Because VTSAX doesn't come with an active manager, it can afford to have a much lower expense ratio (which can often be as high as 2% for some actively managed mutual funds). So with VTSAX you'd actually be getting a higher return than most other funds, at a lower overall cost.

Are Vanguard index funds actively managed?

Vanguard index funds use a passively managed index-sampling strategy to track a benchmark index. ... Vanguard is the largest issuer of mutual funds in the world and the second-largest issuer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). John Bogle, Vanguard's founder, began the first index fund, which tracked the S&P 500 in 1975.

How do you tell if a mutual fund is actively managed?

If you want to check whether your funds are actively or passively managed, just search through the company's list of ETF's or index funds to see which are on the list.