Stock picking / savings mix

Bobziz

Thrugelmir said:

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. 

But will that dampen the retail enthusisam long term ? this is a little dated now, but an interesting read: https://www.ft.com/content/7a91e3ea-b9ec-4611-9a03-a8dd3b8bddb5

El_Torro

What is the goal for your S&S ISA? What do you need the money for? You seem to be quite clear on what you’re doing with your pension. Why not use the same methodology for your ISA? 

If buying individual shares works for you and you’re happy with your returns so far then don’t let us dissuade you from continuing. Just know that the risks are higher and (as you have found out) it takes a lot more work to get right. 

Most people on this forum prefer a more passive approach to investing so won’t sing the praises of buying individual shares.

DartfordKit

bostonerimus said:

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?

Appreciate this, 'spring cleaning' hits the spot I feel. Have been set in a certain way for 5 years or so but personal situation has changed a little with greater disposable income and thinking more about the long term with the partner of a few years. Good point about the 8 funds in the pension, perhaps slightly over-diversified, certainly on closer inspection of some funds they can be overly focused on (and duplicate) some of the prestige tech socks... which hasn't been necessarily a bad thing recently, have been tending towards some of the more responsible investment funds of late

DartfordKit

El_Torro said:

What is the goal for your S&S ISA? What do you need the money for? You seem to be quite clear on what you’re doing with your pension. Why not use the same methodology for your ISA? 

If buying individual shares works for you and you’re happy with your returns so far then don’t let us dissuade you from continuing. Just know that the risks are higher and (as you have found out) it takes a lot more work to get right. 

Most people on this forum prefer a more passive approach to investing so won’t sing the praises of buying individual shares.

Good point! I suppose with the near liquid 'emergency funds' in PBs and cash ISA I could take a even longer term view of the S&S ISA, it's not really there for any immediate purpose but could decide to utilise for equity in property to be mortgage free in time. I would like to think it's there to make use of personal allowances, to try any create a greater back-up in times of need (whilst secure in a good job of 15 yrs+, the prudent accountant in me never knows what's could be round the corner) whilst trusting to my judgement in selections to perhaps 'beat the market' (I've had a few double gangers that I typically take back my original investment for example). But as I say in OP, the managed fund element of the S&S ISA hasn't really done as well as my individual stock selections, at least in the last 3 years or so