The Gensler Twins: Identical? Don't You Believe It

The Gensler twins are like the proverbial peas in a pod, only more so. They are a 99.99% molecular match. Their slight builds and receding hairlines are carbon copies. But as mirror-image siblings--who occur in only one of every 1,000 twin births--they also have distinct differences. The phenomenon produces such traits as hair whorls, or fingerprints that twist in opposite directions. In the Genslers, one is left-handed and parts his hair on the right (Robert). The other is right-handed and parts his hair on the left (Gary).

But there's more here than meets the eye. The 45-year-olds' views on politics and business couldn't be further apart. Democrat Gary, the elder by three minutes, is co-author of The Great Mutual Fund Trap: An Investment Recovery Plan, which lambastes the $6 trillion industry for perpetuating the myth of the Star Manager. Its main premise: The notion that actively managed funds can beat the market through deft stock selection is a hoax. And fees are too high. He says that investors are better off buying funds that track an index, such as the Wilshire 5000. The "trap" is believing that anyone can deliver above-average returns.