The Advantage of NoLoad Mutual Funds dramatic performance differences between noload and load

Post on: 21 Июль, 2015 No Comment

The Advantage of NoLoad Mutual Funds dramatic performance differences between noload and load

The Advantage of No-Load Mutual Funds

Jack Piazza

O ne of the basic decisions that every mutual fund investor must make involves the issue of fund structure: whether to choose a load or a no-load fund. Advocates of each type give the following arguments: load funds are necessary to compensate for research and advice; no-load funds save you money by eliminating unneeded expenses.

Let’s first review the different types of mutual fund structures. Load funds charge a commission while no-load funds are commission-free. In addition, the vast majority of all load funds charge annual distribution fees, known as 12b-1 fees, which are used to pay for promotional costs; these costs vary from 0.25% to 1% of annual asset value. Some no-load funds also charge 12b-1 fees, but no-load funds that do not charge 12b-1 fees are known as 100% no-load or true no-load.

The structure of load funds can be (A) front-end. with the commission paid initially and varying from 3% to 6.25% of the investment; 12b-1 fees in front-end load funds are usually 0.25% or (B) back-end or contingent deferred sales charge, with the commission paid when the fund is sold and beginning at 5% of the value of the fund and declining 1% per year until zero after year five; 12b-1 fees in back-end load funds are usually 1% and convert to 0.25% after five years or (C) level load. with the commission paid initially and usually equal to 1% of the investment; 12b-1 fees in level load funds are 1% for as long as you own the fund.

Is there really that much of a worthwhile difference between load and no-load funds? An analogy to comparing mutual fund structures would be a one-hundred yard race. If the race competitors have equal ability, but one has a five to six yard head start, you obviously know who would win the contest. In fact, the one with the head start would only lose to a competitor with far superior ability. In the mutual fund illustrations below, assume all competitors have equal ability in order to accurately demonstrate the differences in performance.

The Advantage of NoLoad Mutual Funds dramatic performance differences between noload and load

Assuming a $10,000 investment with a conservative 9% annual net return rate — after annual fund operating expenses of 1% — over three years, the following illustrations compare the differences in cumulative total return and Return on Investment (ROI) among four different types of mutual fund structures:

  • 100 % no-load (no 12b-1 fee)
  • 5.75% front-end load with 0.25% per year 12b-1 fee
  • 3% back-end load with 1% per year 12b-1 fee (sale at end of year 3 )
  • 1% level load with 1% per year 12b-1 fee

Fund Structure — Cumulative Return Comparison


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