Unit Investment Trusts are investment companies that hold a wide variety of different investments. They are very similar to mutual funds except that most U.I.T.s are not actively managed.
U.I.T.'s typically have fixed investment portfolios that have been professionaly selected. Fixed investment portfolios can have several advantages including:
Lower management fees
Known investment portfolios
Set termination dates
There are many different types of U.I.T.'s. Some are designed to generate income either tax-free or taxable, while others are designed to generate growth. U.I.T.'s usually have initial sales charges.