Determining the three "best" mutual funds to buy depends heavily on an investor's personal financial goals, risk appetite, and time horizon. However, financial advisors frequently highlight diversified index funds (such as the Vanguard 500 Index Fund), broad-market growth funds (such as the Fidelity Contrafund), and reliable multi-cap or flexi-cap equity funds in emerging markets as top-tier choices for core long-term portfolio growth.