Group 1: Core Concepts of Fund Investment - Selecting funds is the first step in investment and is crucial for determining returns. Beginners often fall into the trap of "buying high and selling low" or blindly following popular funds, which can lead to unsatisfactory results. The core of fund selection is to assess the balance between risk and return, focusing on four key indicators [1][2][3][4]. Group 2: Key Indicators for Fund Selection - The historical performance of the fund manager is essential, with a focus on long-term returns over 3 to 5 years rather than short-term rankings. A fund manager with a 5-year annualized return of 15% and lower drawdowns during market declines indicates a stable investment style suitable for long-term holding [3]. - The fund's establishment time and rating are important; funds established for over a year with ratings above three stars (e.g., Morningstar rating) are preferable. A fund with a 5-year history and a five-star rating is generally more reliable than newly established funds [4]. - Maximum drawdown reflects the fund's decline from its historical peak to its lowest point, serving as a key risk measure. Beginners should aim for funds with a maximum drawdown below 15%, especially in equity funds, as drawdown control directly impacts the holding experience [5]. - Standard deviation measures the volatility of the fund's net value. A lower standard deviation indicates more stable returns. For instance, if two funds have the same annualized return of 10%, but one has a standard deviation of 15% and the other 10%, the latter is preferable for reducing holding anxiety [6]. Group 3: Fund Purchase Strategies - A one-time purchase is suitable for low-risk funds such as money market and bond funds, which have lower risk and smaller return fluctuations. Investors can use idle funds to invest in money market funds for better returns than savings accounts, while bond funds can be part of long-term asset allocation [9]. - Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is an effective strategy for stock and index funds, allowing investors to spread their purchases over time to reduce timing risk. For example, investing a fixed amount monthly in an index fund helps lower the average cost during market fluctuations [10]. - Smart DCA adjusts investment amounts based on market conditions, such as using moving averages to determine when to increase or decrease investments. This method can enhance returns by accumulating more shares at lower prices and reducing investments at higher prices [11]. Group 4: Fund Selling Strategies - Setting a target return for selling is a straightforward method. For instance, if an investor aims for a 10% return, they should sell when the fund's net value reaches that target. This method is simple and suitable for risk-averse investors, but care should be taken to avoid setting unrealistic targets [14]. - Selling at resistance levels involves analyzing fund charts to identify recent highs. If the fund's net value approaches a resistance level and shows signs of decline, it may be prudent to sell [15]. - For index funds, monitoring the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio can indicate overvaluation. If the PE ratio is significantly above historical averages, it may be time to consider selling to avoid potential corrections [16]. Group 5: Overall Investment Philosophy - Successful fund investment requires a methodical approach focusing on selection, purchase, and sale. Investors should prioritize fund manager performance, fund age, drawdown, and standard deviation when selecting funds, choose appropriate buying strategies based on risk tolerance, and establish clear selling criteria [17].