Civil service pension and short term contract

asw32

I've just started working for the Civil Service on a one-year contract.
I've been sent all the pension literature and I'm not sure about the best options for me in these circumstances.

Because it's a short-term contract, I have to go for the Partnership option (rather than Nuvos), but I don't know what to do about which type of fund to invest in.

As it is just a one year, I want to maximise the income this year as it'll then be transferred over to my new pension when I leave (is that right - the money invested/gained is simply transferred when leaving jobs?).

I had planned to invest it all in commodities as i thought they would have a good year with stock/property market uncertaintity, but looking through the options from all 3 providers, it's all just bonds and equities.

Has anyone got any recommendations on what will give me the best perforamnce over the next 12 months, and which fund to go for?
At the moment, I'm debating going for the safest, cash-based option simply to ensure my investments don't actually shrink - but if I can have some 'profit', then all the better.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone can offer.
Cheers,
A

DavidLaGuardia

asw32 wrote: »

(is that right - the money invested/gained is simply transferred when leaving jobs?).

No you can leave it frozen (to accrue growth) and take a long term view.

asw32 wrote: »

I had planned to invest it all in commodities as i thought they would have a good year with stock/property market uncertaintity, but looking through the options from all 3 providers, it's all just bonds and equities.

Commodities are vey high risk usually accounting for 3-7% of an average portfolio. Unless you are Mr Gung-ho himself and willing to gamble, this would be foolhardy

asw32 wrote: »

Has anyone got any recommendations on what will give me the best perforamnce over the next 12 months, and which fund to go for?
At the moment, I'm debating going for the safest, cash-based option simply to ensure my investments don't actually shrink - but if I can have some 'profit', then all the better.

If you are only taking a 12 month view in any market circumtances cash is always the best option. But it may or may not be a good idea to take only a 12 month view since it can be left (and even if it transferred it could be moved from and to similar investments) . While accepting that the ride will be bumpy, buying equities when they are unpopular might be a good idea. Not having a crystal ball a balanced mixture of investments is often the way forward, but given that we are in volatiule times why not do it gradually from cash rather than investing all at once.