Mutual Funds for the Utterly Confused

Before we move on to taking a look at which mutual fund is which, beginning with the riskiest and heading to the least risky, I end the discussion on fine print (which included an expansive discussion on what risk was, which risk was which, and how to keep risk working for you) with a look at the tapestry.

Mutual funds have always struck me a s such, something art critic Matthew Gurewitsch suggested was neither focused or blurred but rather, almost pixelated, a “granular sparkle that plays across the entire surface.”

But what is a tapestry? Woven on a loom, these artworks were portable, could be hung on special occasions and in many instances, were decorative insulation. They date back to the 3rd century BCE and were often depictions of sporting or hunting scenes, religious in nature, and possibly mythical and sometimes all three.

Aside from their artistic value, their worth was increased with the weaving of gold thread throughout the cloth. This is also why so few great pieces remain. During several upheaval periods such as the French revolution, the tapestries were burnt to recover the gold.

And yes, I believe every mutual fund is a tapestry, an art form not always appreciated by everyone who sees it, not possessing the clarity of paint on canvas perhaps or the three dimensional feel of a sculpture, but art. Investors gather and weave their hopes and dreams on an idea, spread across numerous marketplaces in the hope of a return on investment.