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 12/31/09.

Source: Morningstar, Bloomberg

The Louis Rukeyser Honor Roll

Funds that have been on The Rukeyser 100 more than 80 percent of the past three years (at least 29 out of 36 months) make it onto The Louis Rukeyser Honor Roll. Their names are in green and marked with laurels.

On the Move

– Jose Buck turned in a solid performance in his first full year at the head of T. Rowe Price Latin America (PRLAX), prompting us to add the fund to The Rukeyser 100. Although Latin America has proven very profitable for investors over the past year, keep in mind that the economic situation in the region can turn on a dime. Don’t chase performance and put too much money into the fund.

– TCW Total Return Bond I (TGLMX) remains in The Rukeyser 100 despite the recent management change and ongoing drama with former star manager, Jeffrey Gundlach. Responsibility for Gundlach’s former charge falls to Tad Rivelle, new chief investment officer of TCW’s high-grade bond operations. Given Rivelle’s experience in this area, investors shouldn’t fret over this change.

– Managers Fremont Bond is now known as Managers PIMCO Bond (MBDFX), but the fund’s operations remain unchanged–fear not, Bill Gross still in charge. The name change better reflects PIMCO’s role in managing the fund.

Funds Added This Month

American Century Core Plus
American Century Infl-Prot Bond
Appleseed
Aston/Optimum Mid Cap N
DWS Managed Municipal Bonds A
Fidelity Select Computers
Harding Loevner Emerging Markets
Marsico Flexible Capital
Matthews Asia Dividend
Osterweis Strategic Income
Perkins Small Cap Value J
Sit Tax-Free Income
T Rowe Personal Strategic Income
T Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond
T Rowe Price Latin America
Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery
Wells Fargo Advantage Growth

Funds Dropped This Month

Alger Capital Appreciation C
Auxier Focus
CGM Focus
Fidelity Global Balanced
FMI Common Stock
Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income
Matthews Pacific Tiger
Northern High Yield Muni
Roosevelt Multi-Cap
Royce Premier
SSgA Emerging Markets
T Rowe Price Health Sciences
TCW Emerging Markets Income I
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury
Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt
Vanguard Long-Term US Treasury
Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury