Passive vs index tracker funds: ETFs versus index trackers
Subtle but significant differences mean you have to choose with care
Passive investments continued to gain ground on active funds in 2019 as the allure of comparable returns, baked in diversification and lower fees attracted more investors.Morningstar data showed that passive US equity funds took in nearly $24.1bn in March 2019, whereas active US equity funds had $17.9bn in outflows. By the end of May, assets under management in passive funds achieved parity with active funds in the US market for the first time.Fund managers continue to launch new passive options. Eugene Visagie of Morningstar Investment Management SA says: "Previously, investors considering index-tracking strategies had relatively limited choices, but today investors face a bewildering number of options, from traditional benchmarks to smart beta and multi-asset portfolios."How should investors choose between exchange traded funds (ETFs) and index trackers?Kingsley Williams, CIO at Satrix, says: "Before choosing the most appropriate investment, investors must understand that all pass...
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