Investment Companies

Money Market Funds • Hedge Funds • REITs

Investment companies, in the form of mutual funds, closed-end funds, and unit investment trusts, are popular investment vehicles that offer a variety of features and benefits.  Mutual funds, also known as open-end investment companies, can be structured as stock funds, bond funds, or money market funds.  Most mutual funds offer new shares to the public on a continuous basis; they are required to redeem outstanding shares at any time upon request, at a price based on the current value of the fund's net assets.  Closed-end funds are investment companies that issue a fixed number of shares.  These shares are traded on a stock exchange.  Unit investment trusts are investment companies that buy and hold a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities.  Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are special purpose investment companies that own, finance, and/or operate, income-producing real estate.

Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) are financial institutions that make equity capital and long-term credit available to small, independent businesses.  Since the SBIC program was created in 1958, this public/private partnership has provided financing solutions to more than 100,000 small businesses in the USA.  SBICs are private sector firms licensed by the United States Small Business Administration.  They typically work with small companies whose financing requirements range between $250,000 and $5 million.  SBICs may qualify for government-backed long-term loans in return for pledging to finance only small businesses.

Investment Companies and Organizations

• Investment Company Institute
  
  National association of the U.S. investment company industry.  Founded in 1940, its membership includes mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and unit investment trust sponsors.
  www.ICI.org
• Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) Program
  
  Overview of SBICs, public-private partnerships that contribute to an environment where America's entrepreneurs can flourish.
  www.SBA.gov
• SBIA
  
  The Small Business Investor Alliance is an organization of lower middle market private equity funds and investors.  Its members provide venture capital to small and medium size businesses in the USA.
  www.SBIA.org
• NAREIT
  
  The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts is the representative voice for U.S. REITs and other publicly traded real estate companies.
  www.REIT.com

Investment Advice

• Fidelity Investments
  
  Financial planning, trading, and investment products and services for the individual investor.
  www.Fidelity.com
• Edgar Online
  
  This business information source specializes in the extraction, packaging and distribution of public company information contained in SEC filings.
  www.Edgar-Online.com
• Investor Place
  
  Stock investment advice from independent investment advisors.
  www.InvestorPlace.com
• Forbes Magazine
  
  This business magazine features financial and investment news and reports.
  www.Forbes.com
• The Wall Street Journal
  
  This source of business and financial news offers both print and online editions.
  www.WSJ.com
• Kiplinger.com
  
  Trusted financial advice and business forecasts for more than 75 years.
  www.Kiplinger.com
• Thomson Reuters Financial
  
  Financial research and information services from Thomson Reuters.
  www.ThomsonReuters.com/
• Bonds Online
  
  Online services and information source for fixed income investments.
  www.BondsOnline.com
• Economist Intelligence Unit
  
  Features global business news and information resources.
  www.EIU.com
• Dun & Bradstreet
  
  Offers business analysis tools and company credit information.
  www.DNB.com
• Hoover's Online
  
  Comprehensive company, industry, and market intelligence.  A D&B service.
  www.Hoovers.com

Related Investing Sites

• Investment Brokers - traditional brokers and discount brokers.
• Investment Newsletters - investing news and research reports.

Investment Companies

Investment News - Investment Reports