The Nobel prize. The Academy Award. Now, a new honor has joined these august ranks. I speak, of course, of the first Morningstar investment poll.

The winners were going to be announced at a star-studded gala in Beverly Hills, but Morningstar chose not to be ostentatious, and opted instead for a simple, dignified posting on the its web site.

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1st Annual Investment Poll

Winners were chosen separately by both Morningstar readers and analysts. While the two groups agreed frequently, they split on some of the key races. A result of heavy lobbying in Daily Variety?

Two former manager-of-the-year winners shared the coveted title of Fund Manager of the Decade. Morningstar analysts chose Bill Miller of Legg Mason, while the readers opted for Tom Marsico, formerly of Janus, now with his own Marsico Funds. The two are expected to wear the winner's sash on alternate weeks.

There was agreement that the Vanguard 500 Index was fund of the decade. An award was presented in absentia to the S&P 500 and the market in general.

Readers chose Janus as the fund family of the decade, while the analysts went with Vanguard. For the year, readers selected the Janus Venture fund, while the analysts chose Vanguard Capital Opportunity. Both groups agreed that Janus Global Technology was the best new fund of 1999.

In addition to picking individual winners, stories and trends also took home honors. John Bogle's exit from Vanguard was chosen as the biggest story of the year. The dubious honor of fund gimmick of the year was split between the increasing number of Internet funds (readers) and Monument's Internet fund split. 

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