Best Option for Cash Lump Sum

dunstonh

DoneWorking said:

DoneWorking said:

I am looking for the best option for what to do with a lump sum of around £400k as from January

I have a fair pension and very little outgoings and do not need to secure any income from this money

However I do want to protect it from inflation so I can bequeath it to my wife after I pass on which will be probably in ten years time

I do not want to risk the sum being eroded by inflation

Nor eroded by poor investments

What is my best option

My only ever investment was a small pension sum

A friend has a similar sum invested and says his return has been 8 % total over three years

This is not going to beat inflation but he is risk adverse and stuck on a cautious investment plan

Are there any bonds or saving schemes which could net me 3 to 4 % after costs gross

Or is investment my only option

I have seen two IFAs but not been impressed by the costs and the proposed plans

I am keen on ESG focused investments 

I have had a new quote from an IFAs

Based on cautious risk ESG investment portfolio based on my wife and I 
Based on a Unit Trust

Based on £325 k

1% Initial Report

0.5% ongoing IFA fee pa

Platform/Fund 0.75 pa

They feel they can protect my funds from inflation over the long term and there will be volatility in the short to medium term period

Do these charges look ok

This is a smallish company

What may happen if the owner retires or sells the business

Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

 

With the 0.75% being platform and funds then its not bad for an ESG solution.   As mentioned you expect to pay more for ESG over conventional investing.

Most IFAs are small localised companies. What happens when the owners retire is unknown but you are free to stay with the new owners or move to a different IFA.  Moving between IFAs is very simple.

You would expect cautious to keep up with inflation over the long term but not much else.  You certainly shouldn't expect the next 10 years to be anything like the last 10 years in respect of defensive, conservative or cautious portfolios or even medium risk.   Those good days are gone for a cycle now.

DoneWorking

dunstonh said:

DoneWorking said:

DoneWorking said:

I am looking for the best option for what to do with a lump sum of around £400k as from January

I have a fair pension and very little outgoings and do not need to secure any income from this money

However I do want to protect it from inflation so I can bequeath it to my wife after I pass on which will be probably in ten years time

I do not want to risk the sum being eroded by inflation

Nor eroded by poor investments

What is my best option

My only ever investment was a small pension sum

A friend has a similar sum invested and says his return has been 8 % total over three years

This is not going to beat inflation but he is risk adverse and stuck on a cautious investment plan

Are there any bonds or saving schemes which could net me 3 to 4 % after costs gross

Or is investment my only option

I have seen two IFAs but not been impressed by the costs and the proposed plans

I am keen on ESG focused investments 

I have had a new quote from an IFAs

Based on cautious risk ESG investment portfolio based on my wife and I 
Based on a Unit Trust

Based on £325 k

1% Initial Report

0.5% ongoing IFA fee pa

Platform/Fund 0.75 pa

They feel they can protect my funds from inflation over the long term and there will be volatility in the short to medium term period

Do these charges look ok

This is a smallish company

What may happen if the owner retires or sells the business

Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

 

With the 0.75% being platform and funds then its not bad for an ESG solution.   As mentioned you expect to pay more for ESG over conventional investing.

Most IFAs are small localised companies. What happens when the owners retire is unknown but you are free to stay with the new owners or move to a different IFA.  Moving between IFAs is very simple.

You would expect cautious to keep up with inflation over the long term but not much else.  You certainly shouldn't expect the next 10 years to be anything like the last 10 years in respect of defensive, conservative or cautious portfolios or even medium risk.   Those good days are gone for a cycle now.

