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World Cup Fever...As Fund Managers Look East

15/07/2018

To great fanfare and excitement the World Cup kicks off, as grown men paid more than the GDP of Tuvalu kick an inflated pig skin around some grass in Russia. Hooray. Some considered ratings from our resident pundit in this week’s photo. Send us your World Cup questions for more expert musings and drawings!

Which fund managers do you like?

Meanwhile, we’ve been asking you what you think about your investments – what you like and what you value?

When it comes to fund managers, many of you are fans of Lindsell Train and talk about the stellar performance. Terry Smith’s Fundsmith Equity fund also gets rave reviews, and although you rightly say it’s not the cheapest, it’s a general thumbs-up on performance, hence value. Low-cost ‘passive’ house Vanguard also gets lots of positive reviews for simplicity and low charges. We recently asked independent research house Square Mile for a short list of its top fund picks and share these with you on our updated Intrepid Investor pages, also packed with both an ISA MOT and Pension MOT which are worth a quick read to make sure you’re not missing any tricks.   

Your number one bugbear? Those who cite performance figures but don’t do so after fees. In fact many of you are fed up more generally with the continued lack of disclosure about costs and want a consistent and prominent way of these being displayed. The second pet hate is the lengthy documents received in the mail which include reams of ‘BS’. Robin Angus, who runs the Personal Assets Trust, is called out for a “no BS” regular update which is beautifully brief! “Fits on an A3 page – hooray!”

Die Großßen Poohbahs

I shared lots of your feedback to a conference full of asset managers in Berlin this week as part of an update about what customers have to say and want. It does annoy me that year after year lip service is paid to making things better for customers, before the majority of the big kahunas (with some notable exceptions) slip back with relief into the ‘grown up’ economic discussions about quantitative easing and the outlook for bond prices. Ignoring who pays their fees in the first place and how they make a retail experience more than just a ‘dumbed down’ institutional one.

During the conference, there was a consistent focus on the East and China – and the growth stories are indeed compelling. China has the second largest GDP in the world and is the second biggest global stock market by market capitalisation (ie what all the shares are worth when totted up). But it is about number 70 in the ranks when you look at GDP per person, hence the emerging markets tag. Here’s a little challenge. What % of your investments are held in the UK? And if you look at the % allocation of your investments by country – how does that map to the respective global stock market weightings? Most of us will have a home bias, but with the collection of jokers in charge these days, is this an active decision based on a bullish outlook for the UK, or just sticking to your comfort zone and familiar brands? Worth a thought.

It certainly reminded me to have Emerging Markets as a decent slug of a long-term portfolio. I’ve held JP Morgan’s Emerging Market Investment Trust for ages (nearly 12% of this is with the Chinese powerhouses Tencent and Alibaba) and also have a smidge in BlackRock’s Frontier Investment Trust – but that is not for the faint hearted! Do your research and make sure this sort of investment is for a 7 year + period (in my opinion). Because the only certainty is that these investments will be volatile and will have years with a lot of red on the chart!

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Got a Question?

  • My parents (father since died) put money into Halifax 'Money Fund'. This then apparently changed to some form of 'investment'. I noted in January 2019, that a letter had been sent just under 3 years previously, advising that this was not the best place for their money. I made contact and complained. What can we do, as this money may as well have been under their mattress? It was originally mis-sold.

    Maureen | Gloucestershire | 04/04/2019 | 0

    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I have had a Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks & Shares ISA for the past 2+ years, divided into their Portfolio Plus Balanced Growth and in a mixture of shares I selected myself. While I am happy to keep the shares element, I don’t feel the managed portfolio is working for me and I could do better elsewhere. Where would you suggest I could invest for a better return? I am happy with balanced and some element of high risk. I’m 47, have two primary school age children, & live in central London. I also have a mortgage and a workplace pension.

    Jennifer | London | 20/03/2019 | 0

    • Shares
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • My Fundsmith accumulation Class 1 investment fund has done well over the last 5 years, and its share price today is just about the highest it's ever been. Should I bank it now in case it goes down, or leave it and diversify by reinvesting monthly elsewhere in another fund?

    Peter | Stockport | 18/03/2019 | 0

    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I’m 36 years old, earn £85k, and have about £40k savings in the bank, mainly in an old ISA that I’ve done nothing with. I have a five year old daughter and would like to put my savings somewhere clever so they start to do something useful by the time she starts at an independent secondary school and fees go through the roof. Any bright ideas please?

    Milly | Berkshire | 22/02/2019 | 2

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Catherine Morgan's Response

  • I've been reading recently about how investment trusts are much the same as funds, but are cheaper to own. A: Is this true? and B: Do you have an article on Investment trusts on your site?

    Nick | Surrey | 16/01/2019 | 2

    • Funds
    • Other
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • Hello, I really enjoy your website and find it useful and concise. My question is, what is meant by long term savings? I am 54, so what should I consider to be an appropriate time frame for any investment I make, that could supply the best results?

