Actively Managed Funds: Explore Investment Products | Vanguard (2024)

FAQs

Are actively managed funds a good investment? ›

When things go well, actively managed funds can deliver performance that beats the market over time, even after their fees are paid. But investors should keep in mind that there's no guarantee an active fund will be able to deliver index-beating performance, and many don't.

Typically, an actively managed fund will seek to outperform a designated index or benchmark that aligns with its investment mandate—for example, the S&P 500 Index, is used for a large-cap stock fund.

Flexibility – because active managers, unlike passive ones, are not required to hold specific stocks or bonds. Hedging – the ability to use short sales, put options, and other strategies to insure against losses. Risk management – the ability to get out of specific holdings or market sectors when risks get too large.

Niche market advantages

Index funds need certain features in the markets they track to function effectively, such as low trading costs and liquidity. Active managers, on the other hand, thrive in the least efficient corners of the market where flexibility and knowledge are more important than size.

Access to a broad range of investments you otherwise may not have access to. By pooling your money with other investors, you also gain access to a variety of investments that you may have not been able to invest in as an individual. You can gain access to markets and strategies that rely on larger scale buying power.

Active bond managers typically try to outperform the Bloomberg Aggregate bond index by shifting exposure to Treasuries, mortgages and corporate bonds — the three big areas in which relatively small changes can lead to higher returns than the broad market.

Active management has benefits, such as the potential for higher returns, the ability to adjust to market conditions, and the opportunity for diversification. However, active management also has drawbacks, such as higher fees, difficulty in consistently outperforming the market, and the risk of human error.

Disadvantages of Active Management

Actively managed funds generally have higher fees and are less tax-efficient than passively managed funds. The investor is paying for the sustained efforts of investment advisers who specialize in active investment, and for the potential for higher returns than the markets as a whole.

In general, actively managed funds have failed to survive and beat their benchmarks, especially over longer time horizons. Just one out of every four active funds topped the average of passive rivals over the 10-year period ended June 2023.

Active management is an investment strategy where a fund manager actively makes decisions regarding the selection and timing of investments. Active management is an investment approach where a fund manager utilizes their expertise to select portfolio investments and determine when to buy, retain, or divest assets.

What are the characteristics of an actively managed investment fund? ›

Actively managed funds build their portfolios on a strategy they follow. The fund management finds securities that support the fund's strategy. The holdings are dynamically adjusted in reaction to market fluctuations.

A reasonable expense ratio for an actively managed portfolio is about 0.5% to 0.75%, while an expense ratio greater than 1.5% is typically considered high these days. For passive funds, the average expense ratio is about 0.12%.

Another driver of the underperformance of active funds, according to McDermott, is fees: “All funds have years where they underperform, however, the longer-term evidence is undeniable that active managers have continued to struggle. The main reason for this underperformance is because active funds charge higher fees.”

Disadvantages. There are fees involved when investing in a managed fund, as you are hiring the service of the fund manager to produce returns on your investment. The amount of fees can vary greatly and can have a significant impact on your overall returns.

In general, actively managed funds have failed to survive and beat their benchmarks, especially over longer time horizons. Just one out of every four active funds topped the average of passive rivals over the 10-year period ended June 2023. But success rates vary across categories.

ETFs can be more tax-efficient than actively managed funds due to their lower turnover and fewer transactions that produce capital gains. ETFs are bought and sold on an exchange throughout the day while mutual funds can be bought or sold only once a day at the latest closing price.

You'd think a professional money manager's capabilities would trump a basic index fund. But they don't. If we look at superficial performance results, passive investing works best for most investors. Study after study (over decades) shows disappointing results for active managers.