Aegon Universal Balanced Collection

guitarman001

http://www.aegonse.co.uk/funds/downloads/client-pen-univbalcollection.pdf

Due to start work with a new employer soon, and the default fund for pensions is the above. Looking at the performance, it seems pretty dire and gets a low rating on trustnet. I really don't have the time (nor inclination any more) to trawl through the different funds available. Basically the group AMC is 0.6% and since the above is not 'managed' as such (am I talking rubbish here) the rate is lower than that of better performing funds such as 'Newton Balanced Managed.'

Basically, I don't want to put my cash into a duffer just because everybody else is. If only there were a Vanguard fund there... I plan on speaking to the pensions consultant, but is there anything you guys would like to add? The Aegon funds don't seem as great as the ones I had available with Aviva at my last place of work. And I know you're not supposed to, but the lower-risk funds with more emphasis on bonds generally seem to be beating the pants off some of these mainly-equity funds..

On another note.. the company contribution is large at approx 9% and I plan to contribute the minimum 3% (I might up it to 5%). This still shows up as woefully short when entering the data into the retirement calculator on the website... but main priority is to pay off any mortgage as fast as possible.

Anyway, thanks!!

dunstonh

Looking at the performance, it seems pretty dire and gets a low rating on trustnet.

Ignore trustnet ratings on bog standard balanced managed funds. Their purpose is not to necessarily out achieve but to provide benchmark style performance with a mixed asset class.

Basically the group AMC is 0.6% and since the above is not 'managed' as such (am I talking rubbish here) the rate is lower than that of better performing funds such as 'Newton Balanced Managed.'

It is managed. It wont have a big team or large expenditure (relative to amount in fund) but it is managed.

And I know you're not supposed to, but the lower-risk funds with more emphasis on bonds generally seem to be beating the pants off some of these mainly-equity funds..

Without putting that statement in a date context, it could be right or wrong. However, in a period of extra volatility or recession you would expect that in the short term. However, that would be a totally daft reason to not buy into equities as that is the very time to invest more into equities.