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.

BlackRock Advantage Large Cap Value A (MDLVX Quick QuoteMDLVX - Free Report) has a 0.79% expense ratio and 0.49% management fee. MDLVX is a Large Cap Value fund. These funds invest 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 13.18% over the last five years, this fund clearly wins.

T. Rowe Price Global Value Equity (TRGVX): 0.89% expense ratio and 0.63% management fee. TRGVX is a Global - Equity mutual fund. These funds invest in large markets like the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and operate with very few geographical limitations With yearly returns of 13.51% over the last five years, TRGVX is an effectively diversified fund with a long reputation of solidly positive performance.

VALIC Co I US Socially Responsible (VSRDX): 0.36% expense ratio and 0.25% management fee. VSRDX 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. The fund is mainly invested in equities, has a long reputation of salutary performance, and has yearly returns of 12.03% over the last 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.