[recycled sixtie]

You pay big $$$ in management fees to the mutual fund co. to manage your investments. There is no point in outguessing them by buying and selling in the short term. If you cannot stand the volatility of riding out the ups and downs over the long term then you should manage your own investments.(ie buy individual stocks and bonds). The mutual fund managers make decisions of when to buy and sell and that is why you pay them the big $$$.

We pay higher fees in Canada than the US. If for instance I sold a Canadian mutual fund to buy say an American one then I would be faced with 1)possible deferred sales charge if I sold it within a short period time of buying and 2) capital gains tax.

Looking at the performance of my individual stocks I have bought versus my mutual funds the latter have way outperformed the former. I don't mind paying management fees/commissions as long as the mutual fund performs well.

It is up to you and your investment personality of what you can handle. Timing of the market in terms of buying and selling is for experts. Most mutual funds I have owned I have kept for 5-15 years.

Cheers, Guy