The basic rationale suggests to keep most of your retirement savings in the stock market, because stocks are likely to provide greater long-term growth than bonds. Is that a good idea?

Investors pulled money from stock mutual funds in 2012 for the sixth year in a row, despite the stock market's strong performance. Bond funds attracted the most cash since 2009.

The flow of cash into stock mutual funds during the first week of 2013 was the largest in more than 11 years, stirred in part by the 'fiscal cliff' deal.

Bill Gross's advice: "You should avoid (long-term bonds), and confine your maturities and bond durations to short/intermediate targets supported by Fed policies."

The stock market posted impressive returns last year, even with the presidential election and the resulting political gridlock. It was a welcome change from 2011, when the market rose only slightly.

The name George "Gus" Sauter may not ring a bell for most investors. But it probably should, because Sauter may very well have influenced how their retirement funds are invested.

Fidelity Investments is trimming fees at its largest index mutual funds and making some of its lowest-cost options accessible to a larger number of fund shareholders, including those with as little as $2,500 to invest.

Mutual fund shareholders aren't budging from their recently conservative approach to investing, despite this year's stock market gains. Cash was pulled from stock funds for the eighth month in a row in October, while bond funds attracted cash for the 14th consecutive month.