An income fund is a mutual fund that focuses more on current income than the growth of the money invested. It targets stocks and bonds as investment opportunities because of the high levels of dividend and interest they give. It is an asset allocation fund and may be in the form of bond funds, stock funds or even real estate funds.

What is fixed income? Fixed income is one best method for investment or budgeting practice for which an annual percentage return or income is received at regular intervals. Fixed income funds are commonly known as bond funds. They are simply mutual funds that hold fixed income securities such as municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and US treasuries.

A mutual fund is an investment based fund that pools money from various investors to buy securities. It is professionally managed and provides the investor more diversification and liquidity. It continues to be one of the more popular tools of investment for those who want to beat the market or for those who are looking for a wide range of investments instead of buying stocks and shares.

An exchange-traded fund or ETF is a form of an index fund that provides investors with a standard return at a minimal cost though it differs from index funds in that trading in ETFs is commission free while index funds make for expensive trading. An ETF is also like a mutual fund except that it trades on major stock exchanges.

Stocks, in the year 2016, started out on a terrible note but quickly made up for it with record highs. Everyone is hoping that the economy will boom in the year 2017. Some of the best stocks to invest in 2017 will include the following according to U.S. News: Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance (ULTA) ULTA has exceeded expectations time after time, one quarter to the next.

The stock market for beginners makes for an equally alluring and lucrative investment opportunity as much as it appears to be confusing and risky. The steep rise and fall of the markets are enough to send shivers down the spines of beginners. However, history has shown that investing in stocks has been one of the most profitable and easiest methods of building wealth over a long period.