Mutual Fund Research
Having in-depth, unbiased research on which to base your buy and sell decisions is important.
This type of research is readily available for individual stocks. However, with the majority of stocks and bonds currently owned by institutions and an ever-increasing acceptance of 401(k) investing through mutual funds, the average investor’s portfolio may now have more mutual fund positions than stocks and bonds.
Yet the availability of sound mutual fund research – research that offers a professional opinion of what may lie ahead for a mutual fund investment in the future – has been lacking. Until now.
Specific Recommendations
At Raymond James, we believe that individual investors must be provided with personalized solutions from their advisors. What’s more, we appreciate that both our advisors and their clients should have the tools and support they need to make the best decisions possible. That is why we developed unbiased, easy-to-understand research on a wide range of mutual funds. In fact, we have the distinction of being among the first firms in the nation to publish mutual fund research reports recommending individual funds to investors.
While, today, some firms issue reviews of mutual funds and others create rankings based on the past performance of funds, our research remains distinctive in that it offers investors our opinion of what may lie ahead for an individual fund. Our reports were among the first to offer “Recommended” or “Under Review” ratings.
Experience
The Raymond James Mutual Fund Research department has been producing load and no-load open-end mutual fund research reports for use by our financial advisors for more than 15 years. Now, that information is available to our advisors’ clients.
As a result of the popularity mutual funds now enjoy, we believe investors need impartial research and objective analysis, structured along the lines of what they are accustomed to reading for equity research, in order to make more informed decisions about their mutual fund portfolios.
Looking Back Isn’t Enough
In the past, investors had to rely primarily on rating services that analyzed what a fund had done, but not necessarily what it could be expected to do. It just doesn’t make good sense to only look back when making decisions about your financial future.
Each Raymond James mutual fund research report not only includes our recommendation for the fund, but features easy-to-understand performance data, top holdings, general data and a hypothetical illustration of a $10,000 investment with dividends and capital gains reinvested, if applicable.
In addition, the report reviews the fund's objectives and management style, then offers the analyst's conclusion about future performance potential.
In-Depth Analysis
Raymond James’ mutual fund research reports blend insight from the past and present with an eye toward the future. Computer databases provide the quantitative information to help analysts gauge performance and risk factors over both the short and long term.
Raymond James’ mutual fund research reports blend insight from the past and present with an eye toward the future.
Our main emphasis, however, is on qualitative research. To gather the information we need, our analysts travel throughout the country and participate in conference calls to get the inside story directly from fund portfolio managers and administrators.
This in-depth research process helps us keep our eye toward the future of the mutual fund industry instead of on the past.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of mutual funds before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about mutual funds. The prospectus is available from your financial advisor and should be read carefully before investing.
A Long-Term View
We are advocates of investing in mutual funds for the long term and our research strives for maximum objectivity and relevance, looking out three to five years.
Your financial advisor can provide you with our research, work with you to design and implement your investment plan, and introduce you to the investment alternatives we offer.
Raymond James’ Mutual Fund Research department follows the same stringent guidelines used by the firm’s nationally ranked Equity Research department in the generation of its reports. And, as with equity research reports, mutual fund research reports are available via e-mail from your Raymond James advisor.
Contact Us
If you’re tired of looking into the past to make your mutual fund decisions, we have an alternative: objective research from an industry leader.
For additional information about Raymond James’ mutual fund research or a sample copy, please contact your financial advisor or use the convenient Office Locator to find our office(s) nearest you today.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any investment company before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about an investment company. The prospectus is available from your financial advisor and should be read carefully before investing.
When purchasing shares in mutual funds, you may be entitled to a discounted transaction charge based on the total number of shares of a specific mutual fund and/or family of funds you hold in your own and/or relatied accounts. It is, therefore, important that you tell your financial advisor of positions you already hold that he or she may not be aware of so that you can benefit from the lowest transaction charge possible on this and subsequent trades.