The managers running the biggest active funds picked stocks that beat the market in 2025 — and most still lagged their benchmark. A Morningstar do-nothing experiment and a body of academic research explain why active funds underperform even when the picking is good: skilled buying undone by poor selling, the hidden cost of trading, and the incentives that keep managers churning. The UK evidence points the same way.
When you read a book like How to Fund the Life You Want, or Mark Hebner's Index Funds: The 12-Step Program for Active Investors, it can be tempting to try to manage your investments on your own. But is it a good idea? True, Index Funds is an extraordinary book. It equips you with all the information you need on the best way to invest. But it's one thing to have the knowledge you require, and quite another to put that knowledge into practice on an ongoing basis. The main rea
Robin Powell
Jul 8, 20242 min read
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