Frustrated by all this investing lark

bostonerimus

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

I spent 2 months reading everything I could about investing then went for low cost multi asset tracker. Now approaching retirement I look on my portfolio as two buckets. One with a high yield global income fund to supplement pension and one accumulation pot for later years. Both multi asset, global and moderate to cautious.

I've basically had a global tracker, a US tracker and a broad bond tracker for the past 30 years. It's now 75% equity and 25% bonds and it has averaged 8.5% annual return. It's low cost and simple to managed. I used some of it to buy into an employer defined benefit pension plan and also have a rental property so those are my "income bucket" and I leave the rest to accumulate.

Thrugelmir

intowhere wrote: »

Part of me things just get an index tracker and be done with it but another part thinks time spent reading and researching will be time well spent if I can get an additional 2 - 3% return.

If you are investing say a £200 per month initially. Then you'll probably spend the additional return on doing research. While there's much published for free. There's a lot that isn't.

First rule of investing is to not lose your capital. Don't assume that investments always produce positive returns. Some years they will. Others they won't. By diversifying broadly you'll reduce the risk of catastrophe.

Once you've built some good holdings as foundations of your portfolio. Then it's time to follow researched hunches. There's plenty of opportunities to make modest gains. If you are willing to put the time into it.

dunstonh

Until you get to around 8k-10k, it doesnt really matter much where you invest. The monetary amount on any differences is going to be so little that its not worth any effort put in to get more (potentially).

bostonerimus

intowhere wrote: »

Part of me things just get an index tracker and be done with it but another part thinks time spent reading and researching will be time well spent if I can get an additional 2 - 3% return.


Any other people been in a similar situation?

Don't chase return or go with what's hot this year. An inexpensive market tracker will be your best approach for long term investing.

dunstonh

I am half expecting the op to come back and say they are looking to invest £1000.

eskbanker

dunstonh wrote: »

I am half expecting the op to come back and say they are looking to invest £1000.

Eventually, perhaps....

intowhere wrote: »

I plan to purchase an EFT / IT on a monthly or bi monthly basis, and even then I am only looking to invest about £100 per transaction.

chelseablue

bostonerimus wrote: »

Don't chase return or go with what's hot this year. An inexpensive market tracker will be your best approach for long term investing.

VERY stupid question here, but is the VLS 100 a market tracker??


Just wondering because that's what I have in my S&S Isa

AlanP_2

chelseablue wrote: »

VERY stupid question here, but is the VLS 100 a market tracker??


Just wondering because that's what I have in my S&S Isa

Yes & No - :j


It is a combination of a number of underlying Vanguard Funds that track specific markets.

See the breakdown here:

http://www.hl.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices--and--factsheets/search-results/v/vanguard-lifestrategy-100-equity-accumulation/fund-analysis

chelseablue

AlanP wrote: »

Yes & No - :j


It is a combination of a number of underlying Vanguard Funds that track specific markets.

See the breakdown here:

http://www.hl.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices--and--factsheets/search-results/v/vanguard-lifestrategy-100-equity-accumulation/fund-analysis

Thank you! Hopefully its a good all rounder for the long term

dunstonh

VERY stupid question here, but is the VLS 100 a market tracker??

VLS is a fettered fund of funds. it is not a tracker. The underlying assets are passive but the allocations are managed.