Read the Reviews to Find the Best Investment Company

• Investors can opt for no-load mutual fund options when investing in stocks.
• These funds do not offer upfront or back-end sales fees.
• A no-load mutual fund is a mutual fund that does not have a sales commission.

The mutual fund industry provides investors with an array of choices, depending on their objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time frame. Investors who want to keep their investing simple can invest in a no-load, or low-load, mutual fund that charges no sales commissions or upfront sales fees. The no-load mutual fund charges its investors an expense ratio, which is simply the percentage of a fund's assets that it charges in fees every year.
Many investment companies provide no-load mutual funds, including Vanguard Group Inc. (VFINX), which is known for its low costs of investing. Another option for investing, particularly in retirement accounts, is a 401(k), which is offered by many employers.

The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal ranks investment companies using data from Morningstar, Inc. (MORN), an investment research firm. The rankings are based on investment performance, fund assets, and expenses. Performance is measured in five-year returns, and assets are measured as of Dec. 31, 2017. Expenses include 12b-1 fees, management fees, and operating expenses.

Barron's

Barron's has compiled a list of top mutual and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for 2018. The list includes funds from the Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments.

Investor's Business Daily
Investor's Business Daily has compiled a list of the "Top 100 Mutual Funds" for 2017. The list includes funds from the Vanguard Group, Fidelity Investments, and BlackRock.

Morningstar
Morningstar has compiled a list of "The Best Mutual Funds," which includes funds from the Vanguard Group, Fidelity Investments, and BlackRock.

Businessweek

This magazine provides extensive coverage of corporate management, capital markets, and the global economy. The magazine also scores high in online searches for investment companies.
Barron's
Barron's covers the stock market and the economy. It also provides daily updates on the best performing stocks and mutual funds.
Investor's Business Daily
Investor's Business Daily provides investment advice and tips for individual investors. The magazine also ranks investment companies based on past performance.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance provides advice on personal finance for small business owners, consumers, and investors. The magazine also provides advice for choosing the best investment companies.

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The Bottom Line

An investment company, or mutual fund, is an investment vehicle organized for the purpose of pooling funds together from investors. Investment companies are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and are subject to certain rules, including rules on advertising, reporting, and disclosure.