When to sell? Before or after dividend?

Flatulentoldgoat

I'm planning to sell all my LS100. There's an annual dividend (April I believe) If I sell before then will I forfeit the whole dividend? Or would I receive a % based on the time invested? Probably more a question to ask Vanguard but just thought I'd ask her in case it's common knowledge.

Reaper

As with individual shares there is an ex-dividend date. Anyone holding shares before this date gets the dividend even if they sell before the date it actually gets paid. 1st April I believe in this case.

However it is largely irrelevant. The price drops by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date (assuming no other factors influence it on the day). So it makes no difference whether you sell before or after. The only exception is if you are trying to minimise capital gains tax or income tax and therefore do/don't want the dividend.

Thrugelmir

The accrued dividend will be reflected in the current valuation of the fund. There's nothing extra being distributed. 

maxsteam

The question "when to sell" is a huge question. Many books have been written on this topic. You can also research charting strategies. The dividend date is largely irrelevant. It's likely that your CGT and income tax rates will be similar so there is unlikely to even be a tax advantage to selling before or after the dividend date.
A brief answer is: You should look at the price and guess when it's at its highest.