If you happen to have some money left over at the end of all the bill payments and you have no need for any more unnecessary things, or if you are beginning a prudent and fiscally responsible gamble on some money that incorporates investment opportunities, you may find yourself thinking of whether investing in stocks or mutual funds will offer the best gains. You might also consider this question when considering how to set up a retirement fund.

In order to assist you in making the decision, it is important to understand what stocks and mutual funds are.

Stocks:
Most people imagine they have a basic understanding of what stocks are, simply because of their exposure to the word in every day usages. Stocks are individual bits of companies that are available to be purchased by the public in open trading on the stock exchange. Stocks are often sold in bundles, and so to purchase a stock in a certain company often means some kind of minimum purchase. Stockholders have a vested interest in the company's performance, as the price of their stocks are directly related to a company's performance. Stocks are divided according to the kind of business they represent, which is known as a sector. When a company makes money at the end of a fiscal period, stockholders either get stock dividends or cash dividends.

Mutual Funds:
Mutual funds are collective investments that pool the money from a lot of investors and put the money in stocks, bonds, and other investments. Mutual funds are usually handled by a certified professional or a team, as opposed to the individual management of stocks by you or a stock trader. In essence, mutual funds incorporate many different types of investments.

The question of whether or not to invest in stocks or mutual funds will primarily boil down to the personal expertise, risk-taking personality, and financial capacity of the person. Many will be tempted by the "game" aspect of buying and selling stock, as well as the chance to invest in a company that is famous or can be easily researched. The fact is, however, that by the time stocks become available on the market, they are generally already highly priced, and investing in individual stocks is a highly risky move as your entire process hangs on the well-being of just one company. Even wealthy investors diversify their portfolios by investing in several different types of stock, and this can simply be unaffordable for the common person.

Verdict:
The smarter way for the beginning investor is to purchase mutual funds. Mutual funds will pool the costs of many different stocks, lessening the risk of losing your money and raising the chances of profit. Mutual funds may not provide the excitement of investing in a lucky stock, but they are excellent investments for a long-term financial plan. Also, mutual funds are managed by professionals that are versed with the pitfalls and opportunities of the investment sector, which will cut down on both risk and the time it would take to pick individual stocks through research and observation. Mutual funds will also diversify the risks among several investors, and it is all managed by a team who likely has connections within the financial world.

For the person with some extra change, who does not have the time or the knowledge to properly "play" the stock market, mutual funds will definitely be the safer choice.