The credit crisis that surfaced in mid-2007 and eroded much of the equity values throughout the rest of the year and into the first quarter of 2009 sent a message to the world of investors: stay away from US stocks, stay out of China equities and start pulling out of Latin American markets. Now, of course, those markets have recovered, some remarkably well. As an investors, where does one find the best way to invest their hard-earned money in world equities?

You may need to be concerned about being able to withdraw your money from Money Market Funds during times of an economic crisis or meltdown. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) allows Money Market Funds to suspend redemption under “extraordinary circumstances”. Most all of us have some money in such a MM Fund.

On the surface, investing in alternative energy funds seems like a great idea, especially since it appears as though this industry will undergo record growth in the coming years. With that being said, however, investors must proceed with a great deal of caution, since there are definitely no guarantees when dealing with this industry. Government regulations can significantly influence the long term sustainability of alternative energy and even though these methods of energy production are renewable, there is no guarantee that they will be profitable enough to make a difference

Without question, the economy has surfaced out of the grips of the latest recession. More and more positive news is coming out of the various government departments that report on housing starts, consumer confidence, automotive sales and so on and so forth. Companies are starting to report profits (at last) or narrower losses (well, it’s a start)

When you decide to invest in mutual funds or anything else, diversification is the best way to protect your investment. This is one reason why mutual funds are so popular. Mutual funds are an easy, inexpensive way to diversify your investments.