Standard Life Civil Service AVC Valuation & Future Options

swanny65

About 9 years ago I switched my Aviva FSAVC into the Civil Service AVC scheme with Standard Life. I have always pick my own funds and have had some success. From just about getting my FSAVC contributions back during the initial 10 years I have more than doubled my additional pension pot from £10000.00 paid in to a value of £22500.00 today.

Having received my annual statement has prompted me to look at the make up of my pension pot for the next 3 to 5 years. I have 12 years to pension age.

My pot and ongoing contributions are made up of the following choices:

Newton Managed Pension Fund - 17% of value/ 30 % ongoing cont
Jupiter Income Trust Pension Fund - 16% of value / 30 % cont
Fidelity South East Asia Pension Fund - 4% of value / 10% cont
Fidelity Special Sit Pension Fund - 10% of value / 15% cont
Fidelity Global Special Sit Pension Fund - 8% of value / 15% cont
Henderson European Slctd Opp Pens Fnd - 10% of value / No cont
Jupiter Undervalued Assets Pension Fund - 6% of value / No cont
Std Life UK Smaller Comp Pension Fund - 28% of value / No cont

Looking at my options most new contributions have to paid into a list of Std Life and Black Rock funds and the above funds are not included for new fund choices. However having logged on to the website tonight it does appear I can switch in and out of the above funds. My future fund options are

BlackRock Aquila HP European Equity Pension

BlackRock Aquila HP Japanese Equity Pension

BlackRock Aquila HP Pacific Rim Equity Pension

BlackRock Aquila HP UK Equity Pension Fund

BlackRock Aquila HP US Equity Pension Fund

BlackRock Aquila HP World (Ex-UK) Equity Pn Fd

BlackRock Managed (50:50) Global Equity Pension

HSBC Amanah Pension Fund

SLI UK Smaller Companies Pension Fund

Standard Life Annuity Purchase Fund

Standard Life Corporate Bond Pension Fund

Standard Life Deposit and Treasury Pension Fund

Standard Life Ethical Pension Fund

Standard Life European Equity Pension Fund

Standard Life Global Equity 50:50 Pension Fund

Standard Life Japanese Equity Pension Fund

Standard Life Managed Pension Fund

Standard Life Mixed Bond Pension Fund

Standard Life Money Market Pension Fund

Standard Life Multi Asset Mgd (20-60% Shares) Pn

Standard Life North American Equity Pension Fund

Standard Life Overseas Equity Pension Fund

Standard Life Pacific Basin Equity Pension Fund

Standard Life Property Pension Fund

Standard Life Stock Exchange Pension Fund

Standard Life UK Equity Pension Fund

Of greatest concern is the Jupiter Income Trust Pension Fund it has performed poorly over the past several years and has a high percentage of my pot value and 30% of my ongoing contributions.

Likewise the Henderson European Slctd Opp Pens Fnd is well rated and been a solid performer for a number of years (I remembering having a PEP when Gartmore ran the fund which I sold when I had my family). I appear under exposed in this area.

Giving my limited fund choices are there of the above funds that would improve the balance of my portfolio?

I intend to redirect the ongoing 30% from Jupiter Income Trust Pension Fund to a different fund. Is it best to switch out some of the fund value to reduce my exposure to this fund, i am thinking of moving both contributions and 50% of the fund value to Henderson European Slctd Opp Pens Fnd

The remaining fund choices appear solid but any other observations would be welcomed.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

bigadaj

If it were me I would review the available funds, first thing determining asset allocation to see whether the geographic split and split between equities, bonds, property etc suited me. With your timing to retirement the. You would traditionally be looking to lifestyle Way from equities but currently bonds and other less volatile investments are offering poor value.

Then review the funds that I may be interested on trustnet and review performance, no guide to the future apparently but one of the few things to go on. Also the charges for the funds would affect my decision.

Traditionally funds from the traditional insurers have tended to be poor but those from the large fund managers, such as black rock, have performed better, but that really is a gross over simplification and each fund has to be studied on its merits.