Introduction To Money Market Mutual Funds

Investors interested in the money market can access it most easily through money market mutual funds, but these vehicles do not let smaller investors off the hook when it comes to having a rudimentary understanding of the Treasury bills, commercial paper, bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements, and certificates of deposit (CDs) that make up the bulk of money market mutual fund portfolios. In this article, we'll show you how money market funds work, and how they can benefit you. But first, a key delineation in order to pre-empt potential confusion.

Unlike cash and even typical certificates of deposit (CDs), money market mutual funds are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  (FDIC). There is always a risk, though extremely small, that the investor could lose money. Put another way, the crucial difference between money market funds and money market accounts is that the former are sponsored by fund companies and carry no guarantee of principal, while the latter are interest-earning savings accounts which offer limited transaction privileges, and which are offered by financial institutions insured up to a certain limit. 

Money market accounts usually pay a higher interest rate than a passbook savings account, but generally a slightly lower interest rate than a CD or the total return of a money market fund. Money market accounts also tend to restrict the accessibility of account balances through check writing, while money market fund withdrawals are typically available on demand. 

There are three instances when money market mutual funds, because of their liquidity, are particularly suitable investments.

1. Money market mutual funds offer a convenient parking place for cash reserves when an investor is not quite ready to make an investment or is anticipating a near-term cash outlay for a non-investment purpose. Money market mutual funds offer ultimate safety and liquidity. This means that investors will have an expected sum of cash at the very moment that they need it. (For more on this, read Get A Short-Term Advantage In The Money Market.)
   
2. An investor holding a basket of mutual funds from a single fund company may occasionally want to transfer assets from one fund to another. If, however, the investor wants to sell a fund before deciding on another fund to purchase, a money market mutual fund offered by the same fund company may be a good place to park the sale proceeds. Then, at the appropriate time, the investor may exchange his or her money market mutual fund holdings for shares of the other funds in the fund family.
   
3. To benefit their clients, brokerage firms regularly use money market mutual funds to provide cash management services. Putting a client's dormant cash into money market mutual funds will earn the client an extra percentage point (or two) in annual returns above those earned by other possible investments. (To read more about the money market, check out The Money Market tutorial.)

Money market mutual funds are designed to offer features suited specifically to the needs of small investors. Minimum initial investments generally range from $500 to $5,000.

You can purchase shares in money market mutual funds directly from brokerage companies or mutual fund firms, just as you would purchase shares in a stock or equity mutual fund. As investment advisors, some banks also sell money market funds and some even have their own proprietary funds that offer money market investment opportunities.

Money market mutual funds also offer some simplified withdrawal features that are more generally associated with bank or trust accounts. For example, money market funds allow investors to withdraw assets by writing checks, with a typical minimum amount of $500 per check. If the investor does not want to write a check as a means of withdrawing funds, he or she can easily redeem shares by requesting payment by mail or by remittance via wire transfer to his or her bank account.

Money market mutual funds may contain a specific type of money market security or a combination of securities across a wide spectrum:

• One particular type of fund limits its asset purchases to U.S. Treasury securities,
• Another class of money market funds purchases both U.S. government securities and investments in various government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs),
• The third and largest class of money market mutual funds invests in a variety of money market securities that offer the highest degree of security.

Another important categorization for money market mutual funds relates to their taxable or tax-exempt status. Taxable funds invest in securities such as Treasury bills and commercial paper, the interest income on which is subject to federal taxation. Tax-exempt funds invest exclusively in securities issued by state and local governments and therefore exempt from federal taxation. Tax-exempt funds generally appeal to investors in higher federal tax brackets, who are seeking tax savings on the overall interest income generated by their portfolios.

Tax-exempt money market mutual funds have the potential to offer a triple-whammy tax reprieve for some investors! Some tax-exempt funds purchase only securities issued by governments within a particular state. If an investor can find such a fund for his or her home state, that investor can earn interest income that is exempt from federal, state, and perhaps even local income taxes.

Most analysts treat money market accounts like cash. When calculating financial ratios, money market securities and fund balances are added to cash balances. This is because the financial instruments that make up money market funds are considered highly liquid, meaning that they can be converted into cash quickly. In addition to being highly liquid, money market funds exhibit less volatility, and are less prone to market fluctuations and interest rate risk than other investments. 

Just as equity and fixed-income mutual funds have greatly simplified the world of investing, money market mutual funds have made money market investing accessible to individual retail investors. Money market mutual funds are among the safest and most liquid generally available financial instruments. Moreover, money market funds offer modest initial investment requirements and provide simple procedures for withdrawing funds by check or transfer to a bank account. Finally, if they choose carefully, purchasers of certain tax-exempt money market funds may also enjoy relief from federal, state, and even local taxes.

For further reading, see Getting to Know The Money Market and The Money Market: A Look Back.