There is never a wrong time to invest in mutual funds for retirement. So, if you're still looking for the best mutual funds, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank can be a great guide.

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 break down some of the mutual funds with the top Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and the lowest fees.

Columbia Seligman Communications and Information R5 (SCMIX): 0.87% expense ratio and 0.81% management fee. SCMIX is a Sector - Tech mutual fund, allowing investors to own a stake in a notoriously volatile sector with a much more diversified approach. SCMIX has achieved five-year annual returns of an astounding 23.84%.

Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunity I (EIFGX Quick QuoteEIFGX - Free Report) . Expense ratio: 0.8%. Management fee: 0.65%. EIFGX is a Large Cap Growth option; these mutual funds purchase stakes in numerous large U.S. companies that are expected to develop and grow at a faster rate than other large-cap stocks. This fund has managed to produce a robust 9.51% over the last five years.

Victory Global Equity Income (UGEIX) is an attractive large-cap allocation. UGEIX 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. UGEIX has an expense ratio of 1.02%, management fee of 0.52%, and annual returns of 13.75% over the past five years.

We hope that your investment advisor (if you use one) has you invested in one or all of the top-ranked mutual funds we've reviewed. But if that isn't the case, it might be time to have a conversation or reconsider this vitally important relationship.