Are you reeling from the sheer weight of information pumped out about individual savings accounts (Isas)? Have you lost the ability to make a clear decision about your Isa options because you can’t see the wood for the trees?

If so, help is at hand. Times Money has been running a series on the different types of Isa funds and here we recap what we have covered over the past two months.

We describe what each type of Isa fund does, what sort of investor it would suit and list our experts’ picks of the best funds in each sector.

TRACKERS

These funds aim to replicate the performance of a particular stock market index. They capture the market’s rises and falls without claiming to outperform it. Charges are low because the funds are not actively managed.

Would suit: People prepared for the risk of stock market investment but who want a cheap and simple way in.

Experts’ picks: Legal & General UK Index Trust, Fidelity MoneyBuilder UK Index and Legal & General US Index Trust.

MULTIMANAGER FUNDS

These harness the skills of many teams of investment managers within one fund. They aim to produce above-average performance without

shooting the lights out. One drawback of multimanager funds is that their two-tier structure results in a double helping of charges.

Would suit: Individuals who are looking for a steady but safe approach to fund investment and are happy to hand the selection of funds to a multimanager.

Experts’ picks: F&C Multimanager Distribution, Miton Special Situations, T Bailey Growth and Jupiter Merlin Income.

EQUITY INCOME

This sector aims to combine a steadily rising income with capital growth to provide solid total returns. In recent years equity income funds have performed very well both in bull and bear markets, though they lagged behind growth funds in the final stages of the previous bull market.

Would suit: Investors who are ready to take on a reasonable level of risk but who like the idea that a regular dividend income will cushion some of the pain of share price falls.

Experts’ picks: Rathbone Income, Artemis Income, Jupiter Income Trust and Invesco Perpetual Income.

GROWTH

Funds in this sector invest in a mixture of large, medium and small-cap stocks and aim to produce capital growth rather than income. In recent years mid-cap funds have done especially well but experts say that this period of outperformance may be coming to an end.

Would suit: Investors who are prepared for a reasonable degree of risk and are looking for long-term growth but do not require a regular income.

Experts’ picks: Rensburg UK Select Growth, AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities, Black Rock’s Merrill Lynch UK Special Situations, Jupiter UK Growth

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

These funds put money into shops, offices and industrial buildings, either directly or through shares in property companies. They offer the prospect of a steady stream of rental income along with some capital growth. However, future returns on commercial property are unlikely to match the impressive performance of recent years.

Would suit: Investors who want to diversify their portfolio and are looking to achieve a steady long-term income in addition to potential capital growth.

Experts’ picks: New Star Property, Norwich Property Trust and Standard Life Select Property.

EUROPEAN FUNDS

These invest in shares on the Continent. This region has been rather neglected by UK investors in recent years, despite managing to outperform UK, US and Japanese funds for most of the past decade. Would suit: Investors wanting to diversify their geographical spread of investments and who are prepared to take on a medium degree of risk.

Experts’ picks: JPMorgan Europe Dynamic, Artemis European Growth, SR Europe and Charter European Trust.

EMERGING MARKETS

These funds invest in shares in emerging markets, such as China, Brazil and Russia. The outstanding performance of recent years is unlikely to be repeated in the near future but the long-term prospects look attractive as emerging markets are set to represent a growing slice of the world economy.

Would suit: Those who are prepared for a high degree of risk, want to diversify outside developed markets and can afford to take the long view.

Experts’ picks: Aberdeen Emerging Markets and Lazard Emerging Markets.

The best and worst cash Isa deals

Alliance & Leicester and Abbey offer cash Isas with a chart-topping rate of 8.1 per cent, but both come with strings attached that will deter many savers. Alliance & Leicester requires that you also open a current account. With Abbey, you must invest in a Guaranteed Growth Plan within your Isa fund.

For a hassle-free Isa, look at the new Tax Beater Cash Isa from Barclays, introduced with weeks to go before the end of the tax year. It offers a headline-grabbing rate of 6.5 per cent, or 6.31 per cent gross, on a minimum balance of only £1. A further bonus is that it can be managed in-branch, rather than solely by phone and on the internet.

Following closely behind Barclays is the tax-free account from ING Direct. The interest rate for the first six months is 6.55 per cent, but the rate drops to 6 per cent after six months.

The National Savings & Investments Cash Isa is a stalwart of the best-buy tables, with a rate of 5.8 per cent and a guarantee to remain 0.55 percentage points above the base rate. You will, however, need to invest £1,000.

Do not be tempted to accept your bank’s low Isa rate when there are many better deals available. High street banks offer some of the lowest rates on no-frills Isa accounts. Alliance & Leicester, for example, still maintains an Isa with a rate of 3.91 per cent. Halifax and Bank of Scotland also scrape the bottom of the rate barrel with a 4 per cent offering on its Isa Saver account.