How to Invest in TD Mutual Funds

TD Asset Management offers investors a choice of 50 mutual fund opportunities. The funds range from so-called active equity mutual funds to fixed-income funds and index funds, which are passively managed by their overseas subsidiary. Based in Canada, TD Asset Management is that country's sixth-largest mutual fund provider and is well-respected in the industry. When deciding how to invest in TD mutual funds, start with their website.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer

1. Log onto the TD Asset Management website, and click "TD Mutual Funds" from the "Our Businesses" menu.

2. Click "TD Mutual Funds" from the "Products & Services" menu on the right hand side of your screen.

3. Review the types of TD Asset Management mutual funds available. These include Investor funds (H series and Premium series), e-Series funds, Advisor & T-Series funds and their F & S Series funds.

4. Click on each series to view a brief description of fund characteristics, types of mutual funds available within that series (money market, fixed income, U.S. equity and more) as well as performance data for each fund.

5. Review this data carefully, paying close attention to the percentage yield, year-to-date performance, performance since inception and standard deviation (risk). You will need to click between the top five tabs for each prospectus to obtain this information. These tabs are labeled Prices, Details, Performance, Yearly Performance and Risk.

6. Request the full prospectus for the funds you're interested in directly from the TD Asset Management Web site. You will want these for your records.

7. Decide which fund to invest in based on your reading of each prospectus.

8. Contact a TD Asset Management advisor by phone or email to discuss your choice and give instructions for investment.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of TD Asset Management's extensive background information online, including their graphic tools.
• It will help to be familiar with the larger Canadian companies included in some of the mutual fund portfolios.
• Make sure you know what your financial goals are before you talk with a TD advisor. This will make your conversation, and hopefully your investment, more fruitful.
• Though not all TD stocks are in Canadian companies, if you do choose one of TD's Canadian-based funds, be sure you're comfortable with that fact.