The Fund Industry: How Your Money is Managed, 2nd Edition

A guide to how your money is managed, with foreword by Nobel laureate Robert ShillerThe Fund Industry offers a comprehensive look at mutual funds and the investment management industry, for fund investors, those working in the fund industry, service providers to the industry and students of financial institutions or capital markets. Industry experts Robert Pozen and Theresa Hamacher take readers on a tour of the business of asset management. Readers will learn how to research a fund and assess whether it's right for them; then they'll go behind the scenes to see how funds are invested, sold and regulated. This updated edition expands coverage of the segments of the industry where growth is hottest, including hedge funds, liquid alternatives, ETFs and target date funds—and adds an introduction to derivatives.Mutual funds are a key component of financial planning for 96 million Americans. Nearly a quarter of U.S. household savings are invested in funds, which give individual investors affordable access to professional management. This book provides a detailed look at how firms in the industry:Invest those savings in stocks and bondsEvaluate the risks and returns of fundsDistribute funds directly to consumers or through financial advisors or retirement plansHandle the complex operational and regulatory requirements of mutual fundsVote proxies at the annual meetings of public companiesExpand their operations across bordersAlong the way, the authors describe the latest trends and discuss the biggest controversies—all in straightforward and engaging prose. The Fund Industry is the essential guide to navigating the mutual fund industry.