Low-cost index funds are a great way to invest in the market, giving you a diversified fund with low expenses. Index funds ...

New college graduates may not have much if any savings, but there is no time to waste in starting to think about investing for retirement.

For years, passive index funds have dominated the mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) industries, much to the chagrin of active managers. A big part of the appeal comes down to cost.

They track an index with the aim of replicating that index’s performance minus expenses. Active funds, meanwhile, are led by managers who choose particular securities to outperform an index.