Even the most conservative value funds have been whacked this year. But Keith Fitz-Gerald says following a value-investing discipline is the smartest thing to do right now. That’s where the big recovery gains will be. He gives five tips on how to seek out “real value” in the market.

I’ve long held that mutual funds are full of bad habits, like a boy who can’t stop picking his nose and burping at the dinner table. If you had to design a poor investor, you need look no further than the typical mutual fund.

Even the best investors are taking a beating, says Daily Wealth’s Brian Hunt. But Brian says we should follow mutual-fund legend Marty Whitman into Asian stocks and real estate…