What are ETFs (index funds)?

As an alternative to open-ended, actively managed investment funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become established in recent years.

An ETF tracks a given index as closely as possible and adjusts its composition to match its reference value.

When you buy an MDAX ETF, for example, you get all the securities included in the MDAX in exactly their current market composition. If the composition of the MDAX changes, the composition of your ETF changes too.

As a result, the management and administration fees for an ETF are significantly lower. On average they are around 0.17 percent of the invested amount per year. When a fund manager actively looks after your investment funds, the costs rise to 1.5 to 2.5 percent per year.

At the same time, many studies show that in over 90 percent of cases an active fund manager cannot beat the index over the long term.

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