Featuring 137 funds, ETFs and investment trusts handpicked by our research teams, the latest List serves as a valuable guide for DIY investors making major moves in the run-up to the Autumn Budget and those simply sprucing up their portfolios
As we edge closer to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ much-anticipated maiden Budget on October 30, DIY investors funnelling extra cash into tax-efficient pensions and Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to beat any dramatic tax changes and take advantage of existing rules might want some guidance on which investments to pack their portfolios with.
Deciding which fund, investment trust or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) to invest in can be mind boggling for those looking to switch up their investment holdings to get ahead of any tax tweaks such as a much-feared hike in the Capital Gains Tax rate or a reduction in pensions tax relief.
Even those simply wanting to spruce up their investment portfolio before the end of the calendar year can find the array of investment choice overwhelming, particularly if they don’t have the time or specialist knowledge to delve into the finer details of a particular fund.
That is why online investment platform and coaching service Bestinvest has unveiled the latest edition of its Best Funds List to help narrow the field and offer investors ideas to consider across a wide range of markets and sectors. With more than 3,500 investment options available to pick from on the Bestinvest platform, it is natural for rookies and seasoned pros to feel flummoxed by the vast array of choices.
Taking advantage of the expertise of the more than 300 investment management professionals at Evelyn Partners – one of the UK’s leading wealth managers with £62.2 billion assets under management and the parent company behind Bestinvest – can ease the decision-making process.
The Best Funds List not only highlights our specialists’ preferred picks in each sector but also includes a range of investment styles, including both active and passive options as well as choices for investors wanting to include environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in their investment portfolio. The same funds are used within the wider Evelyn Partners managed client portfolios.
Our latest batch of 137 ‘Best Funds’ features 103 best-in-breed actively managed funds and investment trusts, where a fund manager strives for market-beating returns. The carefully selected funds and trusts represent a tiny proportion of the multitude of funds available to retail investors, reflecting Bestinvest’s view that savers must be ultra-choosey about which managed funds to include in their portfolio as many fail to deliver over the longer term.
The List also features 34 low-cost passive funds, a mix of traditional index trackers, Exchange Traded Funds and Exchange Traded Commodities to ensure fee-conscious investors also have a range of options. The inclusion of passive options as well as 30 listed investment companies helps the Best Funds List stand out against other platform ‘best buy’ lists that typically stick to open-ended funds rather than Investment Trusts and ETFs.
We want investors to not only consider investment companies, which offer access to alternative asset classes such as property or infrastructure, but also the overall cost of their portfolio, something that can be reduced by tapping into low-fee Exchange Traded Products. There are also 18 investments choices for investors wanting to include environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in their investment portfolio.
Jason Hollands, Managing Director of Bestinvest, said: “Investors looking to make their portfolios as tax efficient as possible are under pressure like never before in the run up to Labour’s first Budget on October 30. While striving to maximise tax-free allowances is something investors typically do at the end of the tax year, many are now spooked at the prospect of major changes to the way savings, pensions and investments are taxed.
“Many of our clients have ramped up their contributions into their Bestinvest ISAs and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) in recent weeks as the doom-mongering around how Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax changes might affect savings and pensions mushrooms.
“Selecting funds and trusts for an investment portfolio in a hurry for those fearful of any changes to Capital Gains Tax or pensions tax relief can feel like a daunting task. That’s why our Best Funds List offers DIY investors a snapshot of the funds and trusts in each of the main sectors chosen by our research teams, to help them narrow down their choices.
“Each sector typically has a dedicated team of half a dozen investment managers researching and monitoring the investment options available. Our investment specialists not only meet the fund managers to understand their philosophy and approach, but also carefully assess the type of market environment that might benefit from a certain manager’s style. Our experts also scrutinise the risk management process, consider what might trigger a sale of holding, and evaluate whether there are any size or liquidity constraints around how scalable the strategy of the fund is.
“With 137 investment options on the latest Best Funds List across a wide range of sectors, investors must still decide what works for their own portfolio, time horizon, goals and risk profile. If anyone is rushing to load up their ISA and SIPP to beat any Budget tax changes, remember the October 30 deadline only applies to the contribution into the tax wrapper. The investor can then take their time to make their investment choices, so we hope this List offers valuable ideas and inspiration to help them make the right decision for their portfolio.”
Including an investment on the Best Funds List requires careful analysis of each sector. We apply a clear set of principles to each investment on the Best Funds List, (outlined on page 6-7 of the report). Key qualities our investment teams seek out when choosing funds include a manager that invests their own money into the fund, someone who has a clear set or objectives or a manager that adopts a high-conviction approach rather than hugging the benchmarks and being prepared to limit the size of the fund.
The Best Funds List is published twice a year, but please note it is not a static list: investments are added or removed throughout the year. This can happen if a manager changes and we feel the replacement is unproven