Whether you're a first-time mutual fund investor or a seasoned veteran, you should understand what differentiates single stock investments from mutual fund investing.

Investment managers are responsible for buying and selling securities according to specific investment objectives, which are identified in the prospectus. Buying shares of a mutual fund can give you built-in diversification. A single mutual fund holds many different securities. When you buy into a mutual fund, investment professionals manage your money. They carefully research, select, and supervise all the assets in the mutual fund. This frees you from having to select and track individual investments. When you invest in mutual funds, you get access to some of the finest investment minds on Wall Street.

Often, mutual funds belong to a "mutual fund family." You may be able to shift your investment among different types of mutual funds, often with no more than a phone call. That way your portfolio can easily be tailored to suit your financial situation and your expectations about the market. However, transfers among a fund family are considered sales, which may result in paying capital gains taxes if the fund being sold has appreciated.

On the other hand, some investors would never surrender control of their investments. Part of the thrill of investing is knowing that when they succeed it was due to their own decisions, these investors might say.Individual comfort level plays a big part in your investment choice.

When one security in a fund drops, an insightful fund manager may have included stocks that could cushion or offset that loss. Diversification is a big selling factor for mutual funds; there is, in fact, relative safety in numbers. But that's not to say that an investor couldn't diversify via his own stock selections. Remember that diversification cannot eliminate or guarantee against the risk of investment loss; it is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Growth funds seek long-term appreciation by investing in the stocks of established companies that may be poised for growth. These companies typically pay low dividends yet offer the potential for long-term capital appreciation. Some growth funds limit their investments to specific sectors of the economy. Growth funds are generally less risky than aggressive growth funds.

Aggressive growth funds, sometimes known as "small-cap" funds, seek maximum capital gains. They invest primarily in the stock of smaller, less established companies. Since these companies generally pay little or no dividends, aggressive growth funds rely on capital growth for returns. These funds tend to be the riskiest of growth-oriented mutual funds. Investments in small companies and emerging markets securities are more volatile and carry greater risk than securities of large companies.

Asset allocation funds are those that give the manager great flexibility in deciding how to invest fund assets. The fund manager can typically invest in all the major investment classes, including stocks, bonds, and money market securities. The weightings of each class may vary dramatically and will reflect the market outlook and expectations of the fund manager.