Mutual funds are an attractive option for many investors because they offer the potential for higher returns than conservative options like CDs and bonds. Mutual funds also insulate investors from catastrophic losses by providing them with a more diverse portfolio than straight stock purchases. The amount of money that you can use to purchase mutual funds is not limited by law, unless you are purchasing the funds as part of a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan.
Mutual Fund Limits
There are no federally-regulated limits to the amount of money that you may place into a mutual fund. There may be minimum or maximum contribution limits defined by the broker through which you are investing.
IRA Mutual Fund Limits
Individual retirements accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs are popular options for retirement saving because they confer certain tax benefits upon the saver. The maximum amount of money you can spend on mutual funds for an IRA or Roth IRA as of 2010 is $5,000 per year if you are under 50 and $6,000 per year if you are 50 or over.
401k Mutual Fund Limits
Most employee-sponsored 401k retirement savings plans focus on the purchase of mutual funds emphasizing a mix of stocks, bonds, and money market investments. The maximum personal contribution that you can make to a 401k in a year as of 2010 is $16,500 if you are under 50 and $22,000 if you are 50 or over.