For decades, the debate between active and passive investing has dominated investment discussions… but is this the question that we should even be asking? As fiduciaries, it is not our responsibility to pick sides – active or passive - but rather, to seek the best possible outcomes for clients. Traditional active management is riddled with pitfalls - high fees, unpredictable performance, and the challenge of identifying persistent skill. On the other hand - rigid indexing can lead to forced trades, unnecessary turnover, and missed opportunities. In this session, we will explore what it would look like if you were open to a blank slate approach. Rather than fitting investments into a predefined box, we ask: What insights can we trust? What strategies have stood the test of time? And how do we balance costs, benefits, and complexities in portfolio construction? With the rise of active ETFs and new investment vehicles, due diligence matters more than ever. Manager trust, track record, and implementation should be at the forefront of decision-making. Join us as we challenge conventional thinking and explore a framework that puts client results first.
Learning objectives:
- Investigate Market Dynamics: Learn about the competitive dynamics between active and passive funds, including market share, performance comparisons, costs, and design parameters.
- Analyze Growth Trends: Understand the rapid expansion of active ETFs, including historical growth rates and projections for future market penetration.
- Examine Investor Behavior: Explore how shifts in investor preferences towards active ETFs are influencing fund management and product offerings.
- Identify Emerging Opportunities: Recognize new investment opportunities and niches within the active ETF market that are ripe for exploration and investment.
Meet Rob Harvey, CFA
Rob Harvey, Co-Head of Product Specialists, serves as a subject matter expert for Dimensional’s equity portfolios and performance. He joined Dimensional in 2016 as an Associate Portfolio Manager and has managed international, emerging markets, and domestic equity portfolios. Rob also worked in the firm’s London office, managing international and global equity strategies within the Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Dimensional, Rob worked in the treasury department of Cisco Systems, trading foreign exchange, managing fixed income portfolios, and conducting the company’s share repurchase program. Rob earned his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Bachelor of Science in finance and international business and a Bachelor of Arts in German from Villanova University and is a CFA® charterholder.
