Vanguard Is It A Good Time To Top Up

awrightson

I appreciate nobody is in possession of a crystal ball but would be interested in other's thoughts.

I have some of this years ISA allowance left and was wondering if now would be a good time to put some more funds in to my lifestrategy 80 fund or would it be better to hold off until next year given that we are heading into some difficult times ahead.

B0bbyEwing

I thought the general long term advice is don't react to events & just keep on with your long term strategy?

jimjames

If the price is lower than it was then it's a better time than when the price was higher. The markets are aware of predictions so all that should be priced in. If you need to use the allowance then you could divide into equal chunks between now and April if you don't want to commit. I do that anyway as I invest from salary

Albermarle

It would have been better to have added it 5 weeks ago as VLS80 is 6% up since then. You are trying to time the market, which even experienced professional investors struggle to do.

or would it be better to hold off until next year given that we are heading into some difficult times ahead.

The markets look ahead, and they know next year will be difficult for many economies, and that is already priced in. 
Markets often start to rise when the economies are at their lowest ebb, as they start to anticipate the recovery.
Of course there can be unexpected events that will push the market down or up, but as you do not have a crystal ball, all you can do is decide on a strategy and stick to it.

bostonerimus

Don't attempt to time the market and if you can max out your ISA each year you will be making the most of its tax advantages. So if you can afford to put more into your ISA this year "use it before you lose it".

dunstonh

I have some of this years ISA allowance left and was wondering if now would be a good time to put some more funds in to my lifestrategy 80 fund or would it be better to hold off until next year given that we are heading into some difficult times ahead.

Better than last year.  Better than June this year.  Not as good as a month ago.  You may have missed the bottom but we cant tell.     If you are investing for 15-20+ years then it really doesnt make any difference in the long run.  Markets are still low by recent standards.

plumb1_2

I’ve just topped up my vanguard isa, it was down near 10% about 2 months ago, now down 3% when I added funds. Missed the boat imo, but tend to invest every 3 months if I can when funds available and I know iam not gonna need the monies for 5 yrs.
I would have liked it to still be down 10% , but hyho .

Mutton_Geoff

As the experts above have alluded to, it's time in the market, not timing the market. How long is your investment window? A year or 20 years?

My entire ISA is VLS80. I'd keep adding every year and don't try to time anything.

InvesterJones

awrightson said:

I have some of this years ISA allowance left and was wondering if now would be a good time to put some more funds in to my lifestrategy 80 fund or would it be better to hold off until next year given that we are heading into some difficult times ahead.

What was your plan for the funding originally and what has changed since you made your plan?

awrightson

Thanks for all your comments much appreciated.
I am very much a novice investor with limited funds and I am quite new to Vanguard only making my first investment a couple of years back. Having lost money on Moneything and also in the penny shares in the past, I thought I would try this as a slightly more secure/reliable investment.
Timeframe is likely about 10 years but don't really enjoy the best of health so it may be slightly less.
Part of "the plan" was to invest into vls80 to try and make enough to top up my sipp every year which as a non earner is £2880, sadly this only started 2 years ago as well, so kind of late to the party, but it was after receiving some inheritance that has allowed me to give it a shot. 
Initial plan was to stop at £30k (where it is at now) but I was wondering if I should maybe try a top up now if the timing might be right, which i appreciate is not in anyone's gift to predict but there are also many more people/investors who do know a lot more than I ever will with regards to these things so thought I would ask the question and see what the replies were.

P.s I have an emergency fund set by of £5k which wont get touched.
This would be the last top up if I decide to, as that will be the last of the inheritance gone.

Albermarle

Why do you not just put the money straight in the SIPP and invest in VLS 80 in the SIPP?
What investment do you have in the SIPP anyway ?