Santander Balanced Portfolio

The_Pixi

Hi,

Wondering what some of the more seasoned investors here think of this fund.

I got into it April 09 and have seen a nice return, but Im curious if I got lucky and that this fund has grown about as much as is most likely.

Recently it's grown fast and will burst the £2 barrier I got in at £1.43.

I'm thinking of closing and taking the profit, using said gains to experiment with other funds with a negligible loss to me (it's just the previous profit) if they don't perform.

Anyone think that's barking?

JasX

Are you accessing it in a way that avoids the usual fees (eg online reputable fund supermarket like HL rather than going via a bank/other party thats taking 4-5% upfront).

I'd suggest diversification as the way to go. Perhaps leave that fund and start putting into different funds -a spread of low medium and high risk funds with a % split between to match your circumstances, age and risk appetite -but should have a % in all categories even if its a modest one.

I see no reason for the santander fund to collapse in the near future.

Struggling to locate the specific fund tho... all the santander funds I can find with similar names are in the £1.30-£1.60 range

dunstonh

Wondering what some of the more seasoned investors here think of this fund.

Nothing unexpected really. Relatively short history and consistently underperformed sector average just as you would expect a bank fund to do. Its quite an expensive fund as well for a bog standard balanced managed fund.

Recently it's grown fast and will burst the £2 barrier I got in at £1.43.

What is your definition of recent. Its 4th quartile in 3 months, 3rd quartile in 6 months and 4th quartile over 1 year. Statistically picking a fund from random in that sector would have stood more chance of ending up with better. (sorry).

'm thinking of closing and taking the profit, using said gains to experiment with other funds with a negligible loss to me (it's just the previous profit) if they don't perform.
Anyone think that's barking?

Your choice of this fund was pretty poor. Would your future choices be better? Certainly there is easy justification for getting out of that fund into something better and cheaper. However, it would be very easy to get into worse if you start going with random fund selections or fashion investing rather than a bog standard balanced managed fund (which may be dire in its own sector but at least you cant do much damage with it).

The_Pixi

JasX wrote: »

Are you accessing it in a way that avoids the usual fees (eg online reputable fund supermarket like HL rather than going via a bank/other party thats taking 4-5% upfront).

I'd suggest diversification as the way to go. Perhaps leave that fund and start putting into different funds -a spread of low medium and high risk funds with a % split between to match your circumstances, age and risk appetite -but should have a % in all categories even if its a modest one.

I see no reason for the santander fund to collapse in the near future.

Struggling to locate the specific fund tho... all the santander funds I can find with similar names are in the £1.30-£1.60 range

No it's via Santander directly but there is no upfront fee and the ter is just under 2%

The fund is called the stander balanced portfolio ret acc.

I have been looking toward H&L via a link on this site as a place to take my profit to.

sabretoothtigger

Whats in the fund

that this fund has grown about as much as is most likely.

Sounds like a bus route, surely it could do anything. It can keep going up forever if its invested and managed well , or it could down sideways or completely collapse hard to say

Best thing to do is to look elsewhere for a better ( a market more likely to grow at a faster rate) investment, compare the two then transfer some or all of the proceeds of your sale. I dont advise switching to cash completely any more then I'd say never sell

Recently it's grown fast and will burst the £2 barrier I got in at £1.43.

40% is good but not exceptional as april 2009 just happened to be a good time for your entry. If you think everything is going down again, make a staggered entry not all in one

Newbie2saving

Lots of posts on this forum recommending H-L as a fund provider. I am one of those, I'm very happy with the service and online system and the way they rebate a lot of the initial charges. Also if incorporated into the Vantage S&S ISA, tax free. Easy to set up and they are really helpful over the phone if you are unsure of anything. Good luck.

The_Pixi

dunstonh wrote: »

Nothing unexpected really. Relatively short history and consistently underperformed sector average just as you would expect a bank fund to do. Its quite an expensive fund as well for a bog standard balanced managed fund.



What is your definition of recent. Its 4th quartile in 3 months, 3rd quartile in 6 months and 4th quartile over 1 year. Statistically picking a fund from random in that sector would have stood more chance of ending up with better. (sorry).



Your choice of this fund was pretty poor. Would your future choices be better? Certainly there is easy justification for getting out of that fund into something better and cheaper. However, it would be very easy to get into worse if you start going with random fund selections or fashion investing rather than a bog standard balanced managed fund (which may be dire in its own sector but at least you cant do much damage with it).

I got into via the bank but my 3.5k has returned 1.5k in under 2 years so not that bad but I'm thinking it could maybe better. I'm interested which funds you think would be better if this is a poor choice

It was random, but as I made a good return and have been looking about, and Im wondering about getting the profit working for me. I'd like to invest it in high risk funds as I'd like to go for the greater return

sabretoothtigger

I'd like to invest it in high risk funds as I'd like to go for the greater return

Asia Pacific is the best high risk but actually low risk high performer and low cost tracker I know of. Lots of places cover it for various costs and plans.

do you not have any personal views of what in the world deserves more development. What personal purchases of yours have gone up in price that you would not do without

at least you cant do much damage with it

a bad choice in the right sector is the best mistake to make :laugh:

The_Pixi

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

40% is good but not exceptional as april 2009 just happened to be a good time for your entry. If you think everything is going down again, make a staggered entry not all in one

That's what I thought, as a novice I happened to pick just about the best time as everything was low, most of climb over the last years I have put down to a recovery of different elements.

This is why now I'm looking to see what people say, as I have made a profit and realised it was blind luck. What I do with the profit is where the no risk learning can be applied.

sabretoothtigger

A High risk investment is Santander themselves according to the market. That means they relatively 'cheap'.
It is just one single company but its one of the largest in the world and they have banks from Poland to Brazil so theres a growth potential.
You could look for a fund that features them maybe and see if the rest fits, trustnet will show fund details and companies held within them

Newbie2saving

As a new investor I have used the usual tools, reading material - bought a few books from Amazon, online research such as trustnet, morningstar, H-L. Once you have chosen a fund or more use the x-ray tool on morningstar to see if your portfolio overlaps any sectors / companies etc. There is a lot to learn (I still feel like a total rabbit in the headlights), but I am really enjoying watching the markets and investing in areas which I feel will perform well in the future (yet aware that it is all a risk as I am looking at emerging markets).