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CSI CSC2 Exam - Topic 8 Question 7 Discussion

What is the main pitfall of closet indexing for investors?
C) passively management fund can be marketed as actively managed.
A) The portfolio does not closely resemble the benchmark index.
B) Investors must take greater risks due to a high portfolio beta.
D) High portfolio turnover makes it unsuitable for taxable accounts

CSI CSC2 Exam - Topic 8 Question 7 Discussion

Actual exam question for CSI's CSC2 exam
Question #: 7
Topic #: 8
[All CSC2 Questions]

What is the main pitfall of closet indexing for investors?

Show Suggested Answer Hide Answer
Suggested Answer: C

Closet indexing is a controversial practice where a fund manager claims to actively manage a portfolio but instead mirrors an index closely. This practice undermines the very premise of active management.

Main Pitfalls of Closet Indexing

Lack of Value Addition: Investors pay higher fees for active management without receiving the expected benefits, as the portfolio closely tracks a benchmark index.

Deceptive Marketing: Funds marketed as actively managed may mislead investors, violating transparency principles.

Limited Alpha Generation: Since the portfolio resembles an index, it often fails to deliver excess returns ('alpha'), defeating the purpose of active management.

Regulatory Concerns: Closet indexing raises ethical questions and can lead to scrutiny by regulatory bodies.

Why C is Correct

Option C highlights the core issue of closet indexing---misrepresenting a passively managed portfolio as active, leading to higher fees without the commensurate effort or performance.


Volume 2, Section 18: Mutual Funds---Indexing and Closet Indexing.

Volume 2, Section 13: Portfolio Manager Styles---Active vs. Passive Management.

Contribute your Thoughts:

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Larae
3 months ago
I lean towards A. Consistency with the index is key.
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Jolene
3 months ago
C is misleading. It's not truly active management.
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Justine
3 months ago
I agree, A makes sense. Misalignment is risky.
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Loreen
4 months ago
D) is a big deal for me, high turnover is a killer!
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Dong
4 months ago
B) sounds right, but isn't it all about the fees too?
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Vincent
4 months ago
Surprised that people still think closet indexing is a good strategy!
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Eden
5 months ago
I disagree, C) is the real problem here.
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Gearldine
5 months ago
A) is definitely the main issue.
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Dusti
5 months ago
Closet indexing is the financial equivalent of wearing sweatpants to the gym. You're just faking it, bro.
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Earleen
5 months ago
A) is a valid point, but not the main pitfall. The portfolio not closely resembling the benchmark is a secondary issue.
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Laurel
5 months ago
B) is not correct. Closet indexing actually reduces risk compared to active management.
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Eladia
5 months ago
D) is the real pitfall. High portfolio turnover means higher taxes for investors in taxable accounts.
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Ty
6 months ago
C) is the correct answer. Closet indexing allows fund managers to market their funds as actively managed when they are essentially just tracking the benchmark index.
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Eliseo
6 months ago
I thought the main problem was how passively managed funds can be marketed as actively managed. That seems misleading, but I’m not 100% confident.
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Truman
6 months ago
I recall a question about closet indexing where it mentioned the risks associated with a high portfolio beta. Could that be the answer?
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Rasheeda
6 months ago
I'm not entirely sure, but I feel like the high portfolio turnover could be a big issue for taxable accounts. That sounds familiar from our study sessions.
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Eve
6 months ago
Hmm, I'm not totally sure about this one. I'll need to review my notes on active vs. passive management to make the best guess here.
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Josephine
6 months ago
I'm pretty confident I know the answer to this one. Closet indexing is when a fund is marketed as actively managed but actually just tracks the benchmark index. The main problem with that is it can mislead investors.
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Simona
7 months ago
I think A is the main pitfall. It doesn't match the benchmark.
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Diane
7 months ago
Okay, I've got a strategy here. I'll eliminate the options that don't seem directly related to the main issue with closet indexing, then focus on the remaining choices.
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Renea
7 months ago
I think the main pitfall might be related to how closely the portfolio resembles the benchmark. I remember something about that in our practice questions.
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Roselle
7 months ago
D is important. High turnover can hurt taxes.
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Annmarie
7 months ago
B could be an issue too. Higher beta means more risk.
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Roslyn
8 months ago
I'm a bit confused by the question. Can someone clarify what exactly "closet indexing" refers to? I want to make sure I understand the concept before attempting to answer.
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Shawn
8 months ago
Hmm, this seems like a tricky one. I'll need to think carefully about the pros and cons of closet indexing to determine the main pitfall.
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Alberto
2 months ago
True, but I still lean towards A. It’s all about alignment with the index.
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Rikki
2 months ago
C is interesting. Misleading marketing can confuse investors.
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Veta
3 months ago
What about B? Greater risks could be a serious pitfall too.
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Jesus
3 months ago
I agree, but D also makes sense. High turnover can hurt taxable accounts.
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Edwin
3 months ago
I think it's A. The portfolio not resembling the benchmark is a big issue.
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