51.   Individuals who want a slice of the high-yield market should buy no-load funds and not individual bonds, experts say.

52.   Investors can buy funds on the sites of many no-load fund companies or through the sites of one of several brokerage firms that offer fund supermarkets.

53.   Investors who buy the fund face two main risks, Sauter said.

54.   It puts investors who do their own research on more even footing with those who buy funds through brokers.

55.   James Lynch, editor of the New York-based Lynch Municipal Bond Advisory newsletter, recommends that small investors stick to individual issues rather than buying bond funds.

56.   Kobren said he was not recommending that investors buy the fund, but he was also not advising shareholders to sell.

57.   Many investors in need of guidance are even buying no-load funds through financial advisers and paying fees based on the amount of assets managed by the advisers.

58.   Most non-U.S. investors can buy offshore funds through their local stock brokers, although many do so through offshore bank accounts to avoid taxes.

59.   Most buy funds because they want an easy way to diversify assets in the stock or bond markets.

60.   Mutual fund companies have come to depend on the Internet as a tool for information and service, as well as a place to buy funds.