How to ensure you get what you pay for

The debate over active versus passive funds is always pretty lively and has become more so in recent years. If you believe everything you read, the proponents of passives seem to have been winning the argument of late. Passive funds have certainly gained traction. Last October, the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index fund became the biggest fund in the world. Launched in 1992, it aims to replicate – not beat – the performance of the S&P 500 and has a huge $251bn assets under management. The fund is specifically for US investors but it is an example of the popularity of passives. In the ...