Dealing regularly with mutual funds, you can't survive in your constantly changing business environment without current and complete knowledge, so grab hold of all the mutual fund trade publications you can get your hands on to keep a leg up on the competition. If you don't keep up on industry trends and news, your competition will not hesitate to eat you alive, so read and learn from leading mutual funds publications that help improve your service, attract new clients and retain your current clients for a lifetime.

Mutual fund trade publications can provide you with mutual fund listings, facts, figures, trends, news, analysis and advice that will help you ensure the success of your business. As you search for publications on mutual funds that deliver the information you need and can trust, consider the following sources:

1. Buy mutual fund books that build on the foundation of knowledge you already own.

2. Subscribe to mutual funds magazines for current information.

3. Take advantage of other mutual fund publications when you need specific information.

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

Read mutual fund books to broaden your knowledge

The right mutual fund book will make a timeless addition to your business library, and provide ready reference sources to stay on top your investments.

I recommend: All new investors should read the book on mutual funds titled "Beating the Street," by Peter Lynch. Originally published in 1994, the fully revised and updated bestseller shows how to develop a mutual fund strategy, step-by-step instructions for picking stocks and how to improve your performance. Buy Chuck Jaffe's "Lifetime Guide To Mutual Funds: An Owner's Manual." The book came out in 2000 and reaches out to investors ready to push beyond the basics and begin planning long-term, profitable fund investments. Get the"Mutual Fund Industry Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Investment Professionals,"by Lee Gremillion. The 400-page hardcover book includes a forward from The Vanguard Group founder John C. Bogle and instructs readers about front- and back-office functions, commission structures for various types of funds and fund categories used by Morningstar, Lipper, the Investment Company Institute and others.

Add a mutual funds magazine to the list of resources at your fingertips

You'll find great articles on mutual funds in financial, investor and mutual fund magazines, with subscription options in print or by delivery to your inbox.

I recommend: Pick the Barron's subscription option that best works for you: in print, online or both. No matter what you choose, you'll get the latest information to help you make wise mutual fund investment decisions. You can also find informative investment articles and news in the online BusinessWeek. Check them especially in February when they typically publish their annual mutual fund listing issue that reports on the best-performing funds. Order your subscription to Investment Advisor Magazine, around for more than 25 years, and add its companion website to your computer's list of favorites. This magazine speaks to independent and independent-minded advisers who need unbiased news, information and analysis to better run their business

Explore other mutual funds publications for quick answers and in-depth reports

Use a different type of mutual fund publication when you need detailed information on specific topics.

I recommend: Order Morningstar Funds 500 for current data and analysis on 500 hand-picked funds. The mutual funds publication compares funds, examines historical data and provides articles to help investors make better decisions. Get the free report Top 10 Mutual Funds for Today. The report provides large-cap value funds, international funds, small and micro-cap blends and diversified emerging markets. Subscribe to Investor's Business Daily, a newspaper for serious investors. Consider a subscription to The No-Load Fund Investor, a monthly newsletter that's been around since 1979. The newsletter tracks 996 no-load funds and ETFs and provides data, comparative performance reports and specific recommendations.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because your job demands quick access to information, title a new folder Mutual Fund Publications and place it on your desktop. You can place several of the titles from this guide in the folder for immediate access.