FP_092017_cover
Flows among the 20 largest funds the past five years show investors’ affinity toward passive strategies. Thirteen of the funds posted outflows, in a few cases more than $20 billion. The other seven had inflows, topping $50 billion in some cases.

Overall, the inflows slightly surpassed the outflows, $201 billion vs. $196 billion. But following the flows shows that index funds and ETFs won the lion’s share of new investor money. Indeed, of the seven funds that gained investor cash, six were passive. And of the 13 that lost investor cash, eight were active.

Of the five passive funds that incurred outflows, in three cases it amounted to less than 5% of the fund’s total assets.

Scroll through to see the 7 funds with inflows and 13 with outflows. All data from Morningstar Direct.
FP_092017_20

20. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)

1Yr. Flows (millions): $32,859
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $58,425
1-Yr. Returns: 18.82%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.60%
Expense Ratio: 0.04%
Total Assets (millions): $126,933
FP_092017_19

19. Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index Inv (VGTSX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $7,003
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $51,844
1-Yr. Returns: 20.93%
5-Yr. Returns: 6.76%
Expense Ratio: 0.18%
Total Assets (millions): $299,533
FP_092017_18

18. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $11,645
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $43,970
1-Yr. Returns: 18.73%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.53%
Expense Ratio: 0.10%
Total Assets (millions): $243,661
FP_092017_17

17. Vanguard Total Bond Market II Idx Inv (VTBIX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $15,681
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $32,363
1-Yr. Returns: 0.83%
5-Yr. Returns: 2.14%
Expense Ratio: 0.09%
Total Assets (millions): $135,100
FP_092017_16

16. Vanguard Developed Markets Index Admiral (VTMGX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $2,092
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $6,757
1-Yr. Returns: 20.42%
5-Yr. Returns: 7.96%
Expense Ratio: 0.07%
Total Assets (millions): $95,042
FP_092017_15

15. American Funds American Balanced A (ABALX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($109)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $4,321
1-Yr. Returns: 13.22%
5-Yr. Returns: 10.06%
Expense Ratio: 0.60%
Total Assets (millions): $116,840
FP_092017_14

14. Vanguard Institutional Index I (VINIX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $155
5-Yr. Flows (millions): $3,558
1-Yr. Returns: 18.83%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.63%
Expense Ratio: 0.04%
Total Assets (millions): $227,336
FP_092017_13

13. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Inv (VBMFX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($823)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($7,198)
1-Yr. Returns: 0.79%
5-Yr. Returns: 2.12%
Expense Ratio: 0.15%
Total Assets (millions): $188,816
FP_092017_12

12. American Funds Capital Income Bldr A (CAIBX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($6,410)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($9,256)
1-Yr. Returns: 10.82%
5-Yr. Returns: 7.32%
Expense Ratio: 0.61%
Total Assets (millions): $107,450
FP_092017_11

11. American Funds Income Fund of Amer A (AMECX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($5,485)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($9,297)
1-Yr. Returns: 11.84%
5-Yr. Returns: 8.88%
Expense Ratio: 0.57%
Total Assets (millions): $108,536
FP_092017_10

10. American Funds Fundamental Invs A (ANCFX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($4,098)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($9,379)
1-Yr. Returns: 20.98%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.83%
Expense Ratio: 0.62%
Total Assets (millions): $90,370
FP_092017_09

9. Fidelity 500 Index Investor (FUSEX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($1,537)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($10,656)
1-Yr. Returns: 18.76%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.56%
Expense Ratio: 0.09%
Total Assets (millions): $123,351
FP_092017_08

8. American Funds Europacific Growth A (AEPGX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($3,299)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($13,312)
1-Yr. Returns: 20.91%
5-Yr. Returns: 8.68%
Expense Ratio: 0.85%
Total Assets (millions): $154,287
FP_092017_07

7. American Funds Washington Mutual A (AWSHX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($4,970)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($15,103)
1-Yr. Returns: 18.76%
5-Yr. Returns: 12.82%
Expense Ratio: 0.58%
Total Assets (millions): $94,347
FP_092017_06

6. Vanguard 500 Index Investor (VFINX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($3,134)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($16,975)
1-Yr. Returns: 18.70%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.50%
Expense Ratio: 0.14%
Total Assets (millions): $341,249
FP_092017_05

5. American Funds Capital World Gr&Inc A (CWGIX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($6,151)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($17,221)
1-Yr. Returns: 18.73%
5-Yr. Returns: 10.26%
Expense Ratio: 0.80%
Total Assets (millions): $94,156
FP_092017_04

4. Vanguard Wellington Inv (VWELX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($2,510)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($19,469)
1-Yr. Returns: 13.25%
5-Yr. Returns: 9.78%
Expense Ratio: 0.25%
Total Assets (millions): $101,502
FP_092017_03

3. Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx Inv (VTSMX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): $1,173
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($20,043)
1-Yr. Returns: 18.55%
5-Yr. Returns: 13.34%
Expense Ratio: 0.15%
Total Assets (millions): $603,645
FP_092017_02

2. American Funds Growth Fund of Amer A (AGTHX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($7,441)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($22,948)
1-Yr. Returns: 21.30%
5-Yr. Returns: 14.51%
Expense Ratio: 0.66%
Total Assets (millions): $168,049
FP_092017_01

1. Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX)

1-Yr. Flows (millions): ($8,504)
5-Yr. Flows (millions): ($24,853)
1-Yr. Returns: 23.98%
5-Yr. Returns: 14.18%
Expense Ratio: 0.68%
Total Assets (millions): $117,322
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