Get a mix of stocks and bonds in one fund
Combine the potential for income and growth
Balanced mutual funds invest in both bonds, which focus primarily on income, and stocks, which aim for investment growth.
Add stability to your portfolio
The bond portion of the fund helps offset the risks associated with the stock portion—providing you with a "balanced" investment.
Automatically maintain your asset mix
You never have to rebalance a balanced fund—it's done for you automatically. Some funds maintain a set asset mix, while others grow more conservative over time.
Spread out your exposure to risk
By potentially holding hundreds—sometimes thousands—of bonds and stocks in a single balanced fund, you get more diversification than you would buying individual bonds and stocks.