If you have money to invest, you might contemplate investing in mutual fund. What is mutual fund? Mutual fund is simply a collection of stocks that are bought using money pooled from various individual investors. Historically, average mutual fund returns 2% less annually than a stock market index.

While the return is less than stellar, there are several advantages of investing in mutual fund. They provide diversification, economies of scale and liquidity. So, the question you want to ask yourself is whether you want to have a smaller return for the advantages mentioned previously.

While two percent difference looks small, it is not pocket change. Investors who set aside $ 1 a day, would have $ 562,000 of savings in fifty years if he invests in stock index fund growing at 10.5% per annum. The same investors would collect 'only' $ 271,000 if he invests in average mutual fund that grow at 8.5% per annum.

There are also disadvantages investing in mutual funds. There is a problem on how to choose the 'right' mutual fund. If average mutual fund returns 8.5% annually, the below-average fund will give you less than that. Just like picking a stock, you would find some stocks that outperform the average and other stocks that do not perform well.

The next question would be if we investors can do better than stock market index fund of 10.5%? A lot of people believe they can. But, the path ahead is full of obstacles. First, you need to get educated about stocks in general and how to calculate the fair value of a common stock. Next, you need to open a brokerage account to execute your buy and sell order. Finally, you need to keep abreast of new developments. Business comes and goes. Industry rises and falls. Examples of industry that used to dominate are: typewriters, cassette players, sewing machine and traditional camera. If you don't read often, you may predict that certain stock has a high fair value even when the entire industry is collapsing.

It all comes down to individual investors. Would they want to learn more and get a few more percentage return each year? Or would they let someone else manage their money? Me, I prefer to learn how to manage my own investment. Sure, it is time consuming. But giving a little bit of your time may give you the potential to double your retirement money in fifty years. The potential is rewarding and someday you might even manage someone else's money.