    Jennifer | Essex | 16/01/2019 | 9

    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    • Pension
    Anna Sofat's Response

  • I’ve been investing in Nutmeg’s Risk 10 profile for three years which helped my deposit for my house. I am now wondering whether to use Nutmeg again, or should I use LifeStrategy for my £1000 per month? Is there a difference between Vanguard's LifeStrategy option and let’s say a well known robo adviser like Nutmeg? I am still a beginner and would like to keep things simple, but happy to take risk and prepared to leave my investments for a long time.

    Jordan | Surrey | 26/11/2018 | 6

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Phoebe Smith's Response

  • I was lucky enough to inherit a significant sum from my father... currently in Alliance trust platform in 10 investment trusts. They have delivered well in the last 20 years. But they are UK equity based. And highly risky. Do you offer a sanity check service for confused individuals like myself? I don’t know what to do...

    Paul | Berkshire | 12/11/2018 | 2

    • Private Pension
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 25 and starting to seriously financially plan out my future. I would really welcome a 'sense check' on my thinking as well as some help on which investment choices to make. My goals are: To invest for 15 years - my risk appetite is very high (i.e. I could afford to lose all my money). Goal 1 - More Important: To have an investment pot of £1,500,000. Goal 2 - Less Important: To be mortgage free. My plan is: 1) Open an annual Stocks and Shares ISA each of the next 15 years. 2) Open Share trading/dealing account. 3) Reduce my mortgage term to 6 years by 2025. I appreciate the above is a lot to go though, but I'd welcome any help and guidance.

    Mo | London | 15/10/2018 | 3

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Shares
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    • Other
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Is there a reason you don’t list Saga in your Best Buys? Additionally, I have purchased a few investment trust shares but can’t work out how the dividends are paid. Scottish Mortgage is an example. I wasn't given an option to choose how to receive the dividends. It would be useful if you could provide some clarity on how investment trusts pay their dividends.

    Carl | Buckinghamshire | 07/09/2018 | 1

    • Shares
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Can you advise me on the best approach when looking to invest in a product that offers compound interest? I’m thinking about funds rather than bank accounts. I also have 4 different pensions on the go. Should I keep them separate to diversify the risk? Or consolidate them? How will these pensions be treated when I retire? Will they be considered in aggregate by the tax man?

    Craig | Clackmannanshire | 16/08/2018 | 1

    • Private Pension
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I have about two thirds of my ISA in funds with Charles Stanley Direct and about one third left with St James's Place. I was planning to transfer the remaining one third to Charles Stanley Direct. However the recent platform price increases seem to put me in the worst position possible. I also have a private St James's Place pension. Would I be correct in thinking the fees are also high on this, and I could do better elsewhere? Can I transfer into an SIPP for example?

    Gerry | Bedfordshire | 15/08/2018 | 5

    • Private Pension
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I invested my money in a St James's Place managed fund, split into ISAs and bonds, after advice from an adviser who was a St James's Place partner. My investments have done reasonably well, but I've read disturbing reports about St James's Place. Should I have concerns? Should I have found an independent financial adviser?

    Glyn | Essex | 09/08/2018 | 6

    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I wanted an investment trust with an income, so I put £10,000 into The Investment Company. It delivers a reliable quarterly dividend but the capital value has dropped by 10% since I invested 2 years ago. What are your favourite investment trusts?

    Fran | Greater London | 08/08/2018 | 4

    • Shares
    • Funds
    Mark Dampier's Response

  • Is there an average number of funds that one should ideally hold? I have in excess of 20. I am happy with my portfolio and coverage, but wonder if I have too many funds. The second part to the question is how long should you leave an underperforming fund?

    Richard | Hertfordshire | 06/08/2018 | 3

    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I'm 24 and would like to begin investing. Am I better off using a robo advisor such as Wealthify/Wealthsimple or a fund such as Vanguard LifeStrategy?

    Amanda | Greater London | 06/08/2018 | 6

    • Shares
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 73 and cautious. There are two areas that your advice would be helpful..what if you just spend thousands on buying the gold standard footsie companies like shell and the rest and keep them for five years and then cash them in ?

    DB | UK | 24/07/2018 | 6

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    • Pension
    Holly's Response

  • I hope you can help. I recently consolidated two modest pensions into a SIPP in readiness to start UPFLS drawdown in May (2018). Whilst I was hoping for growth in my investments I wasn’t expecting it to rocket and now find I could well be looking at exceeding the lifetime allowance, possibly even before my first annual drawdown in May, and I’m unsure what, if anything, I should do.

    John | LDN | 03/07/2018 | 1

    • Private Pension
    • Funds
    Richard Allum, MD of The Paraplanners's Response

  • What are the differences between income and accumulation income funds? How do you declare income reinvested in a fund on your tax return?

    C | 05/06/2018 | 0

    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I would like to open a Junior shares ISA for my Grandson for about £50/month. How do I go about it and can you recommend some reliable companies?

    Roger | Surrey | 26/04/2018 | 2

    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    Founder and CEO's Response

  • Can you recommend some very basic books for a 69-year-old widow who is now having to manage her money? Thanks

    Martha | 12/04/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    • Funds
    Helena Wardle, Chartered Financial Planner, Sterling and Law's Response

  • I just found your web site (recommended in Andy Bell's book on Do It Yourself investing). Could you say why you do not review Halifax Share Dealing in your list of ISA providers? Is there anything wrong with this ISA provider for you not to include it?

