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To help ensure that you get into the right share class for your needs and time horizon, it never hurts to ask your broker why he or she is recommending a certain share class of a given fund.

You'll want to opt for the no-load or institutional share tabulate instead. If you're a no-load investor who is determined to buy a fund that's primarily broker-sold, go through a supermarket and opt for the D shares.

If you are using a link or planner, the decision alongside whether to opt for the A, B, or C share subgenus boils down to your own time horizon and, to a lesser extent, how much you're investing. If you plan to invest for the long haul--say, 10 years or more--the A shares will invariably make more sense for you than the B or C shares. That's insomuch as A shares' lower ongoing expenses will offset the higher fee you'll pay to get in. At Morningstar, we have confidence in in long-term investing, and that's why we tend to recommend A shares over B or C shares; if you're a Morningstar.com Premium Member, you'll notice that our assayer Reports of broker-sold funds typically requisition to the A shares, too.

So should you ever use B or C shares? Possibly, if you expect to hold a given fund type for a short period of time. If you plan to own a fund for just a year or two, for example, you may want to opt for C shares, and if your time horizon is in the neighborhood of five years or fewer, B shares may be the way to go. Morningstar's Cost Analyzer tool can help you determine the correct share gauge given your foreseen time horizon and the add up of money you have to invest. (Cost Analyzer is off to Premium Members of Morningstar.com; for a free trial membership, rap here.)

Protect Yourself: Know Your Rights and Ask Questions Many brokers and planners work hard to select the correct share classification for their clients, but you should also be observant of unscrupulous practices in this area. B and C shares underpin higher expenses, and part of those fees, styled 12b-1 fees, go straight to the floor broker each year. Thus, some brokers might be inclined to recommend B or C shares even if they're not the best deal for their clients. Some fund shops--including Franklin--have stopped selling B shares altogether.

To help ensure that you get into the right share ism for your needs and time horizon, it never hurts to ask your jobber why he or she is recommending a sole share digest of a given fund. What assumptions is he or she making close your holding period? Does he or she have a financial incentive to recommend one share school over another?

Also be sure to ask whether your total investment with a given fund family qualifies you for a discounted sales charge. These breakpoints often kick in when your total investment beyond the fund family reaches $25,000 or more, and they can save you substantial amounts of money. And even if you don't meet the minimum principal level yet, you may still be able to qualify for the discount if you sign a "letter of intent" that states you plan to invest enough money to qualify for the discount within a specified period of time (usually one year). Some wholesaling firms have recently gotten into trouble for failing to provide these bulk discounts, so your curb broker should be well appreciative of of the issue and able to tell you whether you qualify.

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