Quantitative investment strategies have evolved from back-office black boxes to mainstream investment tools. They are designed to utilize the best minds in the business and the fastest computers to both exploit inefficiencies and use leverage to make market bets. They can be very successful if the models have included all the right inputs and are nimble enough to predict abnormal market events. On the flip side, while quant funds are rigorously back-tested until they work, their weakness is that they rely on historical data for their success. While quant-style investing has its place in the market, it's important to be aware of its shortcomings and risks.