SIPP, Hargreaves Lansdown and Funds

simondo

dunstonh wrote:

recommending funds is a breach of board rules and would also be a breach of FSA rules. You are going execution only so you have to pick them yourself. You know your risk profile better than we do.

Forgive me but I think I worded the question wrongly. I plan to choose my own funds but I was wondering by how much I should spread the funds I choose out, ie put £12500 each in 2 funds or £5000 each in 5 funds or £1000 each in 25 funds for example.

margaretclare

Hi Simon

I would suggest £5K in 5 funds, but have a look at Mark Dampier's 'Wealth 150' - a list of the 150 funds which he picks out of the thousands of others.

I am no expert and wouldn't dream of giving 'advice' even if it was allowed! H-L do provide a lot of very useful and interesting information.

£5K in 5 funds rather than £1000 in 25 would give you some 'economies of scale'. Purely a personal observation!

Margaret

simondo

Thanks Margaret

I have been actively researching my fund choices from several sources but just wanted have a few opinions on how to proportion the actual money.

Very much appreciated

Simon

dunstonh

when you pick your funds, you pick the spread to match your risk profile. The amount you put into each fund and sector will depend on your risk profile.

A wide spread of funds gives good diversification and the higher the risk you are, the wider the spread you want. Especially in the global specialist and emerging markets sectors.

EdInvestor

This is a very good website for checking the best performers in the various categories of funds:

https://www.citywire.co.uk/Funds/Home.aspx

If you look at those in the top 10 over 1,3,5 and 10 years, you should find the consistently good performers.

simondo

Thanks all who helped me out and I found the citywire link very useful as well.

I look forward to discussing further monetary issues with you all in the future

Simon

competitionscafe

Couple more sites useful for fund research, etc

http://www.allenbridge.co.uk/pdfs/isadirect30.pdf

http://www.bestinvest.co.uk/
Gives funds a star rating - 5* is highest rating. One of the few discount brokers that covers investment trusts as well.

http://www.morningstar.co.uk/

dipswitch

Just been looking through some of the comments, and enjoying them for the first time. My favourite site for fund research where you can also manage portfolios of trusts is http://www.morningstar.co.uk . it covers some 4000 odd funds and provides the best fund research tools I have found, unless you want to start paying for the privilege. I use it for all my HL SIPP and ISA fund selections

Peterj_3

Hi All,

Thread has been a little quiet & I was wondering if there have been any developments.

Was looking to use HL (use them already for Non SIPP) but have seen 'dunstonh' comments that using an IFA could be a cheaper option.

I generally use HL only for Unit Trusts so it is specifically for these that I am looking for in a SIPP.
(I respect dunstonh's comments that a good IFA can provide better advice than an amateur - however past experience has shown me that unless there is some incentive -over & beyond the anual trail commision - then NOBODY really follows up after initial investment)

If I understand correctly I should be able to find an IFA who can discount the initial charges to a similar level to HL + rebate a portion of the trail commision (using the Selestia/Skandia system?)

- Can anyone point me in the direction of such an IFA? or how I could find them (working backwards from Selestia ?)

I also read recently that Selestia are in the process of revamping their system to allow direct access by the individuals invested therein - does this include swithing between funds?


Thanks for any pointers

KR

PJ

EagerLearner

Hi all, are HL still good for SIPP's - and has their portfolio area improved any?