Rating systems for Unit Trusts and Investment Trusts

HardCoreProgrammer

Is anybody able to provide a list of rating systems available for unit trusts?

I am aware of the following for unit trusts:
Fidelity Select List
Hargreaves Lansdown Wealth 150
Morningstar Rating
Lipper Rating
Crown Rating

How reliable did you find them? Is anybody aware of any more?

Personally, I found that it is dangerous to entirely rely on Hargreaves Lansdown Wealth 150, because it only lists the best funds in each sector. You still need to make up your mind on which sector is going to over/under perform. Those who invested in gold and natural resource funds this year would be badly burnt, for example.

(Is the Fidelity Select List only in existence since earlier this year?)

How about investment trusts?

gozomark

reliable in what way ? They describe how they have performed, and how they were invested at a recent point in time.

westy22

The main thing to be aware of is that some published ratings are based on history (Morningstar / Lipper etc); some are based on potential going forward (Bestinvest, Fundexpert) and some are based substantially on how much commission the fund house pays to be listed [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM].

HardCoreProgrammer

Thank you for letting me know that Bestinvest, Fundexpert are for future potential. I was not aware of it.

I remember HL listing a newly launched fund (heart of Africa or something with a similar name) in their Wealth 150. I stupidly bought into it and lost nearly 2/3 of my investment. When they tried to sell me Fidelity China Special Situations (investment trust run by Anthony Bolton) I did not fall for it again.

oldtoolie

Of course, future potential is based on estimates and guesses.

I hope you had split your investments into a range of categories rather than putting all your money into speculative funds
.