If you're hesitant to invest in load funds, likely you don’t want to pay the up-front commission or sales charge every time you purchase shares. Instead, you stick with no-load funds. Don't let the commission on load funds scare you. You should be looking at the other fees and expenses that are associated with no-load funds because they can cost you more than load funds.

Load funds differ from no-load funds in that you have to pay commission when you purchase shares. This is where the word “load” comes from. The load is the commission that pays your broker, investment advisor, or financial planner. Despite the up-front commission, load funds can be lucrative. Here are some ways to invest in load funds:

1. Use online brokerage firms to buy load funds.

2. Buy equity load funds.

3. Use a load funds firm to buy emerging growth funds.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy funds through load funds online brokerage firms

If you have an account with an online brokerage firm, you can start trading load funds. The online brokerage firms provide valuable information when they sell load funds. For example, the firms provide load funds help with information on fund families, categories, or profile information. With this data, you should have an easier time in trading load funds.

I recommend: TD Ameritrade is one of the more well-known online brokerage firms. The firm provides comprehensive information on load funds investing. You can also buy load funds through E*Trade Financial, which has more than 7,000 mutual funds, including load funds, to choose from.

Invest in load funds that specialize in equity

You can do load funds investing in equity loads funds. Equity funds specialize in various areas, including precious metals, emerging growth, income, and others. The main objective behind equity funds is capital appreciation. You can find thousands of equity funds to invest in. Many institutions invest in these funds.

I recommend: Putnam Investments is one of the most reliable companies when it comes to providing load funds services. It has an array of funds that invest in foreign companies. You can also do load funds investing with Fidelity. Its Fidelity Equity-Income Fund invests in large cap value stocks.

Buy emerging growth funds through a load funds firm

You can buy load funds through mutual fund companies themselves. All you need to do is open an account by either going to the mutual fund company's website or filling out an application. In addition, you will find that the load funds firm provides valuable tools on its website. For example, you can view all of the load funds of the mutual fund company.

I recommend: Van Kampen Emerging Markets Fund invests in companies from other countries, including Samsung and China Coal Energy. American Funds is another mutual fund company to check. Its Growth Fund of America invests in both domestic and foreign companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Inquire with your load funds' investment representative about having your load reduced. If you've invested a certain amount of money or purchased a number of shares, you might qualify for a reduction in the load.