In Brief

HOMEBOUND Only a few sites, such as insweb.com and netquote.com , have offered thorough comparison shopping for homeowner's insurance. But behemoths like quotesmith.com are launching their versions early next year. If you're looking for purchasing tips and advice, log on to iii.org and insure.com . The latter provides a record of complaints filed against individual insurers for most states.

TAXING CHOICES Last holiday season, funds like PBHG Midcap Value distributed more than 30% of the previous month's NAV (net asset value) in capital gains. Consider holding off your Christmas-fund shopping: most funds distribute profits in November and December. And since for each dollar distributed the NAV decreases by a dollar, patience may be rewarded with a lower purchasing price sans the tax sting. The risk here is missing out on a year-end rally, if there is one.

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS In a bear market, funds with a small asset base can hold an advantage over their larger counterparts. A smaller fund can trade stock and bet on up-and-comers without influencing the market. A fund with assets below $50 million raises the question of why it's so unpopular. But there are always strong performers that should not be overlooked because they're new or have done little advertising.

FUND NAME* -- YTD RETURN** -- TOTAL PORTFOLIO NET ASSETS (MILLIONS)
Schroder Micro Cap Inv. -- 113.46 -- 77
American Eagle Capital Appreciation -- 91.50 -- 14
Deutsche European Equity Instl. -- 84.76 -- 82
Monterey Murphy New World Biotech -- 82.77 -- 27
American Eagle Twenty -- 65.10 -- 9.7

* With $150MM or less in combined assets
** Through 10/25/2000
Source: Morningstar, Inc