A money market mutual fund, also known as a money market fund, money fund and principal stability fund is a mutual fund that invest in short-term debt instruments. These types of mutual funds are great for investors that aren't ready to commit to a long term investment, but want something with a better percentage than a savings account. Money market mutual funds are also great for those looking to avoid
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A person who is looking for a short term investment can use a money market mutual fund to take advantage of high yield funds and good interest rates. Putting any extra income into a money market mutual fund can earn you an extra percentage point or two over a typical savings account. You can purchase money market mutual funds from brokers or directly from a mutual fund company. If you think this type of investment is right for you, here are three steps for investing in money market mutual funds.
1. Choose the right type of money market mutual fund. Generally, there are two types of money market mutual funds: those that hold GSE's (government sponsored enterprises) and those that hold U.S. Treasury securities. In addition to these two choices, there are also funds that are taxable and non taxable.
Your first choice is to decide whether you want to invest in a taxable or untaxable money market mutual fund. This will be dictated by your income and tax bracket. Be sure your money market mutual fund is covered by the SIPC. This will keep you protected if your financial institution finds any resistance associated with the current recession.
Once you have decided on the type of fund you want, it is very important to get reviews for different money market mutual funds. You can do this by consulting a broker, looking online or asking friends, family and co-workers who are involved in this type of investing. Make sure to look at yields, interest percentages and early withdrawal penalties.
2. Invest using a broker. Once you have found a money market mutual fund that you are comfortable with, place your order with a broker. Although you can buy your mutual fund directly through the parent company, using a broker will help first time investors. Your broker's expertise is well worth the commision expense, especially if you are a novice.
Your broker can give you valuable tips for investing in money market mutual funds. Since your broker knows how different types of investing avenues work, they can steer you in the right direction. Brokers can find you the best online and brick and mortar accounts with the highest interest rates and yields.
3. Know the ways to withdraw money from your money market fund. Knowing how to get your money out of your money market mutual fund is very important. These types of accounts make withdrawing money easy. With most money market mutual funds, you can withdraw your money by writing checks from the account and even using a debit card directly attatched to the fund. Make sure that you know the specific withdrawal methods for your mutual fund. This is something that your broker can answer for you.