Vanguard Life Strategy

black_taxi_2

thx for reply take your chances

i think what puts alot of people off is--the amount the industry tells you must save---and people think ive not got a stone throws chance of doing it

it nearly put me off-- by i like the term nest egg--keeps you out of poverty or struggling for lifes essencials

Carpi09

Do any of you guys have a SIPP with VLS or plan on getting a SIPP?

I'm currently looking at setting a SIPP with the VLS 80, I think initially putting in £1000 and then drip feed it with £100.

Do you think this would be sensible or do you think I would be better off with a stakeholder pension because of the low contribution and fees involved with the SIPP?

Basically, i want to start my pension while i am young. Ideas?

I currently have a military pension but would like to benefit from the extra tax relief. Although I am only a lower rate tax payer.

takesyourchances

black_taxi wrote: »

thx for reply take your chances

i think what puts alot of people off is--the amount the industry tells you must save---and people think ive not got a stone throws chance of doing it

it nearly put me off-- by i like the term nest egg--keeps you out of poverty or struggling for lifes essencials

Very true, what the industry tells people they need can be off putting and I am sure even more so the closer to retirement age. I found comments like what is the point now etc.

We can all but give it a good go and at the same time live and enjoy on the way

takesyourchances

Carpi09 wrote: »

Do any of you guys have a SIPP with VLS or plan on getting a SIPP?

I'm currently looking at setting a SIPP with the VLS 80, I think initially putting in £1000 and then drip feed it with £100.

Do you think this would be sensible or do you think I would be better off with a stakeholder pension because of the low contribution and fees involved with the SIPP?

Basically, i want to start my pension while i am young. Ideas?

I currently have a military pension but would like to benefit from the extra tax relief. Although I am only a lower rate tax payer.

Interested to replies to this as well Carpi, as previous in the thread I have a Halifax Stakeholder pension and was thinking would I be better transferring into an SIPP with a VLS and was thinking of the VLS 80 as well as this is fully tied up for a long longer.

As I said before my pension with Halifax has gathered from my mid 20's with no real thought behind it, it has been in my mind still to call Halifax to ask for a balance at the moment as I cannot see it anymore online.

I am still paying into my Halifax stakeholder, so interested in replies as well. I feel more comfortable investing after taking the decision to start and learning more.

This is something I want to look at as well and I still need to decide on what to do and plan to call Halifax at some point to find out more of what it is sitting at now.

Thanks.

....on my continued search through future fund ideas I have been looking at another niche side fund, I quite like some niche approaches, so will post about it later for opinions

Carpi09

takesyourchances wrote: »

Interested to replies to this as well Carpi, as previous in the thread I have a Halifax Stakeholder pension and was thinking would I be better transferring into an SIPP with a VLS and was thinking of the VLS 80 as well as this is fully tied up for a long longer.

As I said before my pension with Halifax has gathered from my mid 20's with no real thought behind it, it has been in my mind still to call Halifax to ask for a balance at the moment as I cannot see it anymore online.

I am still paying into my Halifax stakeholder, so interested in replies as well. I feel more comfortable investing after taking the decision to start and learning more.

This is something I want to look at as well and I still need to decide on what to do and plan to call Halifax at some point to find out more of what it is sitting at now.

Thanks.

....on my continued search through future fund ideas I have been looking at another niche side fund, I quite like some niche approaches, so will post about it later for opinions

Previously when you checked it, how was your pension doing? Was you satisfied?

I'm just thinking as I will be only putting away £100 each month, a stakeholder may be the better option but it would be interesting to hear from the experienced peeps.

takesyourchances

On searching more for future ideas I put some side funds on of interest this past weekend which are on my watch list. I have added this fund as well to my watch list after looking into it with interest. Aberdeen Global Japanese Smaller Companies Class D2 GBP Accumulation.

http://www.hl.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices--and--factsheets/search-results/a/aberdeen-global-japanese-smaller-cos-d2-gbp-accumulation

It could be another niche approach, I have the Aberdeen Asian Small Cap fund which is niche and hopefully long term is a good investment and so far has been interesting.

