At the beginning of the year it was Enron, and the fallout of other companies using liberal accounting methods, and lately it has been more terrorist scares. Investors still are confident that the long term results of the stock market will be good, but they are worried with the continued weakness of the markets.

Many individuals have found a compromise in investing in balanced mutual funds. A balanced mutual fund invests a percentage of its money in stocks and another percentage in bonds. A typical percentage breakdown is 60 percent invested in stocks and 40 percent invested in bonds.

Due to the fact that a portion of the fund is invested in bonds, it usually carries less investment risk than a fund invested completely in stocks. In a market where trouble strikes, a stock fund could lose 20 percent or more of its value while a balanced fund could lose 10 percent of its value.

While balanced funds provide less investment risk, they cannot guarantee an individual will not lose money under any circumstance. This has changed and a news fund exists that guarantees against losing money.

One of the most respected investment firms in the business has developed a new balanced mutual fund and a variable annuity sub account that will guarantee a person's initial investment, and allow the individual the same growth opportunity as a balanced mutual fund. The only criterion to receive this guarantee is you have to hold the fund for a 5-year time frame.

This guarantee is extremely important, allowing a person to invest with the peace of mind that no matter what happens during the next five years, they are guaranteed not to lose any of their initial money. Another important characteristic of this fund is the ability to make equal gains as any other balanced fund.

The investment firm that is offering this new fund is investing the money in two funds they have been managing for years, an S&P 500 index plus account and an intermediate bond fund. These two funds have performed very well in the past, which should allow an individual investing in this new fund a feeling of investing in strength. Obviously, past performance is no guarantee of future results. This new balanced fund is not for everyone. If an individual wants to have 100 percent of their money invested in either stocks or bonds, this would not be the right investment for them.

But if an individual wants some exposure to stocks as well as bonds, and likes the idea of having their initial investment guaranteed against loss, this may be a suitable investment. If you would like to receive a free information packet and prospectus for this fund, call David Hennings at 888-621-4916, or write to 1026 N. Harvey Ste. 200, Oak Park. IL 60302.