How does someone buy into a mutual fund without going through a broker or investment company?

Many mutual funds will sell directly to Shareholders. - All you have to go is to their web sites.

In addition, many brokers such as Charles Schwab and Company have a mutual fund market place where you can buy a wide variety of funds without paying a commission. - The funds that are available without a commission generally pay an annual fee (perhaps 1/4 of 1% of the value of the shares) to the broker as compensation, which increases the overall expenses of operating the fund.

Not all Mutual Funds will agree to this kind of a deal with the broker. - So for example if you want to buy Vanguard's S & P 500 index fund through a broker, you can do so, but you have to pay a commission. - Or you can buy the fund directly from Vanguard, for little or no commission. (I haven't checked their latest fees.) - This fund however has super low operating expenses which in the long run could be to your advantage. (I believe this fund's total annual operating expenses are about 1/5 of 1% - Less than the fund would have to pay to be sold on a commission free market place through a broker.

When buying mutual funds, always compare both up front fees and the total expense ratio. Remember that if the fund has expenses of 1% and gross income of 4%, that's 25% of the income.

My bank sells stocks and all that stuff. TD Canada Trust. Check with your bank. Can even be done online or over the phone

go through a bank or the fund directly

try to access the issuer web-site directly such as Russell, Hendersom, Mellon, MFS.....ect

Bank of America, Wells Fargo and a few large banks also offer brokerage accounts.