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

DFA US Core Equity 2 I (DFQTX Quick QuoteDFQTX - Free Report) has a 0.19% expense ratio and 0.16% management fee. DFQTX is part of the Large Cap Blend section, and these mutual funds most often invest in firms with a market capitalization of $10 billion or more. By investing in bigger companies, these funds offer more stability, and are often well-suited for investors with a "buy and hold" mindset. With yearly returns of 15.14% over the last five years, this fund clearly wins.

Columbia Small Cap Value I Class R5 (CUURX Quick QuoteCUURX - Free Report) . Expense ratio: 0.91%. Management fee: 0.81%. CUURX is a Small Cap Value fund, and these funds are known for investing in companies with market caps under $2 billion. This fund has managed to produce a robust 13.12% over the last five years.

Vanguard Strategic Equity Fund (VSEQX Quick QuoteVSEQX - Free Report) is an attractive large-cap allocation. VSEQX is a Mid Cap Blend mutual fund that typically features a portfolio filled with stocks of various sizes and styles; it allows for a diversification strategy focusing on companies with market caps between $2 billion and $10 billion. VSEQX has an expense ratio of 0.17%, management fee of 0.16%, and annual returns of 13.28% over the past five years.

There you have it. If your financial advisor had you put your money into any of our top-ranked funds, then they've got you covered. If not, you may need to talk.