can someone recommend a personal pension please?!

gallygirl

On the other hand, you can contribute £2,880 a year as a non-resident to a pension, as long as you've opened it before you go. You can do this for 5 years and you get it topped up to £3,660 each year by the govt - so a 20% gain before you even start :T. Only small amount but worth doing I think.

THIS table is really straightforward re the costs involved. Personally I use HL but am thinking of changing as other providers are cheaper. I do find their site, tools and support very user friendly though. Also if you invest a lump sum they waive the initial commission on most funds.

Perceived wisdom is you won't be able to outperform the market consistently so go for low cost trackers with very low fees. HL call them 'Core Trackers' - look at the Legal & General ones for example. If you want to go for lower risk then any Vanguard or similar fund, say 80/20 where only 80% invested and the rest in cash/bonds.

Have you looked at the possibilities for investing via outlets where you are living? (Though we looked recently and some of the same funds are available but with no discount on fees, one had an initial fee of 5% so you'd be losing 5% value straight off :eek:. )

TBC15

gallygirl wrote: »

On the other hand, you can contribute £2,880 a year as a non-resident to a pension, as long as you've opened it before you go. You can do this for 5 years and you get it topped up to £3,660 each year by the govt - so a 20% gain before you even start :T. Only small amount but worth doing I think.

THIS table is really straightforward re the costs involved. Personally I use HL but am thinking of changing as other providers are cheaper. I do find their site, tools and support very user friendly though. Also if you invest a lump sum they waive the initial commission on most funds.

Perceived wisdom is you won't be able to outperform the market consistently so go for low cost trackers with very low fees. HL call them 'Core Trackers' - look at the Legal & General ones for example. If you want to go for lower risk then any Vanguard or similar fund, say 80/20 where only 80% invested and the rest in cash/bonds.

Have you looked at the possibilities for investing via outlets where you are living? (Though we looked recently and some of the same funds are available but with no discount on fees, one had an initial fee of 5% so you'd be losing 5% value straight off :eek:. )

Brilliant
On the first two paragraphs. The last two would promote alot of posts It’s fair to say the majority of managers don’t beat the market, I think most involved investors do.Isn’t that what we are on line for?



Went with HL for the wife’s SIPP as it was extremely easy due to the layout of their web site and had the funds available we wanted to invest in. Costs to open were good £45 I think, and overall costs for modest sums no tbad.

When you are approaching retirement you will be aware of the death by a thousand cuts your retirement pot is suffering due to charges by most of the high profile platforms that you have put your SIPPs /ISAs/Anything else into. However as you approach retirement, hopefully a long time before,you will be more proactive in the course of your destiny.

HarryD

I guess you've had a look at the Hargreaves Lansdown website by now. I don't know which would be the very best company for you to go with, but I do know that H-L is very easy to use and the customer service is excellent.

If you go onto their site and set up an account you'll see just how easy it is. ISA, SIPP - nothing difficult.

gallygirl

TBC15 wrote: »

Brilliant
On the first two paragraphs. The last two would promote alot of posts It’s fair to say the majority of managers don’t beat the market, I think most involved investors do.Isn’t that what we are on line for?

So you think most involved investors do better than people doing this for a living? Although they are free from constraints I still think that is unlikely and I for one am happy to say I haven't (well, prepared to say it, not happy!), hence why I'm now in low cost trackers.

TBC15

I think the average involved investor stands quite a good chance of doing better than the average fund manager who is doing it for a living.

The main reason I believe is they are two different tasks.The fund manager has to look into the minutia of individual companies on a day to day basis within the sector his fund is involved in. All I have to do is establish which fund manager does that best on a regular basis and invest in his fund.

Your_Hero

TBC15 wrote: »

The main reason I believe is they are two different tasks.The fund manager has to look into the minutia of individual companies on a day to day basis within the sector his fund is involved in. All I have to do is establish which fund manager does that best on a regular basis and invest in his fund.

You aren't comparing like for like here.

You state that most (ordinary) investors are better than a fund manager, but you are reliant on a fund manager?

rpc

TBC15 wrote: »

All I have to do is establish which fund manager does that best on a regular basis and invest in his fund.

How are you going to tell who will outperform over the next 5 years (for example)?

You can find out how well managers did over the last five years, but past performance is not a predictor for future returns.

TBC15

Your_Hero wrote: »

You aren't comparing like for like here.

You state that most (ordinary) investors are better than a fund manager, but you are reliant on a fund manager?

The whole point is I’m not compering like for like. Don’tget involved at the share basis. Invest in the best guy who can do that job.

TBC15

rpc wrote: »

How are you going to tell who will outperform over the next 5 years (for example)?

You can find out how well managers did over the last five years, but past performance is not a predictor for future returns.

No one can predict the future, end of story. From CV,s that turn up on your desk to wanting a wall built to electing the next government to marrying your wife, people rely on past performance.

5yr performance is probably a good starting point to start looking if this is repeated 3 and 1 with good year on year there must be a fair chance someone knows what they are doing and it only needs a couple of mouse clicks to get this information.,

Thanks to the internet and trustnet specifically someone’s history can be defined. Without this resource you will have to get your hands dirty on a day to day basis or invest in a tracker.

I’m not suggesting this is the only path to follow. It’s the path I follow. Back in 1998 when I started investing I set a personal target of if I can’t return 10% a year I’ll give the job to someone who can.

That was back in 98. I’m what could be defined as financially prudent. If I thought I was doing a bad job, I’d sack myself and buy a tracker.

atush

It remains to be seen if the OP either wants to or is capable/has the time to learn about investing to go DIY.

so, the choice for the OP is, do you have the time and inclination to learn about investing, or would you prefer to have the assistance of an IFA to set up and help run your pension.

After you have decided the above, the correct platform for you will be determined by the size of your contributions (known more or less) and the investments you wish to choose within the pension. As the charges for different investment types can vary from platform to platform