Investing in mutual funds for retirement is never too late. And the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can be an excellent tool for investors looking to invest in the best funds.

The easiest way to judge a mutual fund's quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. Using the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of over 19,000 mutual funds, we've identified three outstanding mutual funds that are ideally suited to help long-term investors pursue and achieve their retirement investing goals.

Let's learn about some of Zacks' highest ranked mutual funds with low fees you may want to consider.

KnightsofColumbus Lrg Cap Val I (KCVIX) has a 0.75% expense ratio and 0.6% management fee. KCVIX is a Large Cap Value mutual fund, which invests in stocks with a market cap of $10 billion of more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. With yearly returns of 13.7% over the last five years, this fund clearly wins.

Artisan Global Value Advisor (APDGX Quick QuoteAPDGX - Free Report) : 1.1% expense ratio and 0.99% management fee. APDGX is a Global - Equity mutual fund investing in bigger markets like the U.S., Europe, and Japan; these kinds of funds aren't limited by geography. With yearly returns of 12.8% over the last five years, APDGX is an effectively diversified fund with a long reputation of solidly positive performance.

BlackRock Advantage Large Cap Core A (MDLRX) is an attractive large-cap allocation. MDLRX is a Large Cap Blend fund, targeting companies with market caps of over $10 billion. These funds offer investors a stability, and are perfect for people with a "buy and hold" mindset. MDLRX has an expense ratio of 0.73%, management fee of 0.43%, and annual returns of 14.02% over the past five years.

These examples highlight the fact that there are some astonishingly good mutual funds out there. If your advisor has you in the good ones, bravo! If not, you may need to have a talk.