I realize we don't have a mutual/hedge fund section but realize this is probably the best place to ask the question. In your mind, which funds/managers have a consistent record of turning a dime? Let's say I'd like to maximize my "passive gains". I'm more interested in those funds where small time players have a chance of entering w/o needing 200k+. Discussion on fees, strategies, ROI, sectors, etc... welcome.
Vanguard has low fees and uses a target retirement date to balance your risk profile out. If you just want a portion of your paycheck to go to one place where you don't have to think about it. I think it's $10k minimum to avoid the flat-dollar fee. BRK.B wouldn't be a bad way to approach that either. It's basically a mutual fund with a profitable insurance operation behind it. That said, given your knowledge about stocks, why not take a crack at it yourself? My personal investing account blows my IRA and 401(k) out of the water (except on tax efficiency). Motley Fool (fool.com) is a good source for ideas and fundamental analysis.
I think I'm mostly looking out for my IRA/401K contributions and/or looking at "safer" angles where I'm not baby sitting as much.