A New Take on the Active vs. Passive Investing Debate | Morgan Stanley (2024)

Index Definitions

S&P 500 Index:The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index tracks the performance of 500 widely held, large-capitalization US stocks.

Asset Class Risk Considerations

International investingentails greater risk, as well as greater potential rewards compared to U.S. investing. These risks include political and economic uncertainties of foreign countries as well as the risk of currency fluctuations. These risks are magnified in countries withemerging markets, since these countries may have relatively unstable governments and less established markets and economies.

Equity securitiesmay fluctuate in response to news on companies, industries, market conditions and general economic environment.

Investing in smaller companiesinvolves greater risks not associated with investing in more established companies, such as business risk, significant stock price fluctuations and illiquidity.

Asset allocation and diversificationdo not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.

The indices are unmanaged. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. They are used for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the performance of any specific investment.

The indices selected by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management to measure performance are representative of broad asset classes. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management retains the right to change representative indices at any time.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or its affiliates. All opinions are subject to change without notice. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The author(s) (if any authors are noted) principally responsible for the preparation of this material receive compensation based upon various factors, including quality and accuracy of their work, firm revenues (including trading and capital markets revenues), client feedback and competitive factors. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is involved in many businesses that may relate to companies, securities or instruments mentioned in this material.

Return and principal value of investments will fluctuate and, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. There is no guarantee that past performance or information relating to return, volatility, style reliability and other attributes will be predictive of future results.

The securities/instruments discussed in this material may not be suitable for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circ*mstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management recommends that investors independently evaluate specific investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The value of and income from investments may vary because of changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, default rates, prepayment rates, securities/instruments prices, market indexes, operational or financial conditions of companies and other issuers or other factors. Certain information contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Estimates of future performance are based on assumptions that may not be realized. Actual events may differ from those assumed and changes to any assumptions may have a material impact on any projections or estimates. Other events not taken into account may occur and may significantly affect the projections or estimates. Certain assumptions may have been made for modeling purposes only to simplify the presentation and/or calculation of any projections or estimates, and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management does not represent that any such assumptions will reflect actual future events. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that estimated returns or projections will be realized or that actual returns or performance results will not materially differ from those estimated herein.

This material should not be viewed as advice or recommendations with respect to asset allocation or any particular investment. This information is not intended to, and should not, form a primary basis for any investment decisions that you may make. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is not acting as a fiduciary under either the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended or under section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended in providing this material.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide legal or tax advice. Each client should always consult his/her personal tax and/or legal advisor for information concerning his/her individual situation and to learn about any potential tax or other implications that may result from acting on a particular recommendation.

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CRC#4644045 (03/2022)

A New Take on the Active vs. Passive Investing Debate | Morgan Stanley (2024)

FAQs

A New Take on the Active vs. Passive Investing Debate | Morgan Stanley? ›

Because active investing is generally more expensive (you need to pay research analysts and portfolio managers, as well as additional costs due to more frequent trading), many active managers fail to beat the index after accounting for expenses—consequently, passive investing has often outperformed active because of ...

What is the difference between active and passive investing debate? ›

The Bottom Line. Passive investing is buying and holding investments with minimal portfolio turnover. Active investing is buying and selling investments based on their short-term performance, attempting to beat average market returns. Both have a place in the market, but each method appeals to different investors.

What is the main difference between active and passive investing? ›

Active investing seeks to outperform – or “beat” – the benchmark index, while passive investing seeks to track the benchmark index. Active investing is favored by those who seek to mitigate extreme downside risk, while passive investing is often used by investors with a long-term horizon.

Why are active decisions better than passive ones? ›

“Active” Advantages

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.

How often does passive investing beat active investing? ›

According to Morningstar, passive investing strategies for most investors can perform just as well, if not better, than active ones — only 23% of all active funds beat the average of their passive rivals over the 10-year period ending June 2019. But that's not the only benefit of a passive approach.

What are the pros and cons of the active versus passive investment approaches? ›

Passive investing targets strong returns in the long term by minimizing the amount of buying and selling, but it is unlikely to beat the market and result in outsized returns in the short term. Active investment can bring those bigger returns, but it also comes with greater risks than passive investment.

What is the difference between the passive approach and the active approach? ›

An active approach response was defined as reaching for, touching, or manipulating the stimulus. A passive approach response included turning one's head or body toward the stimulus, looking at the stimulus, or happiness indicators such as smiling and laughing (Green & Reid, 1996).

What are the pros and cons of active portfolio management? ›

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.

Are active funds better than passive funds? ›

While active funds strive to outperform the market through skilled management and decision-making, passive funds offer a simpler, more consistent approach by tracking market indices. Ultimately, the choice between active and passive funds depends on individual preferences and objectives.

What are the benefits of active investing? ›

The potential benefits of an active investment strategy are:
  • A chance at bigger rewards. An actively managed fund or portfolio has the potential to beat index returns. ...
  • Flexibility. Active managers can buy stocks that may be undervalued and underappreciated in the general market. ...
  • Tax management.

What are the 3 disadvantages of active investment? ›

Though active investing may have potential advantages over passive investing, it also comes with potential limitations to consider:
  • Requires high engagement. ...
  • Demands higher risk tolerance. ...
  • Tends not to beat benchmarks over time.

What are the 5 advantages of passive investing? ›

2.1) Advantages of Passive Investing
  • Lower Cost, Lower Turnover and Higher Tax Efficiency means more money invested;
  • Focus is on “Time in the Market”, not “Timing the Market”;
  • Fully Invested in all Major Companies; and.
  • Higher Likelihood of Capturing Market Returns than Active.

What are the disadvantages of passive investing? ›

The downside of passive investing is there is no intention to outperform the market. The fund's performance should match the index, whether it rises or falls.

What is the difference between active and passive investing investopedia? ›

Unlike passive investors, who invest in a stock when they believe in its potential for long-term appreciation, active investors typically look at the price movements of their stocks many times a day. Usually, active investors are seeking short-term profits.

What is the difference between active and passive investment strategy in terms of the concept of market efficiency? ›

Active strategies aim to beat the market, offering the possibility of greater returns. Downside cushion. Markets fluctuate continuously, and passive investors must accept that the value of their portfolios will rise and fall accordingly.

What's the difference between active and passive income? ›

Active income, generally speaking, is generated from tasks linked to your job or career that take up time. Passive income, on the other hand, is income that you can earn with relatively minimal effort, such as renting out a property or earning money from a business without much active participation.

What is the difference between active and passive investing risk adjusted return measures? ›

Passive strategies seek to replicate the performance of a market index while keeping fees to a minimum. Active strategies, in contrast, strive to outperform the market, net of fees, by relying on managers' research and analytical skills to buy and sell individual securities.

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