Advice for a dithering clueless dummy.

Alexland

It's completely your choice but if you want to hold both you will probably need a DIY investment platform such as AJ Bell or Cavendish Online however if you go with just the VLS you can go direct to Vanguard which makes things simpler.

Eco_Miser

copthis1 wrote: »

So shall I put some in SMT and some in VLS?

That's your decision.
SMT is not only an actively managed fund, or rather, Investment Trust(IT), it is a specialist niche product. As mentioned above, it has had very good returns recently, tripling over 5 years; the flip side is that it could lose 66% (returning to original value) over the next five years.

The VLS funds will be less volatile, especially the lower numbered ones, having increasing proportions in fixed interest securities.

Whatever you do, know why you are doing it (and not just because it was mentioned on an internet forum).

Audaxer

copthis1 wrote: »

So shall I put some in SMT and some in VLS?

While SMT has had very good returns, I think most investors who hold it would have it as part of a wider portfolio of active ITs and/or funds. Although VLS100 is also 100% equities I think it is less volatile and probably be more likely to be held as a single fund.

I don't really think the two go together. I wouldn't go for 100% equities but if I did, I'd go for the VLS100 rather than SMT.

Thrugelmir

What's your current pension provision like? You could potentially give your money a boost simply by siphoning it across from your ISA.

Ed_Zep

I'm a big fan of Vanguard (VLS100). Apart from the charges, they don't hang onto your monthly payment for days before investing it like Fidelity. The website it much better than Fidelity's as well.

They're bringing out a SIPP in the near future. So if the charges are better than Bestinvest I'll be shifting that as well.

copthis1

So, £40,000 is winging its way ( 2 weeks ) from my cash ISA to my newly opened H&L s&s ISA.

I will invest in one of the VLS Life Strategy funds. Is it worth starting off in the 100 for a few years and then move down to a less risky one or not.

Zola.

VLS 100 is of course on the top end aggressive side. If it plummets next year, you will not be very happy. The old adage is to have your age in bonds.

I don't know all the answers but if I were you I would just have it in VLS 60 and keep it there for at least 10 years.

copthis1

Wish I was 20

ozaz

One irritation with Vanguard's own platform is they don't allow partial inward transfers of cash. So if OP wants to use Vanguard's platform he/she will need to get round that. Perhaps partial transfer to another cash ISA and then full transfer of that into Vanguard's platform. Or full transfer into Vanguard and then partial transfer from Vanguard to a new cash ISA.

Alternatively buy VLS on another platform that does allow partial inward transfers.

Ed_Zep

copthis1 wrote: »

So, £40,000 is winging its way ( 2 weeks ) from my cash ISA to my newly opened H&L s&s ISA.

I will invest in one of the VLS Life Strategy funds. Is it worth starting off in the 100 for a few years and then move down to a less risky one or not.

Why are you not going to put it into a Vanguard ISA or are you mixing it with other funds? I'd expect their service fee to be lower than HL's...