There is a misconception, even among experts, that a low tracking error for a passive fund (index fund or ETF) implies the fund’s returns closely match the benchmark. This is not true. What is a tracking difference? This is the fund return minus the benchmark total return over a period. This will typically be a…

There is a considerable amount of debate about active vs passive investing. The truth is, it is a tertiary concern. You need to have a proper investment plan in place. If this is done, you need the conviction to implement it and stay the course. Then it matters little if you choose active or passive…

Here is a step-by-step guide to selecting an index. 1. Where and how you invest does not matter if you do not have a proper investment plan. The right return expectation, the correct initial asset allocation, an excellent risk-management strategy, systematic investing, systematic increase in investing and periodic reviews. The freefincal robo advisor tool can…

We have recently discussed the revival in investor interest in Nifty Next 50 – Nifty Next 50 outshines Nifty 50 by 41% – Time to buy? As pointed out, in 2018, many investors started investing in Nifty Next 50 index funds only to be frustrated by its performance over the next five to six years. Over…

Over the past few weeks, more and more investors have asked us, “Is this a good time to invest in a Nifty Next 50 index fund?” A discussion. The revival in interest is because of recent outperformance. Over the last year, Nifty Next 50 outperformed Nifty 50 by 41%! Long-term readers may know that we…

This is a talk I gave in the bi-monthly meeting of the Tamil Nadu Investors Association (SEBI recognised) on March 24th 2024. I have recorded it separately in two parts. I have already published parts of the talk as articles since then. Active Mutual Funds Outperformance Consistency Report (March 2024) ETF or Index Fund? Look…

Futures and options trading on Nifty Next 50 commenced on April 24, 2024. Will this impact the index and, therefore, its passive investors (via index funds and ETFs) in any way? In particular, how will F&O trading impact the volatility and liquidity of the underlying index (or its constituent stocks in the spot market)? The…

Many investors assume that the lower the passive fund fee or tracking error, the higher the return. This is not always true. We dispel these notions using material for a talk we are preparing for. 1. ETF tracking errors published are non-representative.  All tracking errors are highly non-intuitive and hard for normal investors to appreciate….

This article presents an outperformance consistency report of active mutual funds. This analysis was done for a SEBI-sponsored talk given to Tamil Nadu Investors Association Members on March 24th, 2024. Disclaimer: Fund performance reports present return and risk analysis of a fund with representative benchmarks and not investment recommendations. It must be expressly understood that the data…

A reader says, “Dear Sir, you have convinced us with clear data that most active funds cannot beat the index and that index funds are the way to eliminate high fees and fund manager risk. However, does this mean index investing is risk-free? Are there any risks with index investing? Kindly elaborate with an article”….

Many investors seem to believe their long-term goal planning is done if they choose an index fund or two! Unfortunately, an index fund is just a product. Choosing a product without due process won’t get us anywhere unless we ride on luck. The first step is always when we need the money and how we…

A few years ago, when the NSE introduced factor indices, aka smart-beta investing, I was among the first to get excited and wrote a slew of articles such as these: (1) Are Nifty Smart Beta (strategic) Indices better than the Nifty Next 50? (2) Picking Stocks With Low Volatility: A simple but effective strategy? (3)…