Thanks Dunstonh

I'm looking to protect my fund from inflation over at least 5 years but more likely 10 years

Do you advise going with this option

I don't really want to leave my funds to the ravages of inflation

GeoffTF

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

dunstonh

DoneWorking said:

dunstonh said:

DoneWorking said:

DoneWorking said:

I am looking for the best option for what to do with a lump sum of around £400k as from January

I have a fair pension and very little outgoings and do not need to secure any income from this money

However I do want to protect it from inflation so I can bequeath it to my wife after I pass on which will be probably in ten years time

I do not want to risk the sum being eroded by inflation

Nor eroded by poor investments

What is my best option

My only ever investment was a small pension sum

A friend has a similar sum invested and says his return has been 8 % total over three years

This is not going to beat inflation but he is risk adverse and stuck on a cautious investment plan

Are there any bonds or saving schemes which could net me 3 to 4 % after costs gross

Or is investment my only option

I have seen two IFAs but not been impressed by the costs and the proposed plans

I am keen on ESG focused investments 

I have had a new quote from an IFAs

Based on cautious risk ESG investment portfolio based on my wife and I 
Based on a Unit Trust

Based on £325 k

1% Initial Report

0.5% ongoing IFA fee pa

Platform/Fund 0.75 pa

They feel they can protect my funds from inflation over the long term and there will be volatility in the short to medium term period

Do these charges look ok

This is a smallish company

What may happen if the owner retires or sells the business

Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

 

With the 0.75% being platform and funds then its not bad for an ESG solution.   As mentioned you expect to pay more for ESG over conventional investing.

Most IFAs are small localised companies. What happens when the owners retire is unknown but you are free to stay with the new owners or move to a different IFA.  Moving between IFAs is very simple.

You would expect cautious to keep up with inflation over the long term but not much else.  You certainly shouldn't expect the next 10 years to be anything like the last 10 years in respect of defensive, conservative or cautious portfolios or even medium risk.   Those good days are gone for a cycle now.

Thanks Dunstonh

I'm looking to protect my fund from inflation over at least 5 years but more likely 10 years

Do you advise going with this option

I don't really want to leave my funds to the ravages of inflation

I cannot advise you do anything as that would be a regulatory breach.   just discussion and comment only on this site.

5 years is too short a term to give any realistic view as to whether a portfolio will beat inflation or not.  10 years would be more realistic as an expectation to beat inflation but there have been some rare 10 year periods when it hasn't happened.   However, cash would be worse.  So, you are effectively stuck between cash, where you know it wont beat inflation and investing where you know it could do and historically does so in most long term periods but will zig zag around in short term periods.

DoneWorking

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

GeoffTF

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

£325K is a lot to pay for unforseen bills (except for care).

£162.5K in savings accounts and £162.5k in a global tracker would appear to be reasonable if you are just retiring (as your screen name suggests) and probably will not have huge care costs.

You would set up a five year savings acoount ladder by investing equal amounts in cash, a 1 year bond, a 2 year bond, a 3 year bond, a 4 year bond, and a 5 year bond. After that whenever a bond matures, you reinvest in a 5 year bond (currently paying 2.4%).

Buying a global tracker is dead simple. Open an account with (for example) iWeb:

https://www.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/

Pay in your money. Put in a order to buy (for example) this fund:

https://www.markets.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/funds-centre/fund-supermarket/detail/GB00BMJJJF91

It is no more difficult than using an online bank account. You can put up to £20K per year into an ISA. (You and your wife can both do that in separate iWeb accounts. Interactive Investor will do joint accounts.) I expect that you discussed pensions with your IFA. You have not mentioned that, so I assume that you are already maxed out there.

DoneWorking

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

£325K is a lot to pay for unforseen bills (except for care).

£162.5K in savings accounts and £162.5k in a global tracker would appear to be reasonable if you are just retiring (as your screen name suggests) and probably will not have huge care costs.

You would set up a five year savings acoount ladder by investing equal amounts in cash, a 1 year bond, a 2 year bond, a 3 year bond, a 4 year bond, and a 5 year bond. After that whenever a bond matures, you reinvest in a 5 year bond (currently paying 2.4%).

Buying a global tracker is dead simple. Open an account with (for example) iWeb:

https://www.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/

Pay in your money. Put in a order to buy (for example) this fund:

https://www.markets.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/funds-centre/fund-supermarket/detail/GB00BMJJJF91

It is no more difficult than using an online bank account. You can put up to £20K per year into an ISA. (You and your wife can both do that in separate iWeb accounts. Interactive Investor will do joint accounts.) I expect that you discussed pensions with your IFA. You have not mentioned that, so I assume that you are already maxed out there.

