Which Funds?

ricky.patel89

First State Indian Subcontinent A GBP Acc
Henderson Global Technology A Net Acc
Invesco Perpetual High Income Acc
JPM Natural Resources A Acc
Standard Life Inv UK Smaller Companies Ret Acc

Sorry to bring up the old thread. I never got around to investing in the original funds. I'm looking at investing in these five for my S&S ISA. Any opinions?

BrazilianBull

It looks the situation in Brazil is improving. The Brazilian Government has announced that they will cut tax for foreign investors for infrastructure investments.

Since my last reply I reduced my position in the Aberdeen Emerging Markets Accumulation and increased my positions in the natural resources and agriculture. With a scenario of high inflation, those funds look more stable.

sheslookinhot

ricky.patel89 wrote: »

First State Indian Subcontinent A GBP Acc
Henderson Global Technology A Net Acc
Invesco Perpetual High Income Acc
JPM Natural Resources A Acc
Standard Life Inv UK Smaller Companies Ret Acc

Sorry to bring up the old thread. I never got around to investing in the original funds. I'm looking at investing in these five for my S&S ISA. Any opinions?

What is your strategy ?
What aspects of these funds appeal to you ?
How much diversification do they bring ?
What is the risk profile of each one ?
What is your risk profile ?

Based on your eagerness to get opinions here, should you not really seek the opinion of a professional IFA ?

or alternatively, just pick the ones you mention ?

Newbie2saving

Out of interest why have you altered your initial fund choice to the ones you have now? From personal experience I have found you will continue to alter your portfolio as external influences will change your decisions. Markets, media, forums etc. Research is fundametal, but it can get confusing!

Totton

ricky.patel89 wrote: »

First State Indian Subcontinent A GBP Acc
Henderson Global Technology A Net Acc
Invesco Perpetual High Income Acc
JPM Natural Resources A Acc
Standard Life Inv UK Smaller Companies Ret Acc

Sorry to bring up the old thread. I never got around to investing in the original funds. I'm looking at investing in these five for my S&S ISA. Any opinions?

Hi Ricky,
These are all good funds but I have doubts that they sit well together. You have to go with your own instincts on this, from the thread I gather you are looking very long term and would be okay with a significant fall in the value of your investment, if so then go with the above. Personally I would be looking at least ditching the Henderson fund unless I thought Tech was a better bet than say Latin America, Russia or Asia etc.

With £5,100 to invest I would start off with building my 'core' holding, perhaps firstly going 100% for Jupiter Merlin Worldwide or their Growth fund. Okay these are fund of funds and incur around a 1% of extra charges but for a new investor they get you well diversified from the start, future investments can then start to take 'sector bets' if you wish to increase risk.

HTH,
Mickey

StevieJ

ricky.patel89 wrote: »

Anyone got any other ideas? They will be much appreciated.

First State funds for EM and Asia are quite good as they tend to go for defensive companies in high risk areas, Neptune have done well in Eastern Europe and seem clued up, Artemis Strategic assets has been performing well of late and may provide some cover if we have a market downturn. But as others have said it is your choice.

StevieJ

Newbie2saving wrote: »

Out of interest why have you altered your initial fund choice to the ones you have now? From personal experience I have found you will continue to alter your portfolio as external influences will change your decisions. Markets, media, forums etc. Research is fundametal, but it can get confusing!

I hate changing my portfolio, I always think that when I sell the fund will rise. It has happened this year, I sold that great fund Standard Life smaller companies because I thought the austerity measures would affect smaller companies disproportionately, result = up well over 30% in the past 6 months I suppose the cuts have not yet bitten and the fund could struggle next year.

Newbie2saving

StevieJ wrote: »

I hate changing my portfolio, I always think that when I sell the fund will rise. It has happened this year, I sold that great fund Standard Life smaller companies because I thought the austerity measures would affect smaller companies disproportionately, result = up well over 30% in the past 6 months I suppose the cuts have not yet bitten and the fund could struggle next year.

Sorry I didn't make myself clear as I should have said you will constantly alter your 'virtual portfolio' in the early stages whilst doing research as a new investor. I meant prior to making the investment. As a new investor there is just so much to learn!

teddy_ruckspin

guys just reading this and wondering why no one has suggested making investments in individual shares within Ricky's S&S ISA?

This is something I'm debating with myself now, after a year or so making monthly investments into my H-L Vantage S&S ISA.

Is it true to say the costs (dealing costs) generally work out lower than holding a selection of funds with annual charges around the 1.5% mark?

thanks
TR.

masonic

teddy_ruckspin wrote: »

Is it true to say the costs (dealing costs) generally work out lower than holding a selection of funds with annual charges around the 1.5% mark?

Cheapest dealing cost per trade seems to be around the £6 mark. Supposing you have a portfolio of say 10 shares and you combine an annual lump sum contribution and rebalancing so as to cut it down to 10-15 trades per year, then you would be looking at a breakeven of about £5000, above which dealing costs could work out cheaper.

I don't know if trying to stick to 10-15 trades per year is realistic or sensible. As your portfolio grows in value, the shares route looks more cost-effective, but I think investing directly in shares requires a slightly different mindset to investing in funds, so it isn't something to decide on purely on the basis of charges.