In a recent article published on Motley Fool, the concern of mutual fund expenses was addressed. Some investors tend to head towards exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for lower fees – but there may be ways for investors to lower expenses while still owning mutual funds.

According to the article, there are five signs that you are paying too much for your mutual funds.

• Your mutual fund charges a sales load
• Your mutual fund charges a 12b-1 fee
• Your mutual fund has annual management fees of more than 1%
• Your mutual fund’s long-term average returns aren’t keeping up with the fund’s benchmark
• You can get the same fund, or a similar fund, at a lower cost elsewhere

If you are seeking lower fees, it may be a good idea to re-examine your funds. You may be able to find a better value elsewhere.

The markets can be a tricky place for investors. During the Great Recession, many investors found themselves with major losses. But not every investment ended with disappointment. Below are three mutual funds that have increased every year for the last 10 years.

The Ariel Focus Fund fell -0.98% this quarter, compared to a 1.13% gain in the S&P Index and a -0.19% decline in the Russell 1000 Value Index.

During the quarter, Lockheed Martin (LMT) and Microsoft (MSFT) added the most gains to the fund. LMT gained a total of +14.59% and MSFT posted gains of +11.86%.

Pier 1 Imports (PIR) and Chesapeake Energy (CHK) reported the biggest losses of the quarter. PIR’s share price dropped -22.54%, while CHK fell -21.53%.

Westport Select Cap Fund’s Class R shares declined 3.43% in the third quarter, which outperformed the Russell 2000.

The fund’s decline was primarily due to a decline in the Russell 2000, which hurt the fund’s small cap holdings. However, the fund’s 16 of 24 holdings that are in the index outperformed.

Wally Weitz of Omaha’s Weitz Investment Management, who is known on Wall Street as a value investor, hit the jackpot over the last few weeks picking up six new stocks as they fell below benchmarks.

Weitz noted: “Six stocks in 10 days, that is usually a year and a half supply for us."

The recent pullback has given portfolio managers like Weitz a cheap buying opportunity. He noted that he is excited about opportunities and is amazed that disease, war and recession happen every few years.

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Franklin Templeton reported a 26% rise in profits for global assets in the third quarter.

The fund is compiled of stocks, bonds and cash from countries around the world. Net income for the quarter was $640.6 million, or $1.02 a share, up from $509 million, or 80 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts expected to see EPS of 92 cents.