Vanguard Life Strategy

Zebra

macgyver wrote: »

I am in full time employment and 40 years old and am investing for 20 years or so.

Have you considered a SIPP rather than an ISA?

Depending on your current and future tax situations it may be more tax-efficient.

El_Selb

Can I just make sure I am reading the performance stats correctly - the performance info on the Vanguard 80 factsheet quotes 19.05% from Oct 12 to Oct 13 so to me that indicates £100 would be worth £119.

I must be reading something wrong here, right?

TCA

smoulder wrote: »

I uncovered a little more information on the asset allocation changes......... I still don't see info on exactly which of those funds they will include in their LifeStrategy funds or in what proportions...

I read a recent post on Monevator saying that in LifeStrategy 100%, UK equities were being reduced to 25%. I think the remainder was 8% emerging markets and 67% Developed World (presumably ex UK). For the life of me I can't find the post to confirm it and the poster himself couldn't recall where he'd found out. Vanguard's own website says this re LifeStrategy 100%:

Allocation to underlying Vanguard funds

Following recent changes to this fund, this data will only be available from 15th February. Should you require information on the allocation to underlying Vanguard funds and market diversification prior to that please contact your local sales team or use the contact details listed below.

https://www.vanguard.co.uk/uk/mvc/loadPDF?docId=2043


It seems a bit odd given the changes came into effect yesterday, according to that link above.

Marazan

El_Selb wrote: »

Can I just make sure I am reading the performance stats correctly - the performance info on the Vanguard 80 factsheet quotes 19.05% from Oct 12 to Oct 13 so to me that indicates £100 would be worth £119.

I must be reading something wrong here, right?

Why do you think that's wrong? On Google finance I get 15% from the 1st Oct 2012 to 1st Oct 2013 so that seems the right ball park.

GreenTricky

El_Selb wrote: »

Can I just make sure I am reading the performance stats correctly - the performance info on the Vanguard 80 factsheet quotes 19.05% from Oct 12 to Oct 13 so to me that indicates £100 would be worth £119.

I must be reading something wrong here, right?

You aren't reading it wrong but the markets have been on a run over that period so you can't expect it going forwards

innovate

But don't forget to take out management / platform charges.

takesyourchances

Looking towards the new tax year for my S&S ISA in April as my allowance is nearly used up, last few months I have been drip feeding £150 a month into my S&S ISA with one more £150 next month then in April the ISA allowance is back.

Once the new tax year comes in I will do a lump sum to my VLS in my ISA to raise my core level slightly more towards 65% and top up some of my side funds as well as I have been saving in cash recently outside my ISA.

I have two funds in mind the last few months to finish the holdings off. One more fund would be 7 side funds at 5% each and core VLS 65%.

Present holdings are:
VLS 60%
Standard Life Global Smaller Companies
Marlborough Multi Cap
First State Asia Pacific Leaders
First State Global Emerging Markets
Aberdeen Global Asian Smaller Companies
Aberdeen Japanese Smaller

Would be interested in any opinions on a last holding on the two ideas below to go with the above portfolio.

Threadneedle American Smaller Companies.
http://www.hl.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices--and--factsheets/search-results/t/threadneedle-american-smaller-companies-accumulation
Idea would be to balance back towards the West more with various Asian holdings and other smaller companies holdings and also to raise the US level up a bit. But is it going to much small cap with what else I have in Small Cap?

Second fund I have been considering as well for a good length of time is First State Global Listed Infrastructure.
http://www.hl.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices--and--factsheets/search-results/f/first-state-global-listed-infrastructure-accumulation
Reason being I have several Small Cap funds and this would be an industry focus fund. Maybe a bit boring compared to the others, but I see that Infrastructure is seen as defensive and could also add a bit of diversification to what I have and different to bonds.

I have been kind of siding more with the Global Infrastructure as a slow and defensive type of holding that would build in the long term and be an industry pick and a different focus from a few of my other spicy Asian and Small Cap holdings.

Any opinions would be appreciated if these seem reasonable thoughts or anything else worth considering.

Thanks.

gadgetmind

takesyourchances wrote: »

Second fund I have been considering as well for a good length of time is First State Global Listed Infrastructure.

I've held this in a few pots for many a year. I also hold infrastructure funds such as HICL, JLIF, INPP and BBGI. The latter are on silly premiums (but are a different proposition to that fund) and I wouldn't buy now. Some of them are even on my sell list as I don't believe in anti-gravity.

takesyourchances

gadgetmind wrote: »

I've held this in a few pots for many a year. I also hold infrastructure funds such as HICL, JLIF, INPP and BBGI. The latter are on silly premiums (but are a different proposition to that fund) and I wouldn't buy now. Some of them are even on my sell list as I don't believe in anti-gravity.

Thanks gadgetmind, I have not seen the First State Infrastructure fund discussed much, so interesting that you have held this in a few pots over the years.

Would you buy into the First State Infrastructure fund at the moment?

I was siding with that idea over the US Small Cap fund in consideration for a different style of approach to what else I have and for something different as well.

Thanks

gadgetmind

takesyourchances wrote: »

Would you buy into the First State Infrastructure fund at the moment?

Yes, but I wouldn't overweight.

I'm currently upping exposure to EM, resources and (to a lesser extent) Europe, but this is really just rebalancing++.