
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Where to Find Quality No-Load Mutual Funds
If you are convinced that investing in a no-load fund is the best option for you, where can you go to search for the top no-load mutual funds on the market? Below, we offer two different online options to help you search for the best no-load mutual funds for your personal investment plans.
- Morningstar: This mutual fund research site is a great online tool to help you search for the no-load mutual funds available. While you will have to register in order to get free access, you can easily browse through hundreds of different no-fee mutual funds or no-load index funds to find the best option for you.
- Kiplinger Mutual Fund Finder: This is another top notch search engine for the best no-load mutual funds on the market. With this tool, you can quickly and easily search for the top no-load mutual funds by selecting the expense ratio you are looking for. Furthermore, you can also find the best performing no-load mutual funds through searching for the fund’s year-long performance history.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best No-Load Mutual Funds
Below, please find the detailed review of each of the top no-load mutual funds. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these best no-load funds to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Dodge and Cox Stock Review
The Dodge and Cox no-load fund is a quality option for people looking for a low expense ratio. This best no-load fund only has a 0.52% expense ratio and also offers quality short-term returns. According to Kiplinger, this fund received a 16.60% 1-year return and a 16.97% 5-year return.
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Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio Review
The Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio is another no-load fund that also offers quality investment options. With this no-load fund, you will be investing in state-of-the-art biotechnology products.
According to Zacks.com, with this best no-load fund “the three- and five-year annualized returns are 36.5% and 32.6%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.74% is significantly lower than the category average of 1.36%. FBIOX has a minimum initial investment of $2,500.”
Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio Review
The Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio is another of the best no-load mutual funds offered by Fidelity. Among the best no-load mutual funds, this no-load fund offers investment options in the service and retail niche, which is always rendering strong growth in the American economy.
This no-load fund returned 18.4% last year alone, making it a quality option for people who are looking for short-term investments with big opportunities for returns. Furthermore, this no-load fund invests in different types of stocks around the world, which makes it a great option for people who want to take advantage of the growing world market.
Image Source: Fidelity Investments
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS IA Review
The Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS IA is another of the top no-load mutual funds. This investment option invests in a wide variety of company stocks that offer quality promises of growth. If the market is right, this no-load fund may also invest up to a quarter of its portfolio in foreign companies, making this a great option for people with any eye open to the global market.
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T. Rowe Price Media & Telecommunications Review
Another of the best no-load mutual funds on the current market is the T. Rowe Price Media & Telecommunications no-load fund. As its name mentions, this no-load fund invests in the media and telecommunications industry, which is also another sector of sound and steady economic growth. It returned 12% last year alone.
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Vanguard Equity Income Review
Lastly, the Vanguard Equity Income no-load fund is also one of the top no-load mutual funds. This option has one of the lowest expense ratios at only 0.26, while it offers a steady and solid short-term and long-term income. Its five-year return stands out at a solid 13.76%.
Image Source: Vanguard Investments
Conclusion – The Top No-Load Mutual Funds for a Better Financial Future
Investing in a quality no-load fund is a great option for people who are fed up with being charged excessive fees and feel financially astute enough to make their own financial decisions. By avoiding fees and charges, the top no-load mutual funds almost always out-compete regular loaded mutual funds.
Furthermore, a no-load mutual fund also allows you the option to pick and choose your own investment strategy. Instead of simply trusting the investment plans of a broker or so-called financial expert, the best no-load mutual funds allow you to be more involved as a protagonist in your investment scheme.
There are a number of best performing no-load mutual funds on the market. The six reviewed here are some of top no-load mutual funds currently available. Whether you choose to invest in these best no-load funds or any others, no-load mutual funds can be a solid investment choice for your long-term financial well-being.
Whether you choose Dodge and Cox Stock, Fidelity Select Biotechnology Portfolio, Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio, Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS IA , T. Rowe Price Media & Telecommunications, Vanguard Equity Income, or any of the best no-load mutual funds on the market, you should find a quality and sound investment option.
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