As of 2024, the Vanguard Group ranked second among global fund managers by assets under management (AUM). Rounding out the top three, Charles Schwab ranked third, managing fund assets totaling 7.32 trillion U.S. dollars. BlackRock was the largest fund manager, managing fund assets exceeding 10.4 trillion U.S.
Types of investment funds.
Investment funds are an important part of financial planning and investing. There are several different types of investment funds offered by fund managers, each with their own purpose and asset types.Mutual funds pool money from many investors and use that money to purchase a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other securities. Index funds are a type of mutual fund thattracks a market index, like the S&P 500. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a type of mutual fund, that is continuously traded on a stock exchange. ETFs often track market indexes or sectors. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide both retail and institutional investors with exposure to income-generating real estate assets such as office buildings, apartments and hotels, without having to fully invest in an individual property.
The benefits of investment funds.
The main advantage of investment funds is that they provide instant portfolio diversification. Rather than choosing just a few stocks or bonds, funds allow you to invest in a wide variety of different securities in one purchase. This helps reduce risk, as poor performance of one holding has less impact on the overall fund. Funds also provide access to professional management and research. Managers can take advantage of opportunities and insights that an individual investor may not have the ability to leverage. Finally, funds offer convenience. Investors won't be required to constantly rebalance portfolios. While costs and fees are a consideration, investment funds can be an excellent hands-off way for both retail and institutional investors to benefit from the market while spreading risk over many asset classes and securities.
