[roofrufus]

Hi,
I'm an inexperienced investor. I would like to buy OSX. I was wondering how I could find a mutual fund that offers it.

[FrankK]

There is no easy way that I know of. You would have to read through mutual fund prospectuses until you find one that offers it. You might try starting with Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund.

Alternatively, you could determine what percentage of your portfolio you want in this stock and then invest that amount of money, allocating the rest to a mutual fund with a long track record that does not include the stock, which will be the vast majority of funds.

On a related note, I allow myself to invest 10 percent of my portfolio in individual stocks. The rest goes into Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund. It's tough for any investor to beat the market, even mutual fund and hedge fund managers. So I just buy the index, which represents the entire US stock market, and allow myself to invest 10 percent of my savings in individual stocks the unlikely event I turn out to be a genius.

[roofrufus]

Thanks a lot, FrankK. I've read this twice and considered it. I think I agree generally. I think I'll probably put about half money for this year's IRA in Vanguard's Energy ETF and with the other half I'll try to replicate the PHLX Oil Services Index by buying each stock in the correct proportion, as best as I can figure out how.

[FrankK]

Sounds like a plan. I'm excited for you. One more thing though: as you continue to grow your investments, you might consider diversifying outside the energy sector. There are a lot of different takes on how diversified you should be, but I think all would agree that one sector is too narrow -- not necessarily short term, but long term.