Thanks 
I will check those out

What about either Nutmeg Fully Managed Portfolio or the Smart Alpha Portfolio

Would these be ok

Or are they too pricey

GeoffTF

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

£325K is a lot to pay for unforseen bills (except for care).

£162.5K in savings accounts and £162.5k in a global tracker would appear to be reasonable if you are just retiring (as your screen name suggests) and probably will not have huge care costs.

You would set up a five year savings acoount ladder by investing equal amounts in cash, a 1 year bond, a 2 year bond, a 3 year bond, a 4 year bond, and a 5 year bond. After that whenever a bond matures, you reinvest in a 5 year bond (currently paying 2.4%).

Buying a global tracker is dead simple. Open an account with (for example) iWeb:

https://www.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/

Pay in your money. Put in a order to buy (for example) this fund:

https://www.markets.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/funds-centre/fund-supermarket/detail/GB00BMJJJF91

It is no more difficult than using an online bank account. You can put up to £20K per year into an ISA. (You and your wife can both do that in separate iWeb accounts. Interactive Investor will do joint accounts.) I expect that you discussed pensions with your IFA. You have not mentioned that, so I assume that you are already maxed out there.

Thanks 
I will check those out

What about either Nutmeg Fully Managed Portfolio or the Smart Alpha Portfolio
Would these be ok
Or are they too pricey

There is no point in getting so complicated or paying so much. Savings accounts and a simple cheap global tracker will do the job. In addition to the problems that I have already highlighted, anything but very short dated bonds would be hammered if inflation gets worse and interest rates rise more than is expected. Very short dated bonds that are safe return much less than equivalent savings accounts protected by the FSCS. (The FSCS protection is there because the government wants to encourage competition from smaller banks. These banks pay more interest, but would be risky without the FSCS protection.) If you need money, you can take it from whatever has the greater value - the savings accounts or the global tracker. Tax shelter as much of the global tracker as you can.

DoneWorking

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

£325K is a lot to pay for unforseen bills (except for care).

£162.5K in savings accounts and £162.5k in a global tracker would appear to be reasonable if you are just retiring (as your screen name suggests) and probably will not have huge care costs.

You would set up a five year savings acoount ladder by investing equal amounts in cash, a 1 year bond, a 2 year bond, a 3 year bond, a 4 year bond, and a 5 year bond. After that whenever a bond matures, you reinvest in a 5 year bond (currently paying 2.4%).

Buying a global tracker is dead simple. Open an account with (for example) iWeb:

https://www.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/

Pay in your money. Put in a order to buy (for example) this fund:

https://www.markets.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/funds-centre/fund-supermarket/detail/GB00BMJJJF91

It is no more difficult than using an online bank account. You can put up to £20K per year into an ISA. (You and your wife can both do that in separate iWeb accounts. Interactive Investor will do joint accounts.) I expect that you discussed pensions with your IFA. You have not mentioned that, so I assume that you are already maxed out there.

Thanks 
I will check those out

What about either Nutmeg Fully Managed Portfolio or the Smart Alpha Portfolio
Would these be ok
Or are they too pricey

There is no point in getting so complicated or paying so much. Savings accounts and a simple cheap global tracker will do the job. In addition to the problems that I have already highlighted, anything but very short dated bonds would be hammered if inflation gets worse and interest rates rise more than is expected. Very short dated bonds that are safe return much less than equivalent savings accounts protected by the FSCS. (The FSCS protection is there because the government wants to encourage competition from smaller banks. These banks pay more interest, but would be risky without the FSCS protection.) If you need money, you can take it from whatever has the greater value - the savings accounts or the global tracker. Tax shelter as much of the global tracker as you can.

Thanks Geoff

Where can I take a look at these bonds

To avoid confusion

Are you saying do a mix of savings and bonds

Or just bonds

Are the bonds protected by FSCS

GeoffTF

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:

GeoffTF said:

DoneWorking said:
Does the claim to match inflation seem ok based on a cautious fund

Given current valuations and with the cost of using an adviser, I would say that it is optimistic. You are going to have to take a lot of risk to have a realistic chance of beating inflation, and that risk could go against you.

This is really making my head spin

I'm too anxious to take a higher risk

Hence return after fees is not going to beat or even match inflation

Particularly on an ESG Portfolio

The savings options are likely to give me less than 2% return

I'm too hold and infirm to start a business

I have no appetite for property

Do I have any other options

What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?

Low risk bonds will yield very little even before inflation and the costs of an advised portfolio. If you have only a small proportion of equities, you are hoping for an absolutely stellar performance from them to make up for rampant inflation on the whole portfolio.

You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out.

As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues.

"What is the purpose of the money? How do you intend to spend it?"

It's money saved over a lifetime of work to provide my wife and I with financial security in old age

It would be there to pay any unforseen bills in future

Plus top up our spending if we get into any unforseen problems

"You can use 5 year savings accounts, with one maturing every year. You can buy a global tracker on a cheap DIY platform. If you allocate 50% to the savings accounts and 50% to the global tracker, you have got a good chance of beating inflation, and should not be wiped out."

Would I set up a five year savings account each year until I reach the value of 50% of my funds

Who would set up the Global Tracker for the other 50%

Or where would I find one that's simple to set up

"As far as ESG is concerned. It is fashionable, and fashionable investments usually do not do well. It is also usually more profitable to invest in peoples' vices rather than their virtues"

Some people say ESG is starting to achieve better returns than standard investements

£325K is a lot to pay for unforseen bills (except for care).

£162.5K in savings accounts and £162.5k in a global tracker would appear to be reasonable if you are just retiring (as your screen name suggests) and probably will not have huge care costs.

You would set up a five year savings acoount ladder by investing equal amounts in cash, a 1 year bond, a 2 year bond, a 3 year bond, a 4 year bond, and a 5 year bond. After that whenever a bond matures, you reinvest in a 5 year bond (currently paying 2.4%).

Buying a global tracker is dead simple. Open an account with (for example) iWeb:

https://www.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/

Pay in your money. Put in a order to buy (for example) this fund:

https://www.markets.iweb-sharedealing.co.uk/funds-centre/fund-supermarket/detail/GB00BMJJJF91

It is no more difficult than using an online bank account. You can put up to £20K per year into an ISA. (You and your wife can both do that in separate iWeb accounts. Interactive Investor will do joint accounts.) I expect that you discussed pensions with your IFA. You have not mentioned that, so I assume that you are already maxed out there.

Thanks 
I will check those out

What about either Nutmeg Fully Managed Portfolio or the Smart Alpha Portfolio
Would these be ok
Or are they too pricey

There is no point in getting so complicated or paying so much. Savings accounts and a simple cheap global tracker will do the job. In addition to the problems that I have already highlighted, anything but very short dated bonds would be hammered if inflation gets worse and interest rates rise more than is expected. Very short dated bonds that are safe return much less than equivalent savings accounts protected by the FSCS. (The FSCS protection is there because the government wants to encourage competition from smaller banks. These banks pay more interest, but would be risky without the FSCS protection.) If you need money, you can take it from whatever has the greater value - the savings accounts or the global tracker. Tax shelter as much of the global tracker as you can.

Thanks Geoff

Where can I take a look at these bonds

To avoid confusion

Are you saying do a mix of savings and bonds

Or just bonds

Are the bonds protected by FSCS

I am saying only use savings accounts, which are often called "bonds" if they have a fixed term. Only use savings accounts that are protected by the FSCS.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/savings-accounts-best-interest/

Outside a tax shelter, bonds traded on the financial markets have an unfavourable tax treatment if they are "above par" as many (most?) of them will be currently. Distributions from multi-asset funds with less than 60% equities are taxed as income rather than dividends, which is unfavourable. Working out the tax for robo-advisers outside of a tax shelter will be very complicated. Given your level of knowledge, you will need to hire an accountant to fill in your tax returns, so it will pay to keep things simple. Savings accounts plus a single global tracker fund is about as simple as you can get.