What is the difference between an actively managed mutual fund and a passively managed fund?

The main difference between an actively managed mutual fund and a passively managed fund lies in how they are managed and the investment approach they follow:

1. Actively Managed Mutual Fund:
Actively managed mutual funds are managed by professional portfolio managers or investment teams who actively make investment decisions with the goal of outperforming a specific benchmark or index.
The portfolio manager continuously analyzes market conditions, conducts research, and selects individual securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) to include in the fund's portfolio.
The fund's holdings and allocation may change frequently as the manager seeks to take advantage of market opportunities and respond to changing economic conditions.
The primary aim is to generate positive alpha, which is the excess return of the fund over its benchmark.

2. Passively Managed Fund (Index Fund):
Passively managed funds, often referred to as index funds, seek to replicate the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100.
Instead of actively selecting individual securities, index funds aim to mirror the holdings and weightings of the benchmark index they are designed to track.
The fund's portfolio remains relatively static and does not change frequently, except for occasional rebalancing to match the changes in the underlying index.
The objective is to closely match the return of the benchmark, rather than outperforming it. The fund's goal is to deliver market returns with lower expenses compared to actively managed funds.

Key Differences:
Active management involves higher research and trading costs, leading to higher expense ratios for actively managed funds compared to passively managed funds.
Passive funds generally have lower turnover and lower capital gains tax implications for investors.
Actively managed funds aim to outperform the market or generate alpha, while passively managed funds aim to replicate the market's returns.
Actively managed funds may have higher potential for returns, but they also carry higher risk due to the uncertainty of the manager's investment decisions.
Index funds offer diversification and a more handsoff approach for investors, making them suitable for longterm investors seeking market exposure without the need for frequent monitoring.

Ultimately, the choice between actively managed and passively managed funds depends on an investor's individual goals, risk tolerance, investment strategy, and preference for either active stock picking or broad market exposure.