Geopolitical tensions, easing monetary policy, and tariffs are just a few of the market forces that are breeding uncertainty in today's environment. These may keep investors situated in cash when they could be turning it into profitable opportunities. With a record number of actively managed ETFs coming into the market, it's an opportune time for investors to get off the sidelines, bring their cash, and invest in these flexible funds. The actively managed funds take advantage of the expertise and experience ...

If investors could collectively talk, they might sound a bit like birds: cheap, cheap, cheap. Exchange-traded funds with low fees — defined as having expense ratios of less than 0.10% — raked in nearly half of all inflows this year to date despite making up just 8% of all ETFs, according to CFRA Research. Cheap funds, which tend to track indexes, have consistently outperformed their active counterparts in recent years. Meanwhile, active funds have sometimes underperformed compared their benchmarks and may ...

Core Insights - The U.S. Federal Reserve has implemented its first interest rate cut of the year, prompting investors to reevaluate their fixed income portfolios in light of potential future monetary policy changes [1] - Despite anticipated rate cuts, the bond market still presents attractive income opportunities, particularly as uncertainty around tariffs and geopolitical risks persists, making bonds a suitable option to mitigate equity market volatility [2] Market Commentary - With bond yields at historically attractive levels compared to low equity dividend yields, demand for bonds is expected to remain strong, potentially reshaping portfolio allocation strategies for the future [3] - The long-term impact of rate cuts on the return environment remains uncertain, emphasizing the importance of adaptability for long-term investors in a landscape of structurally higher rates [3] Active Management - Active ETFs have seen greater success than passive counterparts in new fund launches this year, highlighting the necessity of active management in the current market uncertainty [4] - Active fixed income funds are becoming increasingly competitive regarding expense ratios, with the Vanguard Core Bond ETF (VCRB) being a notable option due to its low 0.10% expense ratio [4] Fund Characteristics - The Vanguard Core Bond ETF (VCRB) utilizes the portfolio management expertise of the Vanguard Fixed Income Group, allowing for customized holdings based on market conditions [5] - To address credit risk in the current uncertain market, VCRB provides diversified exposure to the U.S. investment-grade bond market and expands its investment scope to include mortgage-backed and corporate securities, leveraging active management to seek yield opportunities [6]

Core Insights - Global stocks are outperforming US stocks despite US markets reaching all-time highs, indicating a complex market dynamic [3][4] - The long-term performance of US stocks remains strong, suggesting that short-term underperformance should not deter investors [5][6] - Increased interest from American investors in international stocks is evident, with a significant portion of the population participating in stock investments [6] Global Stock Performance - The Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-US Index Fund (VEU) serves as a benchmark for global stocks, showing that while US stocks may lag temporarily, they have a strong historical lead [4][5] - International stocks often provide higher dividend yields compared to US firms, with Canadian stocks yielding 2.6% compared to the S&P 500's 1.2% [7] Investment Strategies - Active management is recommended for international stocks to avoid poor-quality companies and those in unstable regions [10] - Three high-yield closed-end funds (CEFs) are highlighted for their performance and ability to provide dividends exceeding 8% [11] Fund Analysis - The Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund (CHW) offers an 8.1% annualized yield, combining convertible bonds with stock-like upside [12][13] - The LMP Capital & Income Fund (SCD) provides a 9.3% annualized yield, focusing on a mix of income-producing assets and capital-gains stocks [14][15] - The Virtus NFJ Dividend Value Fund (NFJ) generates a 9.3% dividend while blending American and foreign firms, utilizing a covered-call strategy for additional income [16][17] Market Trends - Discounts on these funds have narrowed recently, indicating increased investor interest and potential for share price appreciation [18]

Core Insights - T. Rowe Price is collaborating with Goldman Sachs to offer private-market investments, indicating a strategic shift in response to the growing popularity of such assets [1][5] - Active stock pickers are facing challenges from index funds, which are gaining traction due to their lower fees and strong performance, particularly in the context of a rising S&P 500 [2][6] - The demand for target-date funds, which are popular among 401(k) savers, presents an opportunity for active managers to integrate private investments into their offerings [3][4] Group 1 - The rise of private-market investments is creating new opportunities for active managers, despite the competitive pressure from passive investment options [1][2] - Target-date funds are becoming increasingly popular, allowing for a blend of active and passive strategies, which could benefit from the inclusion of private investments [3][4] - The collaboration between T. Rowe Price and Goldman Sachs, including a $1 billion investment from Goldman Sachs into T. Rowe Price, signifies a merging of traditional and alternative asset management strategies [5] Group 2 - The focus on lowering fees among plan sponsors is critical, as many are shifting towards more cost-effective passive options for target-date funds [6] - The potential integration of private investments into target-date funds raises concerns about maintaining low overall costs, given that private investments often come with higher fees [7]

Core Insights - Active funds have struggled to outperform index funds over the past year, even during volatile market conditions [1][4] - Only 33% of actively managed mutual funds and ETFs had higher asset-weighted returns than their index counterparts from July 2024 to June 2025, a decline of 14 percentage points from the previous year [2] - Long-term performance shows that only 21% of active strategies outperformed their index counterparts over the past 10 years [4] Performance by Sector - Success rates for active funds vary significantly by sector, with U.S. large-cap stock funds consistently underperforming their index counterparts [5] - Only 14% of actively managed U.S. large-cap funds have beaten the S&P 500 over the past decade [5] - Active managers tend to perform better in less liquid markets, such as fixed income, real estate, and small-cap stocks [6][7] Fee Impact - Fees are a critical factor in the performance disparity between index and active funds, with index funds averaging a 0.11% fee compared to 0.59% for active funds [9] - Higher fees necessitate that active funds achieve greater relative returns to compensate for the fee difference [9] - The impact of fees on long-term earnings is significant; for instance, a 1% fee can result in $29,000 less over 20 years compared to a 0.25% fee [10] Market Behavior - Index funds inherently own all securities in a market index, ensuring they capture both winners and losers, while active managers risk missing out on market rebounds [11] - Active managers often adjust their strategies in response to market events, which can lead to missed opportunities [11]