Investing in index funds global fund managers’ surveys indicate

Global fund managers’ surveys indicate 58% are overweight equities, with preference toward index-tracking products. Investing in index funds offers instant diversification, mitigating single-stock risk in an environment where earnings dispersion is high. That money was in cash equivalents, a short-term investment that you can cash in relatively quickly. Think of certificates of deposit and money market accounts, which you can open at most financial institutions. Merrill Edge offers a strong blend of zero-commission trading, excellent integration with Bank of America banking products and access to preferred rewards programs for high-balance clients. Investors can trade Vanguard and Fidelity index ETFs commission-free, access pre-built portfolios and automatically reinvest dividends through Merrill’s DRIP service. The latest earnings season shows 78% of S&P 500 companies beating estimates, underpinning index fund returns. Strong earnings breadth supports the passive investment case in tracking broad indices.