Active Management
Candlefocus EditorActive management is a strategy that involves closely monitoring and making buy and sell decisions regarding the holdings in a portfolio. This strategy is meant to provide investors with returns that exceed the performance of the overall markets. Typically associated with higher risk, active management can be used to manage risk, increase income, and/or achieve other investor goals.
What Is Active Management?
Active management involves making decisions regarding when to buy and sell assets in a portfolio in order to increase the value of the investments. This type of management is also characterized by frequent investments and trades, high transaction costs, and in some cases, higher taxes. The main goal of active management is to beat the standard performance of an index or the overall market. This type of management does not take a static approach, where the investments and assets remain unchanged but instead requires constant scrutiny and adjustments to the portfolio. When executed well, the active management strategy can produce greater returns than passive management.
Advantages of Active Management
The main advantage of active management is the potential for higher returns than what an index or the overall markets would return. As an investor, one can also benefit from the expertise of a financial advisor which can provide valuable information about market trends, risks and opportunities. The active management approach often pays off in the long-term as managers are focused on long-term investments, rather than trading constantly. Furthermore, active management is not tied to a benchmark or index and, therefore, can take into consideration things like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors that may not be taken into account by passive management. In addition, the active management strategy provides more flexibility for making changes, allowing for more agile responses to market conditions and changes in the investor’s goals.
Disadvantages of Active Management
Along with the potential for higher returns, active management also carries some risks and comes with greater costs than passive management. As the portfolio is being constantly monitored, the investor may be subject to more volatility than in passive management, as well as higher transaction costs. Furthermore, active management sometimes involves greater taxes as it typically involves more off-market transactions and short-term capital gains, which are subject to higher taxes than long-term investments and gains. In addition, the success of active management relies heavily on the skills of the manager and the knowledge available at the time of making decisions.
Active management is a strategy that can potentially increase the returns of an investment portfolio. While this strategy carries risks and comes with higher costs, it offers flexibility and the potential for more targeted investments, such as sustainable investments. However, the success of this type of management depends on the experience and skill of the manager and the available knowledge at the time for making investment decisions.