Will Rogers once said of investing, “It is not the return on my investment that I am concerned about; it’s the return of my investment.” In appreciation of this sentiment, let’s take a good look at two financial instruments that both have guaranteed return of your principle and guaranteed interest- Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and fixed annuities.

Today, I would like to talk about open-end mutual funds- specifically when a person does not own them inside a retirement plan account or another tax shelter. Most investors know the basics of how open-end mutual funds work, but in my experience, the tax implications are often an area of pain and confusion.

With the tax filing deadline looming, this seemed like an excellent entree for this new, monthly column. One or more of the following strategies may help lower the amount you owe on your taxes this filing season.