Passive investing is an investment strategy that involves minimal ongoing decision-making. Instead of attempting to pick stocks, investors using a passive approach select a basket of investments, such as an index fund, and then hold it for a long period of time.
Passive investing is one of two major investment methods. The other is active investing, which attempts to beat the market by selecting winning stocks. Passive investing is the opposite of active investing and is sometimes referred to as “buy and hold” investing.
The primary benefit of using a passive investing strategy is its simplicity. Investing in a broad-based index fund such as the S&P 500 eliminates the need to research individual stocks and rebalance a portfolio. All that is required of the investor is to select the index fund and invest a set amount of money over time. This requires less time and effort than active investing and often avoids the pitfalls of trying to time the market.
Another benefit of passive investing is its cost effectiveness. Because index funds don’t require a lot of research or management, they have lower overhead costs than actively managed funds. As a result, investors can expect to pay lower annual fees for index funds than for actively managed funds.
Passive investing does have its drawbacks, however. One is that it may not perform as well as active investing in some market conditions. Although passive investing is usually a better choice in the long run, investors should understand that during certain market conditions it may not perform as well as an actively managed portfolio.
In addition, passive investing may not be suitable for all investors. Those who are more aggressive or have a higher tolerance for risk may prefer active investing over passive investing. Similarly, those with a longer investment timeline may be better suited to active investing.
Despite its drawbacks, passive investing remains a popular option for many investors due to its low cost and simplicity. By selecting a broad-based index fund and investing for the long term, investors can avoid the pitfalls of trying to outperform the market. This may be a good choice for those who are looking to build wealth over the long run or who don’t have the time to research individual stocks.