    Gerald | 11/04/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    Dr Richard Bradley's Response

  • Hi, I've got an old D.B. pension, approximate value £12k. I would like to invest & top up each month. Who would you recommend? Also I would like to make an investment, & don't know where to start? Thanks

    Eve | 04/04/2018 | 5

    • Funds
    • Pension
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I am post-divorce with a good settlement which I have only partially invested. Are there any courses you can recommend? I have sat in a number of meetings with accountants and financial advisers feeling somewhat patronised! I am sure that there are plenty of women in a similar position to me (aged 55!).

    Ellie | 14/03/2018 | 3

    • Shares
    • Funds
    • GIA
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • How can I find a good financial adviser?

    Byron | Greater London | 01/03/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am in the very lucky position of just having received a gift of £800k which I want to invest for our retirement. My husband and I are in our late 40s and aim to retire in around five years. We have 11 more years of school fees to fund, then hopefully university fees for two after that. I've put together a plan for us - can you have a look and see if it makes sense?

    Fiona | UK | 18/01/2018 | 6

    • Private Pension
    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    • Cash
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • We have four grandchildren (2 English living in UK, and 2 Irish living in Eire). We have decided to start savings plans for their futures. Their ages are 18yrs, 11yrs, 8yrs and 4yrs respectively. My age is 75yrs, and my wife is a little older. What should we do, please?

    John | BKM | 01/01/2018 | 1

    • Junior ISA
    • Lifetime ISA
    • Shares
    • Funds
    Martin's Response

  • Given the recent poor performance in Woodford Equity Income, do you think I should sell it or wait for the fund to recover?

    Jenna | Cornwall | 17/12/2017 | 3

    • Funds
    Mark Dampier's Response

  • How do I start investing, buy stocks, bitcoins, etc with £100.00?

    Claudette | BDF | 18/11/2017 | 1

    • Shares
    • Other
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am a 59 yr old retired lady with no income but I have reasonable equity..is it worth starting a pension or is it too late?

    LL | NFK | 10/11/2017 | 2

    • Private Pension
    • Shares
    • Pension
    Cherry Reynard's Response

  • I am getting long in the tooth at 79, a little forgetful and I am going through a painful divorce. This has shattered my confidence and I need help.

    Richard | Kent | 05/11/2017 | 3

    • Private Pension
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I have just sold my house and have a significant sum of money I want to invest. I may want to draw some income but also want to achieve capital growth. Are there funds that aim to achieve both or should I just invest for growth and draw money as I need to for income?

    Jon | SRY | 13/09/2017 | 1

    • Funds
    Peter Matthew's Response

  • I have a delightful 12 year old daughter and she has just opened her first bank account. I am dreadful with money but I would like to know what I should teach her so that she does not pick up my bad financial habits. Do you have some top tips of things to teach our children so they are wise and responsible with money please?

    Louise | Greater London | 11/09/2017 | 1

    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    • Cash
    Lesley James's Response

  • I am interested in the Fund piece that Holly refers to in today's Money Supplement in the ST’s with 'Lindsell Train Global Equity'. I am looking for a fund for myself (54 yrs old) but also my son (19 yrs old). Is this fund suitable for either of us with an investment strategy of 10 years +.

    Richard | 22/01/2017 | 0

    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am confused about index funds, e.g. Vanguard Equity fund. Do they track an index or include the yield? In the case of Vanguard, their low cost is attractive but their portfolio is made up of other Vanguard funds. I assume these probably each carry a fee structure - is this correct?

    Robin | Gloucestershire | 03/09/2018 | 0

    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Mark Dampier's Response

  • Is it worth using a financial adviser when it comes to switching pensions funds, or should I do the research and pick the funds myself? I am no expert in stocks and shares.

    Helen | Dorset | 10/08/2018 | 4

    • Private Pension
    • Shares
    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I am looking for a fund for myself (54 yrs old) but also my son (19 yrs old). Is this fund suitable for either of us with an investment strategy of 10 years +.

    | 29/05/2018 | 3

    • Robo Adviser
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I use H&L and although they are a bit 'plumy' on the phone I quite like their website and the costs are OK. So I was thinking of H&L for [my son]. I would be telling him to open these two funds and regularly invest and forget about them for 10 years!

    R | Greater London | 29/05/2018 | 1

    • Lifetime ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Given the recent poor performance in Woodford Equity Income, do you think I should sell it or wait for the fund to recover?

    | 29/05/2018 | 0

    • Funds
    Boring Money's Response

  • I have a bit of excess money to play around with and I have been looking at Investment funds. What is the typical % growth rate of an investment fund?

    David | Greater London | 07/09/2017 | 7

    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Cherry Reynard's Response

  • Should I be even thinking about the stock market?

    Lysa | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 0

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Shares
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • What funds could my millennial children invest in?

    Anthony | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 2

    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response