Should i just sit on a mutual fund portfolio with a moderate risk and let the markets take their course?

I try to tell as many people as I can, get out of mutual funds unless you have really done your homework.

About 75% of all mutual funds under perform the stock market. All of them have management fees, usually between 1% and 2%, and some have sales loads.

I would move to ETF's or a DRIP Plan. In my opinion, there is not much sense in paying the high fees.

That's what I'm presently doing myself - hoping things will look up. Some say cut your losses but my feeling is the market is so low now, it's bound to go up soon. I wish it will anyway.

Yes

Jasper is only right about one thing and that is that 75% of funds. Go with index mutual funds from a company like Vanguard and take what the market will give you. The cost are nowhere at the level that Jasper stated. You can pay as low as .15% Check them out and do yourself a favor.

By all mean check out the mutual fund fees, as Jasper is right on the mark. Load funds are ridiculous and most no load funds are also too high.

Jasper told you to do your research, and i agree with him. There have been several articles written about the days of mutual fund investing being over, by credible Financial Newsletters like Motley Fool.

I think he clearly says there are some viable funds.

By the way, I am starting to believe Vanguard Mutual Funds have their salesmen on this forum. They are constantly pushing this family of funds.

I would opt for ETF.

I think Jasper pretty clearly indicates that some mutual funds are still worth investing in. He does not name any specific fund to avoid.

I am invested in 2 mutual funds, but they are not well known names and have great track records.

Still, there seems to be better options nowadays than mutual funds. ETF's on average have much lower management fees and DRIP Plans are about as low as anyone is going to get.

I encourage the individual investor to look at all the options and make a choice.

Vanguard funds do not need sales people. Their funds sell themselves with the ultra low costs they provide for the average investor. If you don't want to consider Vanguard then look at TRowe Price or Fidelity.

Cost are one thing that a investor can control. Sticking with low cost, no load funds is probably the best way to go.