1.   A disappearing act is simple with a fund merger.

2.   But investors have good reason to turn a skeptical eye to any fund merger.

3.   But with Congress and the administration in favor of a fund merger, bank lobbyists have tried more recently to insure that savings institutions turn into banks.

4.   Fund mergers are not all bad, Ms. Dziubinski said.

5.   Fund mergers and recent investment losses are also contributing to the change.

6.   The biggest recent fund merger involved Twentieth Century Cos. and Benham Group.

7.   These include pension and health fund mergers and efforts to streamline public transport.

8.   These include pension and health fund mergers, changes to school and university systems and efforts to streamline public transport.