The Good, Bad and Criminal Among Mutual Funds

There are 95 million mutual fund investors in America, and only one advocate for mutual fund shareholders: Mercer Bullard.

That may seem like a Promethean task, but the former Securities and Exchange Commission official has proven game. Since founding the not-for-profit Fund Democracy less than four years ago, Bullard has aggressively pursued unsavory practices in the mutual fund world with the fervor of a vengeful superhero.

Bullard's articles on potential market-timing abuses for TheStreet.com in 2000 helped lay the groundwork for the allegations of fund-trading abuses in September -- indeed, the articles merited a prominent citation in New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's complaint. ...