SJP and finding a better alternative

martinporter69

I have had a look at Vanguard first off and it all seems easy to setup and transfer in my existing cash ISA
I assumes that would one become and stocks and shares ISA? I would invest in one or more funds, looking at the risk level and balancing the possible returns.
When you buy into the fund, how do you then rebalance your portfolio - sell the fund, I assume and buy another?

wjr4

Is the 50k your emergency fund? 

martinporter69

Not as such, I will just drawn down from the company as divvys if I need liquid cash fast

Albermarle

martinporter69 said:

I have had a look at Vanguard first off and it all seems easy to setup and transfer in my existing cash ISA
I assumes that would one become and stocks and shares ISA? I would invest in one or more funds, looking at the risk level and balancing the possible returns

You would open a S&S ISA with Vanguard first and then give them the details of your cash ISA and they will arrange the transfer 
You can change around the funds by buying and selling at any time , although too much tinkering is best avoided .

NottinghamKnight

martinporter69 said:

I have had a look at Vanguard first off and it all seems easy to setup and transfer in my existing cash ISA
I assumes that would one become and stocks and shares ISA? I would invest in one or more funds, looking at the risk level and balancing the possible returns.
When you buy into the fund, how do you then rebalance your portfolio - sell the fund, I assume and buy another?

for the 'fire and forget' option, such as vanguard lifestrategy then the fund rebalances itself as it moves it's assets back to the target allocation periodically. VLS is seen by some as the answer to all problems, it obviously isn't but you could do much worse. You determine the risk level you are comfortable with, this will translate as a percentage equity (20% to 100%) and invest your money; some don't like it because it overweights the uk stockmarket but has had a minor detrimental impact in recent years. 

barnstar2077

A well known review of the Lifestrategy funds from Vanguard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-O3d6mel28&feature=emb_logo

It really is as easy as picking the LS fund that suits your risk appetite.  On the Vanguard platform the total cost per year would be 0.37%.  Do you think SJP will match it?

Obviously there are many other solutions to your dilemma available, this just happens to be an easy one that I myself am also doing,

There is certainly nothing wrong with going to see a few local IFAs to see how they compare / what they can offer you.

martinporter69

Thanks barnstar and all the others. My mind is made up, I am going to move into the Vanguard platform and choose one of the lifestyle strategy funds (or maybe a few spreading the money with some in higher risk/reward funds) .
I'll save 5% input fees that SJP charge and then ongoing annual fee is cheaper as well. Even with the very conservative funds I will be better off. Happy days!

Jazz8760

Hello, just reading this thread about SJP and moving funds to Vanguard.  I have been with SJP for 11yrs (through my father) when a friend recently pointed out that I would be paying a lot less in charges anywhere else.  My question is to Martinporter69 ... How did your investments go as these posts were almost 3yrs ago?
I can't seem to find answers with costs incurred if I'm better off staying where I am or moving.  I need to find out what the exit charges are and investing through another FA will incur more costs!  As I'm 65 now I don't know how long I have left, and have started drawing down on my investments.  At the moment my annual drawdown is more than I'm earning in profit.  Whilst I eat away at my money and stock markets are suffering I wonder where should my money be?  I have one friend who gets almost 5% in an isa!!  Another friend has invested her money in NS&i.  Do I need an IFA? 

Albermarle

Jazz8760 said:

Hello, just reading this thread about SJP and moving funds to Vanguard.  I have been with SJP for 11yrs (through my father) when a friend recently pointed out that I would be paying a lot less in charges anywhere else.  My question is to Martinporter69 ... How did your investments go as these posts were almost 3yrs ago?
I can't seem to find answers with costs incurred if I'm better off staying where I am or moving.  I need to find out what the exit charges are and investing through another FA will incur more costs!  As I'm 65 now I don't know how long I have left, and have started drawing down on my investments.  At the moment my annual drawdown is more than I'm earning in profit.  Whilst I eat away at my money and stock markets are suffering I wonder where should my money be?  I have one friend who gets almost 5% in an isa!!  Another friend has invested her money in NS&i.  Do I need an IFA? 

Normally it is better to start a new thread than to jump on another one. However I appreciate you did refer to the previous poster.
You have asked a number of interlinked questions, so I will try to separate them for clarity.

SJP overall charges are usually in the region of 2%. 
IFA charges can vary but will typically be between 1.1 and 1.8% + there will an initial charge of maybe 3 %
If you DIY , the charges are typically 0.3% to 0.8%. It  helps of course if you have some understanding about investing.
SJP have restrictions/penalties if you close/transfer the account, but the longer you have the account the lower they will be.

Share and bond markets had a difficult 2022 and nearly everybody will have seen a decline in investment values. There is never any guarantee that there will be a 'profit' every year, but in the long term there should be.

 I have one friend who gets almost 5% in an isa!!  Another friend has invested her money in NS&i.  
Presume you mean a cash ISA?
Although savings rates have improved, if you are looking to the long term then usually best to stick with investments, although always useful to have some cash available.
In any case what is suitable for a friend is not necessarily suitable for you.

  As I'm 65 now I don't know how long I have left
The average 65 year old will live another 20 years. That means 50% will live longer.

Hopefully you have a full state pension due soon, that will maybe mean you can draw down a bit less each year from your investments.

jimjames

Jazz8760 said:

I can't seem to find answers with costs incurred if I'm better off staying where I am or moving.  I need to find out what the exit charges are and investing through another FA will incur more costs!    Do I need an IFA? 

Vanguard are not an IFA, they can be a FA as they only sell their own products but generally most people are DIY with them as they only introduced advice very recently.