What hedge funds are, core strategies, how they charge fees, who can invest, and how they fit in diversified portfolios.
Hedge funds are private vehicles with broad investment flexibility: long and short positions, derivatives, leverage, and exposure across global markets. Many target absolute or risk‑adjusted returns rather than index tracking.
Fee structures have evolved from the classic "2 and 20" toward lower management fees, performance hurdles, and loyalty share classes. Access typically requires accredited or qualified status given complexity and liquidity provisions.
Adding diversifying, low‑beta or uncorrelated hedge fund exposures can improve the portfolio's risk‑adjusted return, particularly during dispersion‑rich regimes.