Mutual Funds Vs Common Stock: The Pros and Cons. This is a 6 page, 5 resource paper analyzing the benefits and risks of mutual funds verses building your own portfolio of stocks. Mutual funds are advantageous by offering professional management, little out-of-pocket expense, instant diversification, and some personalization. However, they may be slow to pay off and pay out, may perform badly and the investor is totally reliant on the management of the fund. Self builders have total control over their investment, can get an up-to-minute analysis of the stocks performance and can go for the higher yield items mutual fund avoid. The downside of self investment involves the higher risks associated with the higher yield items, the constant maintenance needed to maintain and possible extensive up front expenses. 7 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources. Pages: 7 Bibliography: 5 source(s) listed Filename: 3835 Mutual Funds ProsCons.doc Price: 62.65