HOW TO READ A MUTUAL FUND PROSPECTUS

Key Points

• Questions to Ask Before Investing
• How Can a Prospectus Help You?
• The Summary Prospectus
• Points to Remember

A 1997 survey of retirement investors revealed some significant misperceptions about mutual funds:*

• Nearly 90% of investors surveyed didn't know that money market mutual funds contain only short-term securities.**
• About 75% of respondents didn't know it's possible to lose money in a government bond fund.
• Almost half of respondents didn't know that they could lose money in a bond fund.

Fortunately, there's a tool designed to thwart such misinformation — the mutual fund prospectus. Wading through this sometimes complex document, however, may take perseverance and a strong cup of coffee.

Think of the prospectus as your travel guide to the world of mutual funds — it provides all the details you need to map out a successful investment plan. At first glance, of course, a prospectus may not look as reader-friendly as you would hope. It is, after all, a legal document that must adhere to rigorous standards set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the federal agency that oversees the mutual fund industry.

But with a little basic knowledge of the information contained in a prospectus, you can make effective use of this valuable investment planning tool.

Questions to Ask Before Investing

• In what does this fund invest?
• What is the long-term rate of return?
• How much has return fluctuated in the past?
• How does the fund's performance compare with that of the underlying market?
• Is the fund seeking income or capital growth?
• What time frame is appropriate for an investor in this fund?  

How Can a Prospectus Help You?

Consider these examples of hypothetical situations in which the information found in a prospectus could have been very useful:

• An investor sells his mutual fund shares and is surprised to learn that a portion of the sale price is paid to the fund company in the form of a back-end load.
• An investor exchanges her investment in one fund for another fund in the same fund family. She did not know that fees were charged for the exchange.
• A retiree in search of income invests in a high-yield bond fund but doesn't know it is also high-risk and is disturbed by its fluctuating value.
• Attempting to make a mortgage payment with money from a mutual fund account, an investor discovers that the fund places a minimum amount on its check-writing privilege.

All of the necessary information to prevent these occurrences is contained in every mutual fund's prospectus. Take a look at these key elements:

Date of issue — First, verify that you have received an up-to-date edition of the prospectus. A prospectus must be updated at least annually.

Minimum investments — Mutual funds differ both in the minimum initial investment required, and the minimum for subsequent investments.

Investment objectives — The goal of each fund should be clearly defined — from income with preservation of principal to long-term capital appreciation. Be sure the fund's objective matches your objective.

Investment policies — A prospectus will outline the general strategies the fund managers will implement. You'll learn what types of investments will be included, such as government bonds or common stock. The prospectus may also include information on minimum bond ratings and types of companies considered appropriate for a fund. Be sure to consider whether the fund offers adequate diversification.

Risk factors — Every investment involves some level of risk. In a prospectus you'll find descriptions of the risks associated with investments in the fund. Refer to your own objectives and decide if the risk associated with the fund's investments matches your own risk tolerance.

Performance data — You'll find selected per-share data including net asset value and total return for different time periods since the fund's inception. Performance data listed in a prospectus are based on standard formulas established by the SEC and enable you to make comparisons with other funds. Remember that past results do not guarantee future performance. When evaluating performance, look at the track record of a fund over a time period that matches your own investment goals.

Fees and expenses — Sales and management fees associated with a mutual fund must be clearly listed. The prospectus will also display the impact these fees and expenses would have on a hypothetical investment over time.

Tax information — A prospectus will include information on the tax status and implications of a fund's distributions — whether they will be treated as dividend income or capital gains.

Investor services — Shareholders may have access to certain services, such as automatic investment of dividends and systematic withdrawal plans. This section of the prospectus, usually near the back of the publication, will describe these services and how you can take advantage of them.

The Summary Prospectus

The Securities and Exchange Commission now permits the use of a simplified summary prospectus to help investors better understand key characteristics of a mutual fund investment.

Ask your mutual fund company for a summary prospectus in addition to the regular prospectus.  

To simplify the process of reviewing mutual fund prospectuses, certain information is required to appear in the same place. For example, the fee table and performance table must appear at the beginning of the prospectus.

While the rest of the material can appear in any order, you'll generally have no trouble finding the information you need — prospectuses generally range from 10 to 20 pages and include a table of contents. And after reviewing a few prospectuses, you'll become accustomed to the language and be able to reduce the time it takes to find the information you need to make a sound investment decision.

You can receive prospectuses free from mutual fund companies, a broker, or a registered representative. Be sure to read the prospectus and ask questions about items that you are not sure about before investing. Your financial planner or broker should be able to answer any questions.

*Source: John Hancock Financial Services, Defined Contribution Plan Survey , 1997.

**An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.

Points to Remember

1. Think of your prospectus as a travel guide to the world of mutual funds.
2. Ask your fund company for a summary prospectus in addition to the regular prospectus.
3. Note tax information you'll find in a prospectus — whether distributions are to be treated as dividend income or capital gains.
4. Sales and management fees associated with a mutual fund must be clearly listed in a prospectus.  Note the impact these fees and expenses would have on an investment over time.
5. Make sure the prospectus you're using is up-to-date. A prospectus must be updated at least annually.
6. You'll be able to compare a fund's past performance with that of other funds by examining the performance data — how well the fund did — that must be contained in a prospectus. Remember though, that past results do not guarantee future performance.