I'm assuming this is is possible - am I right?

AnotherJoe

Glen_Clark wrote: »

Are our life savings safer in Sterling cash, or in a tracker divided between thousands of the world's biggest companies each possibly more solvent than the UK Government?

Is that a rhetorical question ? If not you'd have to define "safe" and over what timescale. The fact it's your life savings is somewhat irrelevant, it's what you plan to do with them and when that matters when answering questions like that.

Glen_Clark

AnotherJoe wrote: »

The fact it's your life savings is somewhat irrelevant, it's what you plan to do with them and when that matters when answering questions like that.

No it isn't a rhetorical question. The fact that its life savings is relevant in that we can't plan what to do with them because we could be dead tomorrow or live another 50 years.
We can only hope for the best.
Holding all your savings in sterling feels to me like holding them all in one company.

AnotherJoe

Glen_Clark wrote: »

No it isn't a rhetorical question. The fact that its life savings is relevant in that we can't plan what to do with them.

That still doesn't help. Do you need to live off this money for 50 years ? Or would it be icing on the cake money for holidays and such, or needed to provide basic income?

Is it money to bridge between being retired and pensions coming on stream in 5 years, or does it have to last you all 50 years providing an income ..The point being, if its short term then Sterling risk by which you really mean inflation risk, is irrelevant. Long term, being invested in the stock markets is really the only way to cope.

Glen_Clark wrote: »

No it isn't a rhetorical question. The fact that its life savings is relevant in that we can't plan what to do with them because we could be dead tomorrow or live another 50 years..

Well,the fact it's your life savings is irrelevant to what you decide to spend the money on over what timescale. It could equally have been a lottery win or an inheritance.
As to your comment that you might die tomorrow or in 50 years that equally applied whilst you were saving it, so what's the difference now? What were you saving it for ?

Glen_Clark wrote: »

Holding all your savings in sterling feels to me like holding them all in one company.

well in that case invest in multiple global companies, e.g. put the money Ina global fund. Though that still doesn't help unless you decide what your aim for the money is. Is it for descendants or meant to provide income but retain the same size or will you gradually spend it down?

Bottom line what matters is your goals.
.