How to Invest in Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds

Franklin Templeton Investments, headquartered in San Mateo, California, is a global investment-management firm. With offices in 29 different countries, Franklin Templeton offers numerous investment solutions, including a mutual fund series. It has investors in more than 100 countries around the globe and manages more than 100 mutual funds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Financial adviser
• Money to invest

Understand the Types of Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds

1. Understand that stock funds invest in common stocks. Typically, the primary goal of these funds is capital appreciation.

2. Know that bond funds primarily seek current income by investing in business, municipal and government bonds.

3. Understand that balanced funds take current marketing conditions into account, investing in stocks and bonds, as well as money market instruments. These funds seek current income and capital appreciation.

4. Recognize that money market funds invest in such things as certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal notes and commercial paper. They seek to offer a high level of liquidity, while providing current yields and protecting capital.

5. Realize that growth funds typically focus on investing in companies with potential for earnings-boosting growth. Value funds target overlooked and undervalued stocks. Blend funds combine the growth and value investment styles.

Choosing a Fund

6. Review the available funds at Franklin Templeton.com. You may search for fund information by category and share class or fund family and share class.

7. Request prospectuses and review them for information regarding objectives, strategies, expenses and fees, as well as details about fund managers.

8. Understand minimum investment requirements. Most Franklin Templeton funds have $1,000 minimum investments. Alternatively, you may opt for the automatic investment plan, requiring a $50 minimum investment.

9. With the help of a financial adviser or broker, determine the amount of investment you'd like to make and purchase shares.

Tips & Warnings

• Though its not absolutely necessary to invest with the help of a financial adviser, Franklin Templeton highly recommends doing so. By enlisting the help of a financial adviser, you can benefit from the professional expertise and experience of the person you choose, perhaps boosting your chances of investment success.
• As an alternative to a lump-sum minimum investment, you could choose the automatic investment plan. With this plan, you agree to have automatic investment transfers from your bank account to your Franklin Templeton fund or funds. You may choose to have transfers completed on a monthly, quarterly or yearly schedule.