The effort fell apart after investors proved unwilling to move into mutual funds and securities, where Americans put a big chunk of their savings.

This year, most of the campaign money was moved into mutual funds and a money market account.

But even as many less-savvy investors move into mutual funds, the investments that some of those funds make are becoming more exotic and complex.

He resisted at first, but he trusted her enough to move some money into mutual funds.

"She's an accountant, so I listened," he said, eventually moving money into funds and individual stocks.

Some fund managers argue that an investor should not move aggressively into lower-duration funds.

Financial planners often advise clients to avoid exit penalties by moving their investments into other funds within the same family.

Some more of this money is being moved into funds that invest in the highest-quality corporate bonds.

Yet that figure was arrived at by accounting legerdemain that moved items into other funds.

In other words, investors systematically move cash into funds that have had the best performance.