Recommend me a ISA stocks and shares fund please

[Casa1862]

I'm after some recommendations for unit trust stocks and shares ISA. I have £10k to invest and looking for something with good returns and relatively high risk. I've got some safer investments and this £10k I want to play with and not too bothered if it goes down, obviously would like it not to. Any recommendations please? I’m thinking emerging markets and would like info on best places to buy them from to avoid excessive initial charges.

On a different note I also have about £9k each in Newton Pan European fund and Newton higher income fund. I have been paying in £100 per months since about 1999, so in total paid about £13k in and funds worth £18k now. Is it worth changing these two funds? As you can tell I’m not too up on these funds and have tended to leave them alone, I would appreciate some advise and I’m not interested in taking dividends

Thanks in advance

[5pen]

Someone like Hargreaves Lansdown will allow you to deposit the £10k and split it between a number of funds from different managers and in most cases you will not be charged the full initial fee (no fee at all in many cases). Minimum investment per fund is usually £1k.

You could then, for example (this isn't advice!), spread your investment over a couple of funds with varying focus including some emerging markets if that's what you fancy.

[Sideways Rich]

Looking to do the same to use up this years ISA allowance and will do the same next year. How long does it take to arrange an ISA with someone like Hargreaves Lansdowne - or put succinctly, do I have enough time to arrange one to use up my £10,200 (Stocks and shares) allowance this tax year?

[Casa1862]

5pen said:

Someone like Hargreaves Lansdown will allow you to deposit the £10k and split it between a number of funds from different managers and in most cases you will not be charged the full initial fee (no fee at all in many cases). Minimum investment per fund is usually £1k.

You could then, for example (this isn't advice!), spread your investment over a couple of funds with varying focus including some emerging markets if that's what you fancy.

Thanks for the info, seems a good idea.

Are there any particular funds that people would suggest? Obviously everyone’s view on risk is different I just wanted to get an idea if emerging markets are still worth getting into or have they been done to a death. Crystal ball stuff I know but it's more tips or views on funds I'm after.

Worth keeping the two Newton funds?

From what I have been told it doesn't take too long at all for an ISA application.

[Mr Pointy]

Sideways Rich said:

Looking to do the same to use up this years ISA allowance and will do the same next year. How long does it take to arrange an ISA with someone like Hargreaves Lansdowne - or put succinctly, do I have enough time to arrange one to use up my £10,200 (Stocks and shares) allowance this tax year?

Yes, plenty of time but don't hang around. I use HL & find the website convenient. Sometimes they seem to push certain funds (especially at launch) but there seems to be plenty of information about different funds on the site.

http://www.h-l.co.uk/?theSource=E0454&Override...

[ringram]

There has been a recent sell off in emerging markets, maybe more to come depending on how china cools or otherwise, but a broad emerging market fund or etf like EEM or TEM could be good. Or go for AFK for some african action. My crazy 2p

[Sideways Rich]

Mr Pointy said:

Yes, plenty of time but don't hang around. I use HL & find the website convenient. Sometimes they seem to push certain funds (especially at launch) but there seems to be plenty of information about different funds on the site.

http://www.h-l.co.uk/?theSource=E0454&Override...

Thanks - will crack on with this tonight

[technogogo]

This site has a pretty nifty fund finder:

http://www.iii.co.uk/isas/fundfilter

You can select the factors that are important to you and you get resulting matches. Its confusing though isn't it?! So many funds.

I am transferring a £20k deferred pension into a SIPP and have been using this fund finder. You are not supposed to base decisions on past performance. But its amazing the gulf between the good and the bad funds. I have been bearing the following in mind: since 2009 almost all share prices have gone up. So the funds have had a relatively easy time picking winners. For this reason I think performance over the last 5 years is probably an especially good figure to use right now. Also, performance over the last year shows how good they are at selecting the fastest recovering companies. Well thats my 2cent anyway.

[technogogo]

Also... Interactive Investor seems to be a good site. I have an ISA account with them. You can open an account quickly and, provided you transfer the cash into the ISA account before the deadline, you can choose your fund at leisure. The site displays your remaining allowance in the corner of the page.

[Mr Pointy]

Thanks, that's an interesting site. I'm al spent out this year but it will be useful for next year.

[Sideways Rich]

Mr Pointy said:

Thanks, that's an interesting site. I'm al spent out this year but it will be useful for next year.

