How to Invest in AIM (Formerly INVESCO) Mutual Funds

INVESCO is a brand name for a larger company known as AMVESCAP PLC. Mutual funds previously identified under the name INVESCO now sell under the AIM brand. Follow these steps to investigate the AIM family of mutual funds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Investment professional or service
• Prospectus

Invest in AIM Mutual Funds (Formerly INVESCO)

1. Contact a financial adviser or investment professional to purchase AIM/INVESCO mutual funds.

2. Be aware that an investment adviser may charge you additional fees to purchase mutual funds on top of those charged by the mutual fund itself.

Choose a Financial Adviser

3. Visit the AIM Web site (see the Resources section below) to request the name of a financial adviser by email.

4. Evaluate the investment adviser by gauging how well he or she understands your particular investment goals and needs. Tell the adviser exactly what your financial goals are (for example, to save for retirement, a down payment on a home or a child's college expenses) and estimate when you plan to meet those goals.

5. Ask for complete information on the adviser's compensation. If the adviser receives commissions or fees from AIM, make sure you understand whether this will have any effect on the adviser's recommendations.

Research on Your Own

6. Go to the AIM Web site and download a prospectus for a fund.

7. Investigate the relative performance of the fund you are considering. Visit a financial Web site to learn about the fund's performance or visit the AIM Web site.

8. Study the effect of fees on your investment. Read the prospectus to understand the fees you will pay for a particular fund.

Tips & Warnings

• Assess your risk tolerance before you invest in any mutual fund. There is always the possibility of losing your principal (the money you originally invested) when you invest in a mutual fund.
• Be aware that INVESCO and AIM settled a market-timing lawsuit in the mid-2000s. The suit alleged that the companies allowed certain privileged investors to engage in market timing that enriched these investors at the expense of other legitimate shareholders in the fund. The companies agreed to certain policy reforms as a result.