Stock picking / savings mix

DartfordKit

Hi there,
Just wanted to pick some of your good brains around managing stocks and funds in a S&S ISA and other savings.
I've regularly paid in money to my S&S ISA over the last 5 years or so totalling approx £75k. Currently, the pot is around £92k so I've managed some growth, currently not Tesla level but better than I might have otherwise achieved elsewhere (I think! Reading some discussion posts, I sometimes second guess myself).
I would suppose I have been pretty 'active' in managing my stock and fund selections, with around 75% in stocks that I have selected and traded based on their fundamentals (PEG, EPS%, etc), dividends (all reinvested) and a little bit of gut too. The remainder is in managed funds, which haven't set the world alight, perhaps 4% of growth from 2/3 years. Has this been worth it on the face of it? 
I've made some mistakes at times investing in stocks, selling too early either to 'bank' gains and then seeing further growth or closing a losing position rather than holding and losing out on a rebound, but feel I've learnt my lesson! 
This is the main location of my savings/investments but also hold some PBs and a cash ISA as emergency funds (c. 6 mths net salary) and so suck up most short term pain in the S&S ISA which I did last year when the pandemic hit. My pension is well set I think at £300k at 42 yrs old and I have near maxed that out in recent years. I may look to move in 2022 and current property worth £300k has LTV of 25% and would be looking at re-mortgaging to value of around £500k.
Looking for some thoughts around whether I appear to be doing anything wrong or if things are generally looking healthy generally? Anything else I should be thinking about?
Cheers!

Albermarle

You do not say how your pension pot is invested . Hopefully it is more long term invested rather than the trading you are doing in the ISA?

DartfordKit

Albermarle said:

You do not say how your pension pot is invested . Hopefully it is more long term invested rather than the trading you are doing in the ISA?

Pension pot is a workplace pension with Aviva and only allows picks from their library of funds (perhaps that's a good thing!), I'm invested in around 8 funds and growth accounts for around a third of total value over 10 yrs or so. They have some funds (and I'm in one) that claim to be 'absolute return' funds and say they employ some long/short positions but generally I would consider them long-term invested as you ask. Asset breakdown is c. 45% global equity, 35% bonds, 10% 'other' (will be mostly alternatives) with the rest in UK equity, cash and property.

jimjames

You've not said your age but assuming you're young(ish) I'm not sure absolute return funds are the best choice for long term pension investment. Personally I'd think that fully invested funds would do better over the long term and absolute return would be better nearing retirement.

DartfordKit

jimjames said:

You've not said your age but assuming you're young(ish) I'm not sure absolute return funds are the best choice for long term pension investment. Personally I'd think that fully invested funds would do better over the long term and absolute return would be better nearing retirement.

I had and 42 yrs old so hopefully plenty of years of growth to come! Think you have a point re absolute return so will have a look at that share of the pot (10% ish), thanks

Albermarle

Most absolute return funds have performed pretty badly in recent years , so not sure I would even have them near retirement.

DragonCapsule

Never ever beat yourself up for selling shares for a profit. I've sold Tesla at 600 presplit, but hey, they'll be other fish to fry. Stock and share's isa's are a great way to invest given the pension allowance level and how it may shrink soon. You seem to be doing well. I'd just invest in the US, the Ftse 100 is a lousy investment. the S&P500 has done better in the past consistently. Maybe look at the legal and general technolgy tracker as well as it track the Nasdaq. Happy to provide some links to youtuber who I trust as stock pickers.

Thrugelmir

Never any harm in banking profits. A raging bull market fueled by Central Bank printing presses is ultimately going to run out of steam. Asset prices have to be backed up by fundamental company financial performance. Appears to be retail investors driving the markets currently. 

bostonerimus

You are doing all the right sort of things, but maybe you need a bit of "spring cleaning". Firstly, you should be investing to meet your own long term goals...how you do relative to someone else isn't important and don't dwell on perceived failures. 

I would move away from stock trading in your ISA and settle on a few (max 5) funds that you can hold for the long term. You say you have 8 funds in your pension. Why? Could you get the same asset allocation with fewer funds?

Bobziz

Thrugelmir said:

Never any harm in banking profits. A raging bull market fueled by Central Bank printing presses is ultimately going to run out of steam. Asset prices have to be backed up by fundamental company financial performance. Appears to be retail investors driving the markets currently. 

Indeed, question is how long that will be sustained ? Sentiment & herd mentality v's fundamentals...

Thrugelmir

Bobziz said:

Thrugelmir said:

Never any harm in banking profits. A raging bull market fueled by Central Bank printing presses is ultimately going to run out of steam. Asset prices have to be backed up by fundamental company financial performance. Appears to be retail investors driving the markets currently. 

Indeed, question is how long that will be sustained ? Sentiment & herd mentality v's fundamentals...

As the fog hanging over the pandemic lifts (globally) the extent of the economic damage caused will be visible.