Are there any views on which is the most effective/quickest/value for money to set up a self-select execution only account to use up this tax yrs ISA allowance;

<> Hargreaves Lansdown
<> Share.co.uk
<> Interactive Investor
<> High Street banks online platform
<> Fool.co.uk

Thanks

[Mr Pointy]

Sideways Rich said:

Mr Pointy said:

Thanks, that's an interesting site. I'm al spent out this year but it will be useful for next year.

Are there any views on which is the most effective/quickest/value for money to set up a self-select execution only account to use up this tax yrs ISA allowance;

<> Hargreaves Lansdown
<> Share.co.uk
<> Interactive Investor
<> High Street banks online platform
<> Fool.co.uk

Thanks

I only have experience of HL but I'm almost certain you can get the basic account opened & funds deposited in minutes. You can use a debit card to transfer cash although you may need to warn your bank or they might think it a fraudulent transaction. The money sits in a cash account (within the ISA) until you use it to purchase funds.

It may take a little longer to set up a trading account which is what you need to actually spend the transferred cash on funds. I think they have to write to you with a password, but I may be wrong as it's some time since I opened my account.

[iphonedyou]

Having just set up a stocks and shares ISA a few months ago with iii, I can confirm that you do need a password mailed to you.

It's a little finicky to set up, and I needed a few phone calls to get little issues ironed out, but it's been great since setup. No issues. The portfolio function is useful, but strangely, it seems to be manual - in that you've to type in the number of units bought, price per unit, date purchased, before it'll show you your net profit or loss in the portfolio.

I'd still recommend it, but I've no experience of others.

[Casa1862]

I've had my eye on Aberdeen Latin America fund which has only been around since February. Would it be a bad idea to invest in such a new fund? The other one I was interested in is Allianz RCM BRIC Stars which is a more established fund since 2006, I would views on both and any other recommendations appreciated.


http://www.h-l.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices-...


http://www.h-l.co.uk/funds/fund-discounts,-prices-...

[technogogo]

Fool had an article about Latin America the other day. It mentioned a couple of funds. I find the site to be a useful place for tips and info. This part of their site: http://www.fool.co.uk/latest-stories/

This is the specific article - http://www.fool.co.uk/news/investing/2011/03/22/a-...

I've rescued an old 20k pension pot by pulling it into a SIPP. I think i will put it into one of the funds recommended.

[aka_kerrly]

Please seek proper financial adviser before investing on administration platforms and using stocks & shares.

If you visit PLATFORUM, there is a PAT - Platform analysis tool which allows you to compare the charges from different trading platforms. Note, don't be fooled by lower Annual management charges and look at all the administration fees associated with running the account eg transaction charges, switch charges, charges for additional valuations etc.

dave

[cailean]

I use Selftrade as a platform, I don't like HL they push funds too much and are not independent. I now mainly invest in shares as the costs of funds are too high but still keep a nice selection such as:
Aberdeen Asia Pacific
AXA Framlington UK Select Opps
JPM Natural Resources
First State Asia Pacific Leaders
First State Global Emerging Markets Leaders
First State Global Infrastructure
First State Global Resources
First State Greater China
Eclectica Agriculture

You need to understand your risk profile and don't just follow the herd.

[V8mate]

I'm in a similar situation to the OP.

LadyV8 has had a cash ISA for many years and we now want to move it into Stocks & Shares ISA. We're looking at a ten year investment period.

I know this will sound very naive - so quit the piss-taking already! - but just how much damage did the 2008 crash do? Is it really the case that three year performance is now just barely breaking even?

I appreciate that nothing said here constitutes advice, but what is the view on something like this?

[Teixe]

V8mate said:

LadyV8 has had a cash ISA for many years and we now want to move it into Stocks & Shares ISA.

I believe you can't do that, you are only allowed to "buy up to" 10,200£ of shares per year, so if you have let's say 100k on a cash ISA, you could move it to a stock & shares one but can only use 10,200£ each year.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[V8mate]

Teixe said:

I believe you can't do that, you are only allowed to "buy up to" 10,200£ of shares per year, so if you have let's say 100k on a cash ISA, you could move it to a stock & shares one but can only use 10,200£ each year.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

You're wrong. I can move the whole fund as long as it's a transfer and not withdrawn in between.