Clean& Simple vs. Latest& Greatest

NY Times had a good piece this weekend on Professor Burton Malkiel's newest book " The Elements of Investing". The article says Malkiel advocates index funds as the "cleanest,simplest way to invest" and we would agree. He also makes the point that wealthy investors are often hurt by chasing the latest,greatest investment . God knows that is true.

That article quotes some detractors as well . There are many of course as only about 15% of stock investments are through index funds. That means 85% are still trying to out-select and out-time the market despite decades of contrary evidence.