We dedicate a lot of ink to major fund families such as Vanguard and Fidelity, but this doesn’t mean we endorse their offerings. The more funds a family includes in its stable, the more likely you are to find a landmine. With seven solid offerings, Scout is one family of funds we can stand behind. Read More

Despite the apparent ubiquity of smartphones--everyone seems to be toting a Blackberry or iPhone these days--penetration rates are actually quite low. That spells significant opportunity for handset makers. But another group of companies will also benefit: application developers. Read More

Despite steady earnings and attractive demographics, health care stocks haven't participated in the broad market rally because of uncertainty about health care reform and the implication for earnings. Leefin Lai, lead portfolio manager of DWS Health Care (SUHAX), regards this pullback as an opportunity. Read More

Two investing experts tell us what to buy now and why. Read More

Second-quarter earnings weren't as dire as many had expected, and indicators suggest that the economy might be exiting the recession. But the fall could bring a bit of a pullback as investors take profits. We would view any weakness in the market as a buying opportunity. Read More

A recent forecast suggests that by 2015 exchange-traded funds will dominate the industry in terms of assets under management. That's an unlikely scenario, but ETFs do have their uses. Read More

These are the top funds in five major categories, ranked according to three-year returns. We primarily consider funds with managers in place for at least three years; the only exceptions are managers with at least three years' experience in a similar capacity. We don't rank funds with front or back-end loads greater than 3 percent or funds that are closed to new investors, have less than $25 million in assets, have minimums of $10,000 or more, have trust restrictions or are single-state muni-bond funds. All data as of 06/30/09. Read More

The information technology sector has performed consistently throughout the crisis, but many investors are just becoming aware of this pocket of strength. Although Internet-related stocks have been beaten down, the best companies continue to generate handsome profits by tapping consumers in both the domestic and international market. Here's a fund run by an undisputed expert that will let you ride the digital wave to investment gains. Read More

Despite the troubles in the municipal bond market, muni-bond funds are useful vehicles for many investors, often offering yields higher, than comparable taxable bond funds. If you're mulling an investment in a muni-bond fund, Vanguard's lineup should be on your list. We survey the field and report on the current strategies guiding these top-notch tax-free offerings. Read More

A weaker US dollar is a real risk going forward. We highlight seven ways to hedge against this eventuality. Read More