---
title: These Are the 50 Best Mutual Funds Now
description: MONEY recommends 50 of the best mutual funds to invest in for 2018 to construct a well-diversified portfolio in the long term.
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published: '2018-01-09T11:00:18.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-17T07:34:42.000Z'
section: Investing
tags:
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![MONEY selected the best mutual funds for 2018](https://img.money.com/2018/01/180108-best-mutual-funds1.jpg)

The Money 50 has never been about the hottest or trendiest investments. Just the opposite: Our lists of recommended mutual and [exchange-traded funds](https://money.com/best-etf-2018/) was designed to help you construct a well-diversified portfolio that's built to last for years to come.

What follows is our list of recommended funds, broken out into three groupings: "building-block funds" for the core of your portfolio, offering you broad exposure to stocks and bonds; "custom funds" to help you tilt toward specific strategies, such as value or dividend investing; and "one-decision funds," which are single funds offering you exposure to both equities and fixed income.

## Building-Block Funds

These mutual funds expose you to broad swaths of the stock and bond markets, and should be used to construct the core part of your portfolio that you’ll hold for years. Because you’re simply seeking basic exposure, low-cost index funds are your best bet here.

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## One-Decision Funds

Don’t want to put together a portfolio on your own? Then use one of these professionally managed funds that hold a diversified mix of stocks and bonds.

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## Custom Funds

Supplement your core holdings with these funds to diversify more broadly and to tilt toward certain types of stocks and bonds.

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*NOTES: Net prospectus expense ratios were used for annual expenses. Total return figures are as of Nov. 30; five-year returns are annualized. Shares of VWELX available only through fund company. 4.25% sales load on TPINX. N.A.: Not available or not applicable.*

*SOURCES: Lipper, Morningstar, and fund companies*

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