"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

I slept very badly last night, so did a bit of banking - there was £2.08 in interest in my current account, so I used that as an OP. I'd made another OP in December when I was paid back for some shopping I did. I'm getting increasingly frustrated by my online banking, which is pretty poor when it comes to mortgage information. However, I need to do my pension maths before I do my mortgage maths!

Today is a work day, and I'm not feeling great as the rubbish I've been eating since my mum left (all 4 days of it!) has caught up with me. I haven't been sleeping well (probably due to wine) and I'm feeling very bloated and nauseous. Given that I go into hospital in just under a week I need to focus on sorting myself out - I haven't taken any exercise for weeks either.

Tomorrow is an unexpected day off for the whole company as a performance bonus, so I'm hoping I can catch up a bit.

teapot2

I think a lot of folk are feeling a bit sluggish and not very energised - myself included, after the indulgences of late. Its hard when the MSE way is not to waste anything but the available choices are not the healthiest.

:j for an unexpected day off tomorrow - hope you can catch up a bit as planned.

greenbee

I have found last year's pension maths :j so I now know what the carry over is from the last three years and what I have to use this year as it won't carry over for another year (I used less than half of the previous year's allowance last year ). I also have the calculations I used last year, so can work out what this year's pension annual allowance is as well as what I've already paid in this year.

If I know how (roughly) how much is going to go into my pension at YE, that means I can top up my ISAs now to maximise the interest I get this year.

I also need to rationalise all the funds in my ISA and two pensions. I did notice when I logged in to one pension that although it was showing a nice gain for the year, it's showing a big loss so far today. I'm not sure whether I should be keeping a close eye on the markets or ignoring them given that these are long term investments!

Interest has been paid on my savings accounts, so I'm considering using that as another mortgage OP, despite my frustration at not really being able to see the OPs or their impact. I think I need to create a spreadsheet that gives me a nice graph ... a bit like the one I use for weight loss. It might be a bit too much of a challenge for my excel skills though.

I've ordered a couple of diaries, and need to organise my notebooks - all my financial info is carefully recorded from last year's end-of-tax-year activity, but I couldn't remember which notebook it was in .

greenbee

Meetings were cancelled this afternoon, so having done my ironing while watching some lectures that I needed to catch up on, I've had a break from work before getting back to my boring book (which is starting to be a bit more interesting) and done some personal maths. All estimates for the moment, so I've erred on the conservative side BUT I've now got the calculations for how much needs to go into my pensions (next step is to sort out the funds before I do this - including deciding whether to consolidate the H&L and Aviva pensions).

I also need to sort out my ISA funds, but I'm pretty sure (need to do a quick bit more maths) that I can safely top up both my cash and S&S ISAs now and still have enough left for what needs spending before the end of the tax year, and topping up my pensions. I do have dental work to pay for, and various stuff for the house, but as the kitchen isn't likely to need paying for until I've had time to save up some more, I think it's safe to put some more away!

I'll probably need nagging about sorting out the pensions. I really do need to sort out the funds - being on two platforms and having lots of funds is likely to be costing me a lot in fees.

Cash ISA transfer done

greenbee

I've managed to log into my S&S ISA account and see which funds I'm invested in, and into one of my pensions - but for some reason the other isn't talking to me.

Of course, they all present the information differently, and it's really hard to work out whether they're performing well or not. I definitely need to rationalise the ISA funds, so it's a question of biting the bullet, doing the trades and working out how to get the regular payments reallocated to the new selection (as well as the lump sum). TBH I should probably transfer to a new platform as well, given that while I stick with Fidelity I'm probably still paying IFA charges from the original set up in 2006. So moving will cut costs.

Pensions really need to go to a single provider - rather than moving both I think the sensible thing is to choose between HL and Aviva. And as I'm struggling to get into the HL website and app, Aviva may well win... Then it's a case of rationalising the funds (again). I do have a rough idea of how I want to invest - in Ethical funds where I can, no individual shares and roughly 20% global, 20% european, 20% UK, 20% emerging markets and 20% split between India/Pacific Basin/Pacific Rim/APAC.

I think the Aviva pension has performed relatively well, can't see the HL one to check, and can't make sense of the ISA So the plan is to sort them out, then leave them to it for a few more years and start fiddling with them properly when i'm a bit close to retirement.

I just need to decide whether to talk to an IFA or be brave and DIY as I have in the past.

greenbee

It's been good working through all this on here. I've applied to transfer my ISA to Interactive Investor, as I've realised that I've been paying for a 'managed' (via an IFA who I haven't heard from in years) S&S ISA when I self-manage anyway.

As I also self-manage my pensions, I need to think hard about where to keep them too.

Anyway, seven weeks until the ISA transfer goes through, so I have some time to think about the funds I want to put the money in when it transfers, and in what proportions.

Karmacat

That sounds like good news for the future, greenbee, should bring the charges down nicely

greenbee

Fingers crossed KC! My S&S ISA will be my primary investment focus from 2021 so I need to get it in shape ☺️ It’s not doing too badly, but it should make a difference. I may drop the regular payment for a bit and do lump sum contributions. It needs a bit more thinking about.

Got into HL briefly this morning. As with Aviva, the funds themselves seem to be doing ok, but the analytics in the app are poor and I have too many funds and seem to be paying a lot of charges.

I also managed to work out the daily interest on my mortgage - £13.40. I need to do some more digging into how and when they apply the OPs and the interest (the latter looks like daily), as they don’t provided detailed transaction data online, just summaries.

It was tedious, but I have a plan. I just need to write it down in the relevant notebook!

lulabelle1

Hi, have you considered a Vanguard life strategy fund, it might save you some time/stress in regards to building a balanced portfolio and figuring out asset allocations etc?

Also, HL is probably one of the most expensive SIPP providers available, could be worth looking at alternatives for the SIPP too ��

greenbee

Thanks lulabelle - I've looked at VLS, but none of the funds do what I want - I've got a very clear strategy based on ethical investment, and how I split my risk. I've been self-managing my SIPP(s) for about 12 years and they're performing well, but I have too many funds so need to consolidate. This is partly because a previous employer moved from Friends Life to HL and as I had an old personal pension combined with the company FL (now Aviva) pension and liked the funds I decided not to move it, and partly because when I put the lump sums in at the end of the tax year I couldn't remember which ones I already had so picked some I liked the look of (some of which are doing very nicely and are probably a better option than the ones I've held longer term).

I've been putting off moving HL since I change jobs two years ago (because it's expensive!), but having managed to access it this morning and seeing the details of the charges I definitely need to do it! I just need to decide on the funds I want to keep and check where else I can get them - then it's a question of whether to move the Aviva pension too (it's the larger of the two and likewise doing well). Or be lazy and move HL to Aviva.

I've been to the physio today who tells me that the running shoes I hate actually give me the best results - and I probably hate them because they don't let me move how I want to. So I'm not getting rid of them. I have exercises to do while I'm off post-hospital, and then when I'm back running I'll need to go and get properly assessed for shoes.

I need to get some laundry liquid and washing powder. I may go later today, but first I should spend some time in the garden as it's sunny (freezing, but sunny). There's still lots of clearing up to do from the hedge 'trimming' that my brother did for me before Christmas!