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, most reliable way to judge a mutual fund's quality over time is by analyzing its performance, diversification, and fees. The Zacks Mutual Fund Rank, which covers over 19,000 mutual funds, has helped us identify three outstanding options that are perfect for any long-term investors' portfolios that is retirement-focused.

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

Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund K

(FDGKX Quick QuoteFDGKX - Free Report) has a 0.63% expense ratio and 0.6% management fee. FDGKX 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 18.45% over the last five years, this fund clearly wins.

Putnam Equity Income R

(PEQRX Quick QuotePEQRX - Free Report) : 1.13% expense ratio and 0.46% management fee. PEQRX 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. PEQRX, with annual returns of 19.26% over the last five years, is a well-diversified fund with a long track record of success.

Tortoise MLP & Pipeline Fund Investor

(TORTX Quick QuoteTORTX - Free Report) . Expense ratio: 1.17%. Management fee: 0.85%. Five year annual return: 32.76%. TORTX is a Sector - Energy mutual fund, which encompasses a wide range of vastly changing and vitally important industries throughout this massive global sector.

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.