Again with focus in Asia is Japan, were my exposure in Japan is low mostly across my funds. Looking at the X-ray on HL of my portfolio at present Japan is at 2.23%.

I understand that Japan has had a very difficult stock market period for many many years, also I have been reading up on markets etc in Japan and with small company growth potential, I was reading that small companies are under valued in this region and are producing good yields and personal goods is a focus for consumerism which is on the rise and the manufacturing seems to be strong.

I am interested in opinions on this niche fund approach for the Japanese Small Cap exposure on a small holding within a portfolio for long term potential.

Also I read about the new election of the Japanese Prime Minster and the weakening of the Yen currency which should help boost exports, is this a good addition for a small percentage holding

@Linton, if you are reading this I think I recall you held this fund, but I cannot find the post again were I thought I read this.

Hope this maybe adds some possible "niche" interest.

Thanks.

takesyourchances

Carpi09 wrote: »

Previously when you checked it, how was your pension doing? Was you satisfied?

I'm just thinking as I will be only putting away £100 each month, a stakeholder may be the better option but it would be interesting to hear from the experienced peeps.

Last April there was just under 13000 in it, after contributions it increased around 600 in value in a year on top of the contributions.

To be honest I paid little attention to it through my 20's, during 2008 - 2009 it fell and I switched off from it and also it got removed from the online banking but was paying still, just paying no attention. As I said before I was cash ISA focused through my 20's and bought overseas property over about 7 years.

To try and answer, I am satisfied that it increased overall and last year etc and has not lost value, but it is hard to say as I have not looked into it much and want to look at it and see if maybe an SIPP is a better option to move to.

Actually quickly I dug out some papers there as to be honest I did not even know what it was invested in off hand and this is what I wanted to look at, as mad as that sounds with my interest in this ....this April I am guessing the value to be around 15000.

Maybe the more savvy posters on here can look at this Halifax Stakeholder set up and consider if a VLS 80 in an SIPP is a better option even with Carpi and myself.

Just quick rounded figures from April 2012.

Gilt & Fix Interest Fund (L) - around 4K
International Growth Fund (L) - around 2K
UK FTSE All Share Fund (L) - around 1.5K
Lifestyle Pelican - around 2.8K
Lifestyle High Income - around 2.5K

Certainly does not seem as interesting as my newly formed S&S ISA and ideas.

Hope this helps.

Also interested about the Japan Small Cap fund in the post above ^

gadgetmind

takesyourchances wrote: »

Very true, what the industry tells people they need can be off putting

The industry says it because the mathematics and history say it.

"You cannae fight the laws of physics!"

Putting your head in the sand and ignoring this is like refusing to go on a diet simply because you're already fat.

takesyourchances

gadgetmind wrote: »

The industry says it because the mathematics and history say it.

"You cannae fight the laws of physics!"

Putting your head in the sand and ignoring this is like refusing to go on a diet simply because you're already fat.

Well put indeed! It is amazing how many people ignore it and make excuses even for simply saving never mind investing for later life, personally I don't want to be waiting to 67 to rely solely on the government state pension, that is enough fear for me

nearlyretired2004

Having researched what appears to me to be the best 'passive' strategy for me I was just about to 'jump' into VLS 100% .....

Now, I've seen the phrase 'it's not timing the market but time in the market' on here a hundred times - but should I really jump today with the FTSE sitting at close to an all time high or wait for a correction. Surely there must be some profit taking soon ...?

A quick second question ... how long does it take to set up an HL account online and invest in VLS ..... is it minutes or is there a longer process involved?

As always, thanks for any replies......

EDIT: YAY!! just had a phone call from the library and they've managed to find a copy of Tim Hales 'Smarter investing' for me .... just about to trot off and pick it up!