MarketWatch

The No. 1 reason to buy index funds

Lots of financial writers correctly praise index funds for their low costs, low turnover, low drama, massive and easy diversification, and numerous other attributes. If Wall Street knows you’re committed to index funds, you’ll probably drop to the bottom (where you want to be, I assure you) of cold-call lists used by security salespeople looking for business. The reason is obvious: The paltry expenses paid by index-fund investors will never be enough to satisfy Wall Street’s seemingly insatiable need for hefty sales commissions, fancy offices, expense-paid trips, sky-high salaries and other perks.