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The Rise of Passive Investing: Lower Costs and Better Performance

 
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Passive investing offers lower costs and better performance than active investing.

description: an anonymous investor sitting at a desk, looking at a computer screen with charts and graphs. the image is meant to represent the concept of passive investing and the long-term approach to investing.

Passive investing is a long-term investment strategy that aims to match the performance of a market index or benchmark. Unlike active investing, where fund managers aim to outperform the market by selecting individual stocks or timing the market, passive investing involves buying and holding a diversified mix of assets. This strategy has gained popularity in recent years due to its lower costs and better performance.

Global active managers outperformed passive investments last year, but this was an exception rather than the norm. Over the long term, passive investing has consistently outperformed active investing. According to a study by S&P Dow Jones Indices, over a 15-year period ending in 2020, 92% of large-cap funds underperformed their benchmark index.

Passive income is generated from investments, properties, or side hustles that aim to achieve a steady flow of cash without the daily involvement of the investor. Passive investing is a key part of generating passive income. By investing in a diversified mix of assets and holding them for the long term, investors can generate a steady stream of income without the need for constant attention.

The decades-long debate over the virtues of active versus passive investing shifted abruptly in 2022. High inflation, rising interest rates, and increased market volatility have led many investors to question the effectiveness of active investing. Passive investing, on the other hand, has proven to be a reliable and consistent way to generate returns over the long term.

For many investors, building wealth over time stands above any other short-term goal. Supported by the concept of "buy and hold," passive investing allows investors to weather market ups and downs while generating steady returns over time. This approach is particularly effective for retirement planning, where a long-term investment strategy is essential.

This is an investment world that will reward much greater selectivity and dynamic asset allocation. Passive investing allows investors to select a diversified mix of assets and hold them for the long term, reducing the need for constant adjustments and reallocations. This approach is particularly effective for investors who do not have the time or expertise to manage their investments actively.

Passive investing is a long-term strategy in which investors buy and hold a diversified mix of assets in an effort to match, not beat, the performance of a market index or benchmark. This approach has several advantages over active investing, including lower costs, better performance, and reduced risk. By investing in a broad range of assets, investors can reduce their exposure to market volatility and generate steady returns over time.

Investors have been debating the merits of "active" versus "passive" investing for a while now. While both strategies have their advantages and disadvantages, passive investing has proven to be a reliable and consistent way to generate returns over the long term. By investing in a diversified mix of assets and holding them for the long term, investors can reduce their risk and generate steady returns without the need for constant attention.

Vanguard Group founder Jack Bogle called index funds, commonly referred to as passive investing in the exchange-traded fund world, the "most successful innovation in the history of finance." Index funds track a particular market index or benchmark and aim to match its performance. By investing in index funds, investors can gain exposure to a broad range of assets while keeping costs low.

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