Mutual Funds: Information on Trends in Fees and Their Related Disclosure Congressional Testimony

Millions of U.S. households have invested in mutual funds whose value exceeded $6 trillion in 2003. The fees and other costs that these investors pay as part of owning mutual funds can significantly affect their investment returns. Press reports suggest that mutual fund fees have increased during the market downturn in the several years prior to 2003. In addition, questions have been raised as to whether the disclosures of these fees and other costs, such as brokerage commissions, are sufficiently transparent. In March 2003, a report showed the trends in mutual fund fees from 1990 and 1998 for large funds that were calculated by collecting data on how these 76 funds¿ fees changed from 1998 to 2001. Charts and tables.