For the average investor, brokerage firms like Charles Schwab, Edward Jones, Fidelity, and Vanguard provide ample opportunities to enter equity and commodity markets. They each have a broad range of funds that offer exposure throughout the world.
Investors who are looking to place relatively modest sums of moneyâ€"say $10,000â€"can use asset-allocation tools and advice from brokers to craft a strategy that meets their goals. They can then purchase mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to execute this strategy.
[See Top-Rated Funds by Category Ranked by U.S. News Mutual Fund Score.]
But once the money is invested, it is largely up to the investor to make decisions about how to handle it in the long term.
With passive investing, managers aim to track the performance of their fund to an index, and do not make sweeping daily decisions that will alter the performance of the fund. Passive-investment strategists believe it's better to bet on a large index than to pick individual stocks. This kind of investment also keeps management fees low, as managers are not actively engaged in management over the course of the day.
Passive investing is a proven method for building wealth. But as wealth growsâ€"for instance, the $10,000 originally invested has grown to $50,000â€"investors need to reconsider how their money is managed. Goals change and life events, both anticipated and unforeseen, can require more sophisticated planning.
A shift to active management. As people become more comfortable with investing and as their wealth grows, many shift from a passive strategy to active investing. Active management is more hands-on than passive: Investment managers are trading stocks, bonds, and commodities daily in an effort to outperform the market.
There are downsides to this kind of investing. Trying to beat an index requires advanced market knowledge, so management fees are heftier than with a passive strategy. There's also more downside risk, as managers are making bolder bets.
But with this downside risk comes the potential for large gains. Hedge funds are the most well-known example of active management, and successful hedge funds can provide returns that far outpace passive strategies.
There are also strategies that combine active and passive investing, says Scott Thoma, a member of the investment policy committee at Edward Jones. "There are asset-allocation models where you can use them both. One alone isn't going to work well for everyone," he says.
[See Beware Playing 401(k) Catch-Up Close to Retirement.]
Opportunities for the retail investor. The hedge-fund market isn't open to the average investor. But financial advisers at firms like Edward Jones, as well as independent advisers, can provide more sophisticated advice as wealth grows.
According to Lisa Kirchenbauer, president of Omega Wealth Management in Arlington, Va., there is no specific wealth point where investors should seek more advanced financial advice. "From a planning perspective, when you're just out of school, it's probably not critical" to have a dedicated financial adviser, she says. "When you start to have major life changes, like getting married and you're bringing finances together, it's an obvious time to talk to someone. When you start to have kids, there are new planning issues that need to be addressed."
Kirchenbauer adds that having a personal financial adviser allows investors to do more than just buy stocks or bonds. Long-term financial planning, especially for retirement, is now necessary.
"Due the baby boomers reaching retirement and the financial uncertainty of the last few yearsâ€"and the fact that most people will not have pensions to support them in the future and will need to depend on their investment assets in retirementâ€"people need good financial-planning advice," she says. "It's not just about investing anymore."
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