Closet indexing is a controversial practice where a fund manager claims to actively manage a portfolio but instead mirrors an index closely. This practice undermines the very premise of active management.
* Lack of Value Addition: Investors pay higher fees for active management without receiving the expected benefits, as the portfolio closely tracks a benchmark index.
* Deceptive Marketing: Funds marketed as actively managed may mislead investors, violating transparency principles.
* Limited Alpha Generation: Since the portfolio resembles an index, it often fails to deliver excess returns ("alpha"), defeating the purpose of active management.
* Regulatory Concerns: Closet indexing raises ethical questions and can lead to scrutiny by regulatory bodies.
Main Pitfalls of Closet IndexingWhy C is CorrectOption C highlights the core issue of closet indexing- misrepresenting a passively managed portfolio as active, leading to higher fees without the commensurate effort or performance.
References:
* Volume 2, Section 18: Mutual Funds-Indexing and Closet Indexing.
* Volume 2, Section 13: Portfolio Manager Styles-Active vs. Passive Management.