The portfolios are made up of no-load mutual funds that we believe have superior investment characteristics. Of course you can mix and match among these funds or add others to create your own personal portfolios. However, be careful when you use our timing signals with funds outside the Model Portfolios. In the case of international stock and bond funds, our signals are intended to apply to specific funds only. In U.S. equities, the signals are intended to be applied to this well-defined asset class.
Some funds pay such commissions.
They are called load funds. Other funds don't. They are called no-load funds. Some funds charge loads when investors redeem shares, and many funds have loads that include annual fees to cover their marketing expenses. A load goes to the fund's sales force, not its portfolio managers.