You can check the net asset value (NAV) of your mutual fund shares anywhere from daily to annually. It is commonly recommended that you check your fund's NAV at least quarterly.

The net asset value is the price of each share of a mutual fund. The value is calculated daily, using the price at market close of the shares in the fund's portfolio. The NAV is the per share dollar value of the fund, calculated by dividing the total value of all the fund's holdings, minus liabilities, by the number of outstanding shares.

Although mutual funds are designed and operated by professional money managers, you are nonetheless advised to monitor the progress of your fund's portfolio for yourself.
How often you should check the NAV of your mutual fund shares is a question best answered according to your own financial goals and interests. There are key times when checking the fund's status makes good investing sense:

• Any time you are considering making changes to your investment portfolio, whether you are looking into purchasing additional shares in an existing fund or purchasing shares in a new fund, or perhaps considering selling some or all of your fund shares.

• When you are reviewing your existing investments for tax or other purposes.

• Following any major change or event that leads to significant changes in the market as a whole, such as a market crash or a surge to new highs. It makes sense at times like these to check your own investment portfolio to see how well it is performing in comparison to the overall market.

• As part of any overall investment review. You should, at a minimum, review your investment portfolio at a least once a year, seeking to evaluate how it is performing, especially in regard to your expectations. The fund's progress can also be used to project probable future growth.