Learn About the Advantages of Mutual Fund Investing

In basic terms, a mutual fund is a company whose main objective is to professionally invest a pool of money in securities and earn a positive return for shareholders.  In this way, these companies allow you to “mutually” share the rewards and risks of investing, hence their name.  

Buying shares in a mutual fund actually gives you stock or bond holdings in various companies, based on the underlying investments. Your shares are pooled together with other investors’ shares, and the combined assets give you access to a level of diversification that you may not otherwise be able to obtain.

It’s always important to remember that mutual fund investing involves risk, and your investment may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Your principal and investment return will fluctuate in value, so it’s important to understand a few basics about these funds.

Mutual fund investing may offer several benefits for individual investors. For starters, funds are managed by experienced, full-time money managers. They research market and economic trends, and then use the information they gather to make decisions about buying, holding or even selling securities to enhance returns.

Another distinct advantage is diversification, one of the basic tenets of successful investing. By spreading your money over a number of investments, a mutual fund doesn’t depend on any one investment for your return. And on the other side of the coin, the impact of one poor performer on your entire portfolio is also reduced.  

Mutual funds also offer several convenient features, such as automatic reinvestment, systematic payments and no-cost exchanges. If you choose to, you can automatically reinvest any dividends and capital gains (profits) to purchase more mutual fund shares. Mutual funds can also provide you with monthly or quarterly automatic withdrawals.

You can often exchange assets from one fund to another fund within the same group of funds — also known as a fund family — without incurring any additional sales charges. However, be aware that some funds may impose short-term or other redemption fees. Be sure to read the fund prospectus for details, and know that exchanges between funds may be a taxable event.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.