These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

Personal Finance Home

What are the best mutual funds to select for an investor with an income objective?

Last Updated: March 03, 2008

View as web page


Listed below are types of mutual funds that have income as a primary objective:

1. Income funds: These usually include a combination of bonds, dividend-paying stocks, and utility stocks to produce steady income and lower investment risk.

2. Municipal bond funds: These funds invest in tax-exempt municipal bonds issued by state and local governments.

3. Corporate bond funds: These are funds that invest in debt instruments issued by for-profit companies. They may invest in either investment-grade or high-yield bonds.

4. Government bond funds: These funds invest in safe U.S. government-backed bonds such as Treasury notes.

5. Ginny Mae (GNMA) funds: These funds hold securities backed by a pool of government-insured mortgages.

6. Global bond funds: These funds invest in bonds of overseas companies.

For additional information about mutual funds and the types of funds appropriate for different types of financial goals, read Unit 6 of "Investing for Your Future," an eXtension lesson, at www.extension.org/pages/Investing_for_Your_Future.

We would like your feedback on this Personal Finance Frequently Asked Question.

Browse related Faqs by tag: personal finance


Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.


View this page: