Is Active Management Primed for a Comeback?

Core Insights - Active management and stock picking may be making a comeback after nearly 30 years of passive investing dominance, driven by higher interest rates, increased stock dispersion, and heightened market volatility [2][4] - The shift towards active management is seen as essential for outperforming the market, with financial advisors recognizing the importance of investment management despite the rise of automated solutions [3][4] Group 1: Market Conditions - Current market conditions are favorable for active investors, with T. Rowe Price highlighting that the combination of higher interest rates and greater stock dispersion provides key ingredients for potential outperformance [2] - Active management is becoming increasingly relevant as passive investing can lead to "diworsification," where overly broad diversification negatively impacts returns [2] Group 2: Advisor Strategies - Financial advisors are beginning to realize that investment management remains crucial, even as many have shifted focus to financial planning and model portfolios [3][4] - Many advisors are now outsourcing portfolio construction, but some, like Kimberly Abmeyer, are achieving significant outperformance through targeted stock selection, with her clients' portfolios outperforming the S&P 500 by 10% this year [4] Group 3: Model Portfolios - Assets in model portfolios reached nearly $8 trillion in April 2023, indicating a strong trend towards this investment strategy [6] - Over 80% of fee-based advisors utilize model portfolios for at least some of their client assets, reflecting the growing acceptance of this approach in wealth management [6]