When we consider active management at the individual level, it simply refers to the conduct of often purchasing and disposing of assets based on ostensibly favorable market prospects. However, in a broader sense, active management refers to a team of managers or brokers who aim to maximize profits by dealing with a particular set of assets.
Active management typically relies on investment choices and analytical research. As a result, active managers think they can outperform the market somehow. This idea contradicts the Efficient-Market Hypothesis (EMH), which holds that there aren’t many inefficiencies that may be taken advantage of because the current price of an asset already reflects all information available.
Active management aims to outperform index funds that are managed passively. A fund manager might endeavor to surpass the S&P 500, for instance. No matter how talented one may be, achieving such success as an active manager is quite challenging. Fees for actively managed funds are often more significant than for passively managed funds.
Active management is successful when a fund manager has the appropriate knowledge, ability, wisdom, and experience. For instance, a fund manager might use his or her knowledge and abilities to buy inexpensive equities. Since their investment choices are not based on an index, they benefit from freedom. By actively buying and selling, they can replace unsuccessful assets with profitable ones.
