44°
Since the first index fund was invented in 1975, the debate has raged between active and passive investing styles. Passive investors adhere to the principal of market efficiency, which holds that all information available about a company is reflected in its current stock price. Rather than trying to second-guess the market, passive investors buy the entire market, or a specific segment of it, via index funds.
Active investors counter that the market is not always efficient and that through research, active fund managers may be able to uncover information not already reflected in a security's price and potentially profit by it. A less-than- efficient market, they reason, favors active stock selection.
Which is better? That depends on what you look at.
Takeaways for Investors
Although aggregate, long-term performance and fees both favor passive over active, there are some important points to be made in favor of active management. In certain segments, such as growth and international small-cap equity, active managers have tended to outperform the benchmarks more frequently, often when the economy and financial markets are in a state of flux.
While active management cannot guarantee market-beating returns, it does offer the potential to capitalize on market shifts and the flexibility to take advantage of different investing strategies. Active managers also appear to have the edge in markets that are not efficient and when implementing investment strategies that are complex and fast moving. Such circumstances can pose issues for index funds, which typically must adhere to a predetermined set of rules and may not be able to respond as nimbly as active managers.
In practice, a blended approach may be the best answer. Consider index funds for efficient markets and active management for less efficient areas. When the broad market turns volatile, adding a defensive, actively traded fund to a portfolio of index holdings may help to smooth out bumps and moderate overall portfolio risk. Alternatively, passive investors can potentially build risk management into their portfolios by diversifying among a range of index funds covering a wide, varied swath of the market.
Keep in mind that how you construct your portfolio should consider much more than performance and fees. Let me work with you to find the mix that best suits your situation.
Sources:
- S&P Dow Jones Indices, "S&P Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVA®) U.S. Scorecard," March 20, 2015.
- Morningstar. Based on the dollar-weighted average expense ratios for all funds tracked by Morningstar within each category.
- The Wall Street Journal, The Experts: When Does Active Management Make Sense? April 21, 2013.
Index Funds are offered by prospectus. It is not possible to directly invest in an index.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives and risks as well as charges and expenses of a mutual fund before investing. To obtain a prospectus, contact your Financial Advisor or visit the fund company’s website. The prospectus contains this and other information about the mutual fund. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
The investor should note that funds that invest exclusively in one sector or industry involve additional risks. The lack of industry diversification subjects the investor to increased industry-specific risks.
Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.
Equity Securities’ prices may fluctuate in response to specific situations for each company, industry, market conditions, and general economic environment.
Growth investing does not guarantee a profit or eliminate risk. The stocks of these companies can have relatively high valuations.
Because of these high valuations, an investment in a growth stock can be more risky than an investment in a company with more modest growth expectations.
Small Capitalization Funds are managed aggressively and typically carry more risk than stock funds investing in well-established companies.
International investing involves certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. The securities discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial adviser. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives.
If you’d like to learn more, please contact Julia A. Peloso-Barnes, CFP®, CPM®, ADPA®, CPRC®
Article by Wealth Management Systems, Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor.
The author(s) are not employees of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley.
Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned.
Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor(s) engaged Daily Voice to feature this article.
Julia A. Peloso-Barnes may only transact business in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration www.MorganStanleyFA.com/pelosobarnesgroup . Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect
transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Julia A. Peloso-Barnes is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
© 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
