When three Boston money managers pooled their money in 1924, the first mutual fund was born. In the subsequent eight decades, that simple concept has grown into one of the biggest industries in the world, now controlling trillions of dollars in assets and allowing small investors a means to compound their wealth through systematic investments via a dollar cost averaging plan. In fact, the mutual fund industry has spawned its own stars with cult-like followings: Peter Lynch, Bill Gross, Marty Whitman, and the folks at Tweedy, Browne & Company just to name a few.

With so much at stake, what should an investor look for in a mutual fund? This handy ten-step guide can make the process a lot easier and give you some peace of mind as you sift through the thousands of available options.