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Some mutual funds want you to pay for the privilege of them (or your investment adviser) taking your money to invest. It's called a load, and it works like a cover charge to get into a nightclub. Luckily, there are such things as no-load funds. As the name implies, shares of these funds are sold without a fee paid to a broker or investment advisor.
The entire amount you invest in no-load funds goes to work for your returns. On the other hand, with load funds, right off the bat you're charged commission (not to mention other fees incurred over the life of the investment). Let's say, for example, you invest $25,000 into a load fund that charges a 5% commission. This costs you $1,250 off the top, bringing your actual investment down to only $23,750.
The often-cited horse race analogy argues against investing in load funds. Here's the logic behind it: Would you place a bet on a horse that had to start a race 200 yards behind the others? Well, maybe you would if you got a tip from a sketchy, trench coat-clad man in a dark alley. However, under most circumstances, it's not smart to put your money on that handicapped horse.
But some argue that at times that man in the trench coat (aka your broker) knows more about the horses than you do, and has a better shot at picking a winner. Also, sometimes these fees are unavoidable because some funds are available only through investment advisers.
Cost-benefit analysis can help determine when a load fund is worth it (in other words, when it will score you a load) and when it is better to "do it yourself" and avoid the fees. Load-fund fees range depending on share class and can cover a variety of costs, such as paper work and fund management.
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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Letter Carriers Fight Hunger on May 10
Comtex
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ ----Nation's Largest Food Drive Helps Millions of Americans in Need
The U.S. Postal Service is proud to support the annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) National Food Drive. Letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities across America will join forces to help stamp out hunger on Saturday, May 10. Postal employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands will collect non-perishable food items and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries, and shelters across the country. This food drive is the nation's largest annual single-day food drive.
"Hunger remains a daily challenge for millions of people in our country. An estimated four percent of Americans--many of them children--are forced to skip meals, eat too little, or even go without food for an entire day," said Postmaster General John E. Potter. "We welcome the opportunity to help in the fight against hunger. Once again we ask every American to remember the less fortunate on Saturday, May 10."
That four percent translates to an estimated 35 million people, including 12 million children, at risk of hunger in America. In late spring, most food banks begin running out of donations received during holiday seasons. This drive is one way people can join the U.S. Postal Service to help stamp out hunger right in their own communities.
Long-time supporters of the drive include the U.S. Postal Service, Campbell Soup Company, America's Second Harvest, Cox Target Media, local United Way affiliates, and the AFL-CIO Community Services Network. The drive is an outgrowth of the tradition of community service letter carriers have established over the years, whether by watching over the elderly through the Carrier Alert program, assisting the American Red Cross during times of disaster or rescuing victims of fires, crime, and other mishaps.
How to Help
More than 120 million postcards were mailed to customers in towns and cities throughout America letting them know about the food drive. Customers who did not receive a postcard can contact their local Post Office.
Customers are asked to place bags of non-perishable food items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before their letter carrier delivers the mail on Saturday, May 10. The letter carrier will do the rest, taking the food to the Post Office where it is sorted and delivered to an area food bank or pantry.
Postal customers in New York City and Chicago are asked to take their food donations to their local post office starting on Saturday, May 3 and continuing through Saturday, May 10. These customers will also receive specialized postcards containing information on making virtual online donations.
Sign up to receive an e-mail reminding you to place non-perishable food items next to your mailbox at www.helpstampouthunger.com.
An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation - 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail.
SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/
Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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