Can You buy shares in the FTSE as a whole

dunstonh

Problem is though how to identify the funds that don't under perform compared to an index. Not asking how pick the top 10% funds as that seems to be 90% luck IMO.

It's not about trying to pick the right fund but trying to pick the right objectives to suit future potential. FTSE100 trackers spent the last 10 years in the bottom 10% of funds. So, it would have been just as hard to pick a fund in that was going to do that as it is to pick one that was going to be in the top 10%. Indeed, probably harder as you more or less know which ones aren't going to be in the top half.

However, as far as I can see Hargreaves Lansdowne includes some of the retail banks in it's recommendations.

HL doesnt make any recommendations. There are not many fund houses run by a bank that offer very good funds. A few will appear from time to time but generally you find banks are not very good with investments and insurance companies too with the exception of fixed interest and property funds. Passive managed funds, by their nature will tend to finish mid table consistently. This is why trackers with the same objectives will nearly always beat them.

You have to be a little wary of stats that quote periods of 15 or 20 years or longer because the range of funds available today and the niche areas that you can choose are nothing like what was around in the past. Back then the biggest selling funds tended to be balanced managed funds. By their very nature they would under perform FTSE trackers because they are lower risk and have downside protection.

cepheus

dunstonh wrote: »

HL doesnt make any recommendations.

Well is sure sounds like it to me
http://www.h-l.co.uk/funds/Mark-Dampiers-Wealth-150

In fact they even do share tips!
http://www.h-l.co.uk/shares/Share-tips

Actively managed UK funds recommended by Hargreaves Lansdown include M&G Recovery, Schroder Alpha Plus and Axa Framlington UK Select Opportunities. The best value All-Share tracker on the market is from Fidelity - its MoneyBuilder UK fund charges 0.1% a year but its TER is just 0.3%.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/investing/article.html?in_article_id=451023&in_page_id=166

sabretoothtigger

Share research from Hargreaves Lansdown


Press tips from ShareCast

we believe these are superior alternatives.

is that a tip


SL is listed there and hl havent tipped them afaik or anything else. But isnt Lansdown also a hedge fund that shorted barclays in Jan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/01/recession-british-banking-recovery

dunstonh

Well is sure sounds like it to me
http://www.h-l.co.uk/funds/Mark-Dampiers-Wealth-150

Its not advice. Its opinion. Some do feel that HL push the boundaries here a bit as many take it as advice and the FOS have said before that on execution only cases that even a nod towards a fund or product would stop the transaction being classed as execution only. The Wealth 150 is a pretty obvious nod.

Although they do say that the funds are not a recommendation and when you look back at old lists, you can see that they more or less follow what is selling well at the moment mixed in with what is fashionable.

cepheus

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

Share research from Hargreaves Lansdown Press tips from ShareCast

is that a tip

SL is listed there and hl havent tipped them afaik or anything else. But isnt Lansdown also a hedge fund that shorted barclays in Jan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/01/recession-british-banking-recovery

I think Lansdowne Partners is a entirely different company to Hargreaves Lansdowne

www.lansdownepartners.com

barny_100

dunstonh wrote: »

It's not about trying to pick the right fund but trying to pick the right objectives to suit future potential. FTSE100 trackers spent the last 10 years in the bottom 10% of funds. So, it would have been just as hard to pick a fund in that was going to do that as it is to pick one that was going to be in the top 10%. Indeed, probably harder as you more or less know which ones aren't going to be in the top half.

Fair enough, understand your point about picking individual funds vs sector/objective. Problem is this is where the "guesswork" comes in. I know research etc can make a difference but it is still a gamble to a degree. Not complaining as I understand that and am prepared for that risk. If there's no downside there's no upside and vice versa. Doesn't make it any more fun though hey? Get it wrong and it's my money I've thrown away.

FLEX24

Everyone is talking about charges but I have some "shares" in an ETF called FTSE 100 ETF '1D' (epic XUKX), no charges and no stamp duty either. They trade like shares but I dont expect any dividends. Is this what Tim Nicholas is looking for??