
What is active management?
Active management refers to an investment strategy where portfolio managers or fund managers actively make investment decisions in an attempt to outperform a specified benchmark or the overall market. In active management, the investment team engages in research, analysis, and ongoing monitoring of securities in an effort to identify opportunities and make buy/sell decisions based on their judgments and market predictions.
The main objective of active management is to generate returns that surpass the performance of a benchmark or index. Portfolio managers aim to capitalize on market inefficiencies, mispricings, and changing market conditions to achieve superior investment results.
Active managers typically employ various strategies such as fundamental analysis, technical analysis, quantitative models, and market timing to identify investment opportunities. They may select individual stocks, bonds, or other assets based on their assessment of factors such as company financials, industry trends, market sentiment, and macroeconomic conditions.
Active management requires ongoing monitoring and adjustments to the portfolio based on market dynamics and investment goals. Portfolio managers may engage in frequent trading, buying and selling securities in an effort to optimize returns or manage risk.
While active management offers the potential for outperformance, it also comes with higher costs compared to passive management strategies such as index investing. Active management involves research expenses, transaction costs, and management fees associated with the professional expertise of the investment team.
It’s important to note that active management does not guarantee superior performance. Outperforming the market consistently is challenging, and many active managers may not consistently beat their benchmark over the long term. Investors considering active management should carefully evaluate the track record, expertise, and investment philosophy of the portfolio managers or funds in question.
Overall, active management involves proactive decision-making and a hands-on approach to investment management with the aim of achieving superior investment results compared to a benchmark or the overall market.

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