Invest in USAA Mutual Funds

When learning how to invest in USAA mutual funds, it helps to have specific goals in mind. USAA members benefit from trained USAA fund advisors who guide them. USAA offers 18 mutual funds that cover a variety of goals and even industry sectors. In general, USAA mutual funds are no-load funds with reasonable operating expenses, and members are able to invest just $20 a month to get started.

How to Invest in USAA Mutual Funds

Find out whether you are eligible to invest by visiting the Eligibility section of the USAA website.

Confirm your membership and then register with the USAA website.

Call USAA and ask to consult with one of USAA's investment advisors. You may also submit this request through their website.

Tell the investment advisor about your goals and let him or her suggest the appropriate mutual funds.

Order the prospectus for each fund and read each one carefully.

Check each prospective fund's risk rating at the Morningstar website.

Use your USAA investment advisor to help you make your investment.

Tips & Warnings

• Because USAA mutual funds are no-load products, there are no fees that will reduce the value of your investment.
• To help evaluate USAA's funds, check the website. There, the Morningstar ratings are listed for each fund. These ratings are based on the fund's performance over a set number of years.
• Confirm your eligibility before researching USAA's mutual funds. Don't waste your time learning about the USAA mutual funds if you can't then invest in them. To find out if you're eligible, just go to the Eligibility section of the USAA website.
• For a relatively painless way to invest, take up USAA's offer of the low $20-per-month investment strategy. It is even possible to have those funds taken directly from your bank account so you aren't writing a check each month.
• In order to be eligible to become a member with USAA, you must be an officer on active duty or a member of enlisted personnel, an officer candidate in commissioning programs, a recently retired or separated member of military personnel, or you may be a child of a USAA member or a former USAA member yourself.
• Even though USAA represents the U.S. military personnel, the investment risks are the same as with any other commercial mutual funds.