Index funds offer a way to invest in many securities, providing instant portfolio diversification. They are less costly due to low expense ratios compared to actively managed funds. When selecting ...

What Is an Index Fund? An index fund is a type of investment fund with a portfolio built to track or match financial market index components, such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

Trending Now: Suze Orman's Secret to a Wealthy Retirement--Have You Made This Money Move? What Are ETFs and Index Funds? As the Securities and Exchange Commission defines them, exchange-traded funds ...

Index funds have much to offer investors but require some sacrifices for low fees and transparency. Index funds won't work well for those seeking parabolic gains and life-changing money. But if you ...

Ask a beginner retail investor what they think best predicts whether a fund will outperform, and the answers tend to vary. Some point to the long-running dominance of U.S.-focused funds as evidence ...

Low-cost index funds are a great way to invest in the market, giving you a diversified fund with low expenses. Index funds are passive funds that track an established index, making changes only when ...

Peter Gratton, Ph.D., is a New Orleans-based editor and professor with over 20 years of experience in investing, risk management, and public policy. Peter began covering markets at Multex (Reuters) ...

I have been on Morningstar’s 401(k) committee for more than 25 years. In that capacity, I work with colleagues to choose and monitor the funds available to employees in that plan. Although options for ...

I recently watched a talk by Steve Chen, founder of CALLTOLEAP. In the speech, he addressed the common question many young investors ask: “I have $10,000. What should I do with my money?” Chen’s ...