Do Funds-of-Funds Deserve Their Fees-on-Fees? (2024)

Since the after-fee returns of funds-of-funds are, on average, lower than hedge fund returns, it is easy to conclude that funds-of-funds do not add value compared to hedge funds. However, funds-of-funds should not be evaluated relative to hedge fund returns in publicly reported databases. Instead, the correct fund-of-funds benchmark is the set of direct hedge fund investments an investor could achieve on her own without recourse to funds-of-funds. We use asset allocation concepts to estimate characteristics of the fund-of-funds benchmark distribution. Since the benchmark characteristics are reasonable, we conclude that funds-of-funds, on average, deserve their fees-on-fees.

Do Funds-of-Funds Deserve Their Fees-on-Fees? (2024)

FAQs

Do Funds-of-Funds Deserve Their Fees-on-Fees? ›

Since the benchmark characteristics are reasonable, we conclude that funds-of-funds, on average, deserve their fees-on-fees.

What is the typical fee structure for a fund of fund? ›

A typical FoF fee would be “1 and 5”, which means a 1% management fee on your investment plus a 5% performance fee on the gains from the investment. Similar to individual funds, most FoFs also have to meet a certain hurdle rate in order to receive their share of the performance fee, also known as 'carried interest'.

What are the advantages of funds of funds? ›

Fund of Funds Advantages

Typically, FOFs attract small investors who want to get better exposure with fewer risks compared to directly investing in securities—or even in individual funds. Investing in a FOF gives the investor professional wealth management services and expertise.

What is an acceptable fee for a fund to charge? ›

‍Advisor (Management) Fees

The industry typically refers to this as an investment management fee and averages between 1-2% of assets (i.e. A $100,000 investment could cost you between $1,000 - $2,000 annually).

What is the risk of a fund of funds? ›

An FOF spreads out risk. Whereas owning one mutual fund reduces risk by owning several stocks, an FOF spreads risk among hundreds or even thousands of stocks contained in the mutual funds it invests in. FOFs also provide the opportunity to reduce the risk of investing with a single fund manager.

What are the expenses of a fund of funds? ›

It is calculated as a percentage of the total assets of the fund. SEBI has also segregated the FoFs based on their underlying schemes and has put a cap on the expense ratio that these funds can charge. For instance, FoFs that invest mainly in the liquid, index, and ETF schemes can charge a maximum of 1%.

What type of fund usually has the most fees? ›

Mutual funds often come with higher fees than ETFs because they are used to pay fund managers, among other expenses. But for the individual investor, that fee can compound into a large amount of money.

What are the disadvantages of funds of funds? ›

Disadvantages of investing in FOFs

These cumulative expenses can eat into overall returns, potentially reducing the net gains for investors. Potential over-diversification: While diversification is a key advantage, excessive diversification within FOFs could lead to over-diversification.

What is the difference between fund of funds and manager of managers? ›

A manager of managers approach is typically used within institutional investment programs. It differs from a fund of funds strategy since it involves comprehensive investment programs and not individual investment fund products.

What is the difference between feeder fund and fund of funds? ›

A feeder fund is a type of investment fund that does the majority of its investments through a master fund, using a master feeder relationship. It is similar to a strategy called fund of funds, but the main difference is that the master fund does all the investing.

Do all funds have fees? ›

All funds have ongoing expenses that you will pay as long as you have an investment in the fund. Some funds also require that you pay a sales commission when you buy, sell, or exchange the fund.

How do funds charge fees? ›

Funds typically pay their regular and recurring, fund-wide operating expenses out of fund assets, rather than by imposing separate fees and charges directly on investors. (Keep in mind, however, that because these expenses are paid out of fund assets, investors are paying them indirectly.)

What is a good fund fee? ›

Key Takeaways

A reasonable expense ratio for an actively managed portfolio is about 0.5% to 0.75%, while an expense ratio greater than 1.5% is typically considered high these days. For passive funds, the average expense ratio is about 0.12%.

Do fund of funds charge double fees? ›

The most serious one is the double fees. In addition to the management fee and carried interest charged by the PE firms (traditionally 2% and 20%), a PE fund of funds also charges management fees and carry.

What is the fee for fund of funds? ›

FOF managers charge a 0.5% to 1.0% annual management fee, with some taking a minor portion of the carried interest (“carry”) in the 5.0% to 10.0% range. The fund of funds fees are placed on top of the fees charged by the underlying active fund managers that typically charge fees in the following ranges.

Is a fund of funds good? ›

Ideally, investors with relatively fewer resources and low liquidity needs can choose to invest in the top fund of funds available in the market. This enables them to earn maximum returns at minimal risk.

What is a typical fund performance fee? ›

Understanding Performance Fees

A "2 and 20" annual fee structure—a management fee of 2% of the fund's net asset value and a performance fee of 20% of the fund's profits—is a standard practice among hedge funds.

What is the average cost of fund management? ›

Management fees and costs – the fees and costs for managing your investment. It is typically between 0.5% and 2.5% per year. It's deducted from your account balance.

What is a typical fund structure? ›

Types of Fund Structures

Two of the more popular types are venture capital (VC) funds and fund-of-funds, though there are many more, including hedge funds. These different fund structures exist to support different types of investment.

References

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