Build a Tax-Smart Fund Portfolio

By James D. Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
Updated May 27, 2008 

Check out these savvy strategies to help you boost your after-tax returns.

Great Funds for 2008

By James Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
Updated May 15, 2008 

Check out our favorites in these core categories: large growth, large value, small blend, foreign equities and bonds. Plus, a list of 14 more funds we like.

How to Build an International Fund Portfolio

by James D. Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
March 26, 2008 
 
Start with developed markets. Add a dollop of emerging markets and small-caps.
 

Managed Accounts vs. Mutual Funds

By Nicholas Coppola, CFA, CPA, Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
March 20, 2008 

Both offer professional management. See how they differ and which is right for you.

Tax-Savvy Fund Investing

by Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
February 27, 2008

Keep more of your gains with these tax-smart fund strategies.
 

Watch Out for Fund Expenses

Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
November 19, 2007
 
Learn what you're paying for—and when it's worth the price. The answer varies by expense type and fund category.
 

A Matter of Style

by Justin Holt, CFA, Senior Research Analyst, Schwab Center for Financial Research
October 26, 2007
 
Growth and value may cycle in and out of favor, but discipline is always in style.
 

Look Beyond the Stars

Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
July 31, 2007

Many investors might just look for funds with high Morningstar ratings and call it a day. But what could be wrong with five-star funds?
 

Exchange-Traded Funds: Beyond the Hype

Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 10, 2007

Are ETFs right for you? Here are smart ways you might use ETFs in your portfolio.
 

Five Myths of Exchange-Traded Funds

Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research 
July 10, 2007

All exchange-traded funds are cheap, easy-to-trade, tax-efficient index funds. Or are they?
 

Keeping It Simple

by James D. Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
May 1, 2007

How to choose among a mounting array of single-investment portfolio solutions.
 

Prevent the Pack-Rat Syndrome

Michael Iachini, CFA, CFP®, Director, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
January 5, 2007

A collection of historically high-performing funds does not necessarily make a well-diversified portfolio and can greatly increase risk.
 

How to Build a Fund Portfolio

by James D. Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President, Investment Manager Research, Schwab Center for Financial Research
August 24, 2006
 
Picking funds out of a universe of 6,700-plus options is tricky. But help is available. Here's an inside look at the science behind how Schwab builds and monitors fund portfolios.
 

The After-Tax Performance of Mutual Funds: Why It's Important

by James D. Peterson, PhD., Vice President, Mutual Fund Research, Schwab Center for Investment Research® and by Rande Spiegelman, CPA, CFP®, Vice President of Financial Planning, Schwab Center for Investment Research®
September 2, 2003
 
If you’re trying to choose an appropriate fund for a taxable account, you need to know which factors influence a mutual fund’s after-tax performance.