Open navigation Sign in Create Account Open search INVESTING Advertiser Disclosure What is an index fund and how do they work? martin-dm/Getty Images Written by Greg McBride, CFA July 30, 2021 / 3 min read Edited By Brian Beers Share this page Why you can trust Bankrate More info While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. Index funds are mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have one simple goal: To mirror the market or a portion of it. For example, an S&P 500 index fund tracks the collective performance of the companies in the S&P 500. If the S&P 500 is up 5 percent in a year, the fund should be close to that, too. Index funds are typically passively managed, meaning there is no active manager to pay. Rather than trying to bet on individual stocks to beat the market, an index fund simply aims to be the market with an autopilot approach that holds the same securities in the same proportion as the index. Here’s the kicker, too: Most active fund managers actually fail to beat the market and instead underperform their target index. Why pay more for less when you can take advantage of the track record of a broad-based market index? What are some of the most common index funds? U.S. stock indexes The S&P 500 index is one of the most used benchmarks for stocks focused on large U.S.-based companies. While the companies in the S&P account for approximately 80 percent of the U.S. stock market, some investors opt for extended market index funds that help track that remaining 20 percent. The Russell 1000 index tracks the 1,000 biggest U.S. stocks, and the Wilshire 5000 index represents every publicly traded stock in the country. International stock indexes Investors can seek to capitalize on growth opportunities throughout the rest of the world, too, via a plethora of index funds that track equities in developed and emerging markets across the globe. There are also total international index funds that cover everything outside the U.S. Bond indexes In addition to investing in broad-based stock index funds, you can choose from a range of bond index funds: short-term bonds with maturity dates in the near future, long-term bonds with maturities longer than 10 years, emerging market government bonds and more. How to invest in index funds Index funds are available to anyone who wants to invest money. Some have no minimum investment requirements, but others may ask for an initial deposit of $1,000 or more. Many of these index funds track the same index, so it’s important to pay attention to two key factors when comparing them. The expense ratio: Because index funds have no active manager involved, they tend to have rock-bottom expenses. Still, there is a cost associated. Be sure to compare the expense ratio to understand how much of your funds that will go toward the administrative and operating costs. The tracking error: Look at the past performance of the fund, too. How well did it match the index? If it has a high tracking error — an indication of how far off it fell from mirroring the index — you’ll want to look for other funds that have historically managed to keep a better pace with the index. What are the pros and cons of index funds? No matter where you invest your money, you should think about the potential upsides and downsides. Weigh these key factors when thinking about index funds. Pros Low costs: Index funds are a great, low-cost way to invest. In 2020, the asset-weighted average expense ratio on stock index funds was just 0.06 percent — a bargain price that is tough to beat. Instant diversification: Instead of trying to pick individual stocks or bonds, an index fund offers a chance to spread your bet across a wide pool of investment opportunities. In the words of Jack Bogle, the late founder of Vanguard, index fund investing means buying the whole haystack rather than looking for the needle in the haystack. More tax efficiencies: Because index funds aren’t constantly buying and selling (a regular routine in actively managed funds) securities, they don’t generate surprise capital gains distributions. Better informed: The securities that make up an index are public knowledge. For example, if a new company joins the S&P 500, you’ll be aware. That’s a key distinction from actively managed funds where the fund manager might bet on a company with an unproven track record, and you have no idea. Cons Market cap weighting can weigh down a fund: An index fund can get bloated with overweighted stocks, which means it isn’t quite as diversified as you might expect. For example, consider the S&P 500 index, where more than 25 percent of its holdings are in the 10 biggest companies. So, the fortune of these funds is significantly tilted toward those major market players. Inability to sell: This isn’t technically a drawback, but it is an important lesson of index fund investing. These are not designed for frequent trading. Some mutual fund companies may charge fees for any index fund shares sold within a certain time frame — for example, 90 days of purchase. That shouldn’t scare you off, though: They do this to minimize trading and administrative expenses to hold costs down for all investors in the fund. Remember, holding on through the ups and downs over time is a key piece of long-term investing success. Learn more: What is the S&P 500? How to invest in stocks: A step-by-step guide for beginners Micro-investing: Here’s how to get started Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation. Written by Greg McBride, CFA Chief financial analyst Read more From Greg Greg McBride, CFA, is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Analyst, for Bankrate.com. He leads a team responsible for researching financial products, providing analysis, and advice on personal finance to a vast consumer audience. Edited by Brian Beers Senior wealth editor You may also like Low-cost index funds: A beginner’s guide How to buy index funds How to buy index funds Bankrate About About us Press room Careers Advertise with us Site map Help Contact us Compare rates Latest news Popular topics Glossary Legal Privacy policy / California privacy policy Cookie Settings Do not sell my info Understanding Bankrate’s averages Terms of use GLBA annual notice Licenses How we make money Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Bankrate is compensated in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. This compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Bankrate.com does not include all companies or all available products. Bankrate, LLC NMLS ID# 1427381 | NMLS Consumer Access BR Tech Services, Inc. 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