MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Looking to put some money into a stocks & shares ISA which I intend to leave there for 7 years.
I'm not interested in messing about with funds, I just want somewhere I can stick my annual allowance and get a reasonable return (I know that's not guaranteed).
I've looked at a few, standard life, bank of scotland, etc. My pension is with standard life and its growing at a decent rate so there's some trust there and there website is a doddle to use.
Any recommendations?
I've got some money with Hargreaves lansdown in the cf Woodford fund. Started last June and currently up by just over 20%. Obviously this changes daily and could lose all of that gain but so far so good. I got mine at the launch price of £1. I'd put more in if I had some spare cash!
Thanks, I'll take a look at that. All done online I take it?
I have various online stocks & shares ISAs with hl.co.uk, Share.com & bestinvest.co.uk
I think HL has the best UI.
Have a look at fees:
[img] 
[/img]
Obviously this changes daily and could lose all of that gain but so far so good
You shouldn't be buying stocks / funds unless you're taking a long term view, that 20% gain will be wiped out at some point, and quite possibly you'll also show a loss at some point. Stocks are a long term game. Right now the FTSE is at an all time high, it won't last!
I prefer Interactive Investor to HL but for smaller investments HL is cheaper.
Funds? Well HL do have recommendations in their Wealth 150. I use that plus look at Close Brothers ratings.
I went for a FTSE tracker through HSBC. I accept the returns are not as great as I'd get through a managed investment but given my level of knowledge was low it didn't bother me so much, over long run it should prove a better investment than sticking it into a normal ISA or savings account.
Well HL do have recommendations in their Wealth 150
A bit of an odd list, I'd take it with a pinch of salt. Whole market segments are missing from their list.
Yeah put it's a starting point - any other places have recommendations?
any other places have recommendations?
Telegraph is a good place to start.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket, work out a split eg
50% UK
20% USA
20% Europe
5% Japan
5% China
Then look for good funds in each area and split the money so no more than say 10% is in any one fund.
For the UK Neil Woodford is a good choice, market leading so far and a good track record.
[i]You shouldn't be buying stocks / funds unless you're taking a long term view, that 20% gain will be wiped out at some point, and quite possibly you'll also show a loss at some point. Stocks is a long term gain. Right now the FTSE is at an all time high, it won't last! [/i]
These ISA's will be part of a 7 year plan so I'm not expecting, or looking for short term gain. If at the end of 7 years things have taken a dip then it wouldn't be crucial to withdraw funds at that point.
[i]Don't put all your eggs in one basket, work out a split eg[/i]
Is that not the fund managers job? Although I understand putting money in every year to the same pot may not be a good strategy.
Different funds focus on different areas so worth having a few - I have too many as built over the years and always looking for new funds, will start consolidating slowly I think.
US and Japan performed best for me this last year.
Anyone use a nice online tracker? I have just loaded my details into this which seems a nice tool:
Right now the FTSE is at an all time high, it won't last!
Who knows?! Currently mood is positive but if Greece leave Euro then that'll cause trouble, if Labour get in too ;). Timing the market is a tough thing to do and could easily lose out.
Is that not the fund managers job?
They split amongst companies in their chosen area of expertise eg Japan, Tech, Comms etc
This would mean that their fund is exposed to a crash in that region / area / country etc.
By splitting between funds you spread the risk.
e.g. my best performing fund this year is a Japan one (up > 30%), but I wouldn't put all my money into one country!
Well Neil Woodford has done well (again).
Neil Woodford, one of Britain’s most successful fund managers, has been named as the best performer in the UK equity income sector after his new fund delivered an investment return of nearly 20% in less than a year.
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jun/08/neil-woodford-top-equity-income-performer
I've plonked a bunch of cash with terry smith (fundsmith). Done well in the first year but it's a long term view. Charges are an important thing to consider.