With level-load funds, you pay a percentage of assets each year. No-load funds , which you buy directly from the mutual fund company, have no commissions but some funds may charge fees to cover sales and marketing costs. Invest almost anytime, but not just before a stock fund makes its annual capital gains and income distributions, usually in December. If you invest then, you'll probably pay more per share, and owe tax on the distribution. Then the price will drop.
Many investors use mutual funds to expand their portfolios to include worldwide markets.
Most experts agree that international investing is smart, both as a hedge against slow times at home and to take advantage of strong economies abroad. But investing overseas can be complicated, for reasons ranging from currency values to taxation policies. Funds handle these issues for you, making the process easier. That way, the price you pay evens out over time, and you'll never pay only the highest or lowest price. In the long run you may come out better than by trying to pinpoint the moment the price hits bottom or tops out.