i have a roth ira. i manage it myself. rates fluctuate like a mofo. it's probably not the best idea to play as i do.

historically, the stock market has the best annual return at 9% pre-inflation. but not all funds return the same. if you're gonna go the route of mutual funds, i'd suggest choosing something from vanguard, which has low fees and good reputation.

today we have a great new investing tool called ETF, electronically traded funds. they're basically a mutual fund with lower costs and they usually mimic some index, so the stocks aren't chosen by a human. in my opinion, investing in small cap value ETFs are your best bet. you also want some exposure to international markets. US has been great in the past, but who knows if we'll continue to be a powerhouse.

if you have more specific questions, feel free to ask me. i'm no expert, but i've read a lot of books and articles on finance and the stock market.