There are two reasons to use an active management firm. The first is that an experienced and trained manager can find market inefficiencies to help you increase your rate of return beyond the average rate of return of the market without having to take on excessive risk. The second is that beyond an increase in return, a good portfolio manger will help you with many other aspects of your financial well being such as: tax implications of sales, assistance in selecting associated field professionals such as a CPA, estate planner, etc, and divorcing emotion from financial decisions.