In our wealth-worshipping world, it’s hardly surprising that the term “hedge fund” pops up everywhere, from our daily news feeds to television dramas to rap lyrics. But what are hedge funds? And what do they actually do for investors? A hedge fund is an investment pool funded by a limited number of investors. Under the watchful eyes of a professional manager, a hedge fund invests its capital into vehicles that are expected to generate the strongest-possible returns. And, experts note, the funds tend to reflect the particular manager’s investment philosophy.