Active vs. Passive Management

Trying to beat the market versus trying to match it.

What is Active vs. Passive Management?

Active managers select securities and time decisions to outperform a benchmark, at higher cost and turnover. Passive management holds an index to match its return at low cost. The efficient market hypothesis is the theoretical case for passive investing.

Active vs. Passive Management: a worked example

An index fund at 0.04% versus an active fund at 0.80% that must beat the index by 0.76% a year just to tie.

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