What are mutual funds?

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to create a single fund that is managed by a professional fund manager. This collective investment approach allows individuals to invest in a diversified portfolio of assets, such as stocks, bonds, or other securities, even if they do not have a large amount of capital themselves. By pooling resources, mutual funds enable investors to gain exposure to a broader range of investments than they might be able to achieve on their own, while also benefiting from the expertise of the fund manager who makes investment decisions on behalf of the fund's shareholders.

In contrast to this, insurance policies are designed to provide risk management rather than investment growth. Savings accounts with fixed interest are not pooled investments but rather individual accounts where the bank pays a fixed interest rate on deposits. Loans provided to banks and credit unions relate to borrowing rather than investment in a diversified pool. Thus, the option describing mutual funds accurately captures their essential nature and purpose in investment strategy.