Aviva Pension Funds

whiz90

Hi all, 
Please bear with me, i'm very very new to the language of pensions/bonds/equity so looking for some beginners advice. 
I'm currently getting my finances in a better place as a whole with nothing else to do on furlough, and have started a little reading on investments. 
I'm currently 29 and have a small but growing pension pot of around £3k with Aviva through my employers pension. Having a closer look today I realise that you are able to choose and change your investment funds. My funds are currently in the Aviva Pensions Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares) which has a 38% international equity, 21.4% UK equity and 9.8% UK gilts split, with the biggest sector split being government bonds. Reading todays news about the economy and the little research i've i'm coming to the conclusion that it is generally seen as safer to be invested in the global market, and perhaps not to wise to be so heavily weighted to the UK. 
I've had a look at different funds I could choose but there are so many it's completely overwhelming. Is there an Aviva global fund that is recommended? I've had a look at the Aviva Pensions Global Equity S6 however in terms of past performance the Artemis funds seem to have done much better. And whether to invest the whole fund or split it seems to be a whole new ball game. 

Can anyone offer any advice or links to reading I can do (i'm thinking for dummies style) so I can make a better informed decision and work out the difference between all these global funds, they all seem so similar! Obviously I have some time yet to ride out any bumps and improve my knowledge but i'd like to get my money in a better place for the long haul. 

Any advice much appreciated. 

dunstonh

My funds are currently in the Aviva Pensions Mixed Investment (40-85% Shares)

Which is by far the most common default fund type on most pension contracts.

Reading todays news about the economy and the little research i've i'm coming to the conclusion that it is generally seen as safer to be invested in the global market, and perhaps not to wise to be so heavily weighted to the UK. 

No.   That would be an incorrect assumption to make.  Markets have Sterling at a very low level with the expectation being that it will rise again somewhat at some point.  That will harm global investments.  Also, 21% is not particularly high for home bias.  indeed, many fluid asset allocation models have been increasing their UK weightings recently as the UK stockmarket is considered to offer value in a range of areas.

Paul_Herring

 I've had a look at the Aviva Pensions Global Equity S6

Not a recommendation, but the that's the one I chose a year or so back - while it's not stellar, I'm not unhappy with it:

however in terms of past performance the Artemis funds seem to have done much better. 

Past performance, no guide to future etc. But where are you looking? From their own pdf's:

"Artemis Global Growth":

Their own "Global Equity"

All much of a muchness it seems to me....

Knock_Rock

Bear in mind the non aviva funds generally will have higher annual charges than the aviva funds so something to consider.I was in the default aviva fund with the workplace pension. I have other pensions from 40 years of working (this one has only been
going 3 years) being 57 the default was gearing towards safe assets due to my age. I switched the fund to allocate more to equity as this a small % of my pensions.
obviously your situation/timescale is different so do some research/reading,lots of threads on here to good books & web sites.
I switched to 3 funds (again just what i did after considering my situation..)
rathbone global opportunities, baillie gifford international, liontrust sustainable future managed.
I have found the aviva platform and app very good at moving and monitoring my funds.
My thoughts on what i would do in your young shoes..100% global equity tracker, pile in as much monthly in the most tax efficient way you can. Have lots of fun with the rest., have a look in 25 years...
time is on your side, take it steady.





 

cfw1994

I’m with knock_knock on this....from a young age, equity is where the growth should lie for the decades ahead, and a low cost world fund is the best way to do it.
Watch Lars videos at https://www.kroijer.com/ for some other wise words on this.

This year makes that feel unlikely: the markets are all over the place, it feels ‘uneasy’...plus none of us have a crystal ball....but I feel that things will smooth out in the years ahead.

I’ll take the risky path of slightly disagreeing with dunstonh here: the UK forms about 6% of “the world” - I would agree with you that 21% home bias feels to high.  

Then again, I’ve worked in US tech industry for the past 30 years: my bets are on “Aviva Pension BlackRock World ex UK Equity Index Tracker“ and the “Aviva North American” funds for growth.  Not sure if they are in your selections, and even in those funds there is overlap in major holdings, but it is me spreading my bets.   FWIW, despite the mayhem going on in the US of late, I wouldn’t bet against them.  That said, the election carries some element of risk.....
Being significantly older, I also have half my funds spread around their “BlackRock Over 15 Year Gilt Index Tracker” and “Pension Pre-retirement Fixed Interest”, but I don’t expect big returns in that half, just less volatility and lower dips....

Finally, well done on thinking about this fairly early in!