New to investing + trying to decide on a few options

EasyToAssemble01

I'm looking to start my investing journey, and - after a bit of reading etc - have managed to narrow it down to tracker funds, but wondered if there were other ideal beginner options out there?. A few people have mentioned money market funds, but it seems the returns aren't much different to high street savings accounts.

Main criteria is:

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)
• Low risk / guaranteed returns
• Set and forget
• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Platforms?
I'm looking at Vanguard UK for the tracker funds, but wondered if anyone has recommendations for other low-cost platforms that offer bundles for beginners? 

Natwest Invest (+ investing with banks)
I have a Cash ISA with Natwest, and noticed that they offer "readymade" investment services (via Coutts Bank). Does anyone here use their investment services? The annual fees are:

• Platform fee: 0.15%
• Fund ongoing charge: 0.40%
• Transaction Costs: 0.07%

coastline

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)
• Low risk / guaranteed returns
• Set and forget
• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

 Low risk/ guaranteed returns haven't made anywhere near 8% over the years but there's other opportunities with a 20-30 year window and set and forget.
This link if set to 20 years shows recent ballpark figures and volatility with three different portfolios ,adventurous , cautious and balanced. Low risk will be either cautious or a bit more risk balanced. Select the Annualised Performance tab and look at Start of Data to see recent returns.

Chart Tool | Trustnet

Equities themselves can take years to become positive and at times 20 years.

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Worth looking at this selection of portfolios.

Multi Asset Funds | Ready-made Portfolios - HSBC UK

Platforms are explained here..

Our updated guide to help you find the best online broker (monevator.com)

ColdIron

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Main criteria is:

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)

That's fine. Give serious consideration to a SIPP for the tax benefits

• Low risk / guaranteed returns

Low risk is fine but you will have to accept low returns. Guaranteed returns are not possible, use a savings account

• Set and forget

That's fine too

• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Pick one or the other, you can't have both

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Trackers will keep the cost down but betting the farm on a single geographical location is very high risk. Most would use a single global tracker but even then 100% equities is at odds with your desire for low risk

There are many multi-asset funds based on trackers that will include non equity investments to temper the risk

Platforms?
I'm looking at Vanguard UK for the tracker funds, but wondered if anyone has recommendations for other low-cost platforms that offer bundles for beginners?

Vanguard are fine and as a percentage fee broker this could suit when the sums are low. They offer the LifeStrategy range of multi-asset funds and a SIPP. What you invest in is far more important than where

EasyToAssemble01

ColdIron said:

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Main criteria is:

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)

That's fine. Give serious consideration to a SIPP for the tax benefits

• Low risk / guaranteed returns

Low risk is fine but you will have to accept low returns. Guaranteed returns are not possible, use a savings account

• Set and forget

That's fine too

• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Pick one or the other, you can't have both

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Trackers will keep the cost down but betting the farm on a single geographical location is very high risk. Most would use a single global tracker but even then 100% equities is at odds with your desire for low risk

There are many multi-asset funds based on trackers that will include non equity investments to temper the risk

Platforms?
I'm looking at Vanguard UK for the tracker funds, but wondered if anyone has recommendations for other low-cost platforms that offer bundles for beginners?

Vanguard are fine and as a percentage fee broker this could suit when the sums are low. They offer the LifeStrategy range of multi-asset funds and a SIPP. What you invest in is far more important than where

In terms of SIPP, I've seen some people say that it's a tossup between paying tax now (ISAs) and paying tax on the other end (Pensions). Would a SIPP have a considerable advantage, after factoring in all the tax / charges when accessing it?

Aminatidi

Low risk guaranteed 8% returns you don't want much do you

ColdIron

As a bare minimum a pension will currently allow 25% tax free. If you are, or aspire to be, a higher rate taxpayer that 66% uplift is hard to dismiss. Remember it could have a long time to grow

Albermarle

EasyToAssemble01 said:

ColdIron said:

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Main criteria is:

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)

That's fine. Give serious consideration to a SIPP for the tax benefits

• Low risk / guaranteed returns

Low risk is fine but you will have to accept low returns. Guaranteed returns are not possible, use a savings account

• Set and forget

That's fine too

• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Pick one or the other, you can't have both

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Trackers will keep the cost down but betting the farm on a single geographical location is very high risk. Most would use a single global tracker but even then 100% equities is at odds with your desire for low risk

There are many multi-asset funds based on trackers that will include non equity investments to temper the risk

Platforms?
I'm looking at Vanguard UK for the tracker funds, but wondered if anyone has recommendations for other low-cost platforms that offer bundles for beginners?

Vanguard are fine and as a percentage fee broker this could suit when the sums are low. They offer the LifeStrategy range of multi-asset funds and a SIPP. What you invest in is far more important than where

In terms of SIPP, I've seen some people say that it's a tossup between paying tax now (ISAs) and paying tax on the other end (Pensions). Would a SIPP have a considerable advantage, after factoring in all the tax / charges when accessing it?

The minimum tax advantage for a pension is 6.25 %. It can be significantly more depending on your current tax band and how and when you withdraw the money.

• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Usually it makes more sense to aim for a return above inflation, as for example 8% growth is not much good if inflation is 10%.
Low risk investments would maybe match inflation, but no more. Medium/high risk would hopefully beat inflation but maybe only 1% and 5% and nothing guaranteed of course.

Prism

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Think of it another way. If you invest in an S&P500 tracker you are missing out on:

US smaller companies
China, India and Brazil with all of their growth prospects
Japan which is pretty cheap
Europe and all of its luxury goods companies and healthcare companies
The UK as you mentioned

Any

EasyToAssemble01 said:

ColdIron said:

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Main criteria is:

• Long term horizon (20-30 years)

That's fine. Give serious consideration to a SIPP for the tax benefits

• Low risk / guaranteed returns

Low risk is fine but you will have to accept low returns. Guaranteed returns are not possible, use a savings account

• Set and forget

That's fine too

• Ideally, I'd like around 8% average returns, but willing to adjust that to keep risk low

Pick one or the other, you can't have both

Tracker Funds
I'm dithering on whether to invest in S+P500 or Whole World Index, as the S+P makes up a large portion of the latter. I'm also wondering whether it's worth betting on the FTSE100. It's doing fairly badly right now, but I figure that just means there's potential for improvement long-term?

Trackers will keep the cost down but betting the farm on a single geographical location is very high risk. Most would use a single global tracker but even then 100% equities is at odds with your desire for low risk

There are many multi-asset funds based on trackers that will include non equity investments to temper the risk

Platforms?
I'm looking at Vanguard UK for the tracker funds, but wondered if anyone has recommendations for other low-cost platforms that offer bundles for beginners?

Vanguard are fine and as a percentage fee broker this could suit when the sums are low. They offer the LifeStrategy range of multi-asset funds and a SIPP. What you invest in is far more important than where

In terms of SIPP, I've seen some people say that it's a tossup between paying tax now (ISAs) and paying tax on the other end (Pensions). Would a SIPP have a considerable advantage, after factoring in all the tax / charges when accessing it?

Tax/charges when accessing SIPP?
What do you imagine these are? 

First 25% tax free and then tax in your tax band. Unless you are going to make some fantastic life choices that will possibly be the lower tax band, or possibly 0 on part of it if you decide to retire before your state pension kicks in and this will be your only income, as you would use your personal allowance. 
But you save tax now on deposits, so put more in now and this more will have time to grow.. 

I personally advocate for both - ISA and SIPP, because once it is in SIPP it is not accessible until you are 57 and you might need some cash earlier. 
And because what you said, should I not need to use the ISA I will use it as tax free income top up later. 

So hopefully one day I will draw on my SIP to utilise my tax free allowance to best tax advantage and then have also non taxable income. 
Balance is always tough, decision on how much where, but all this depends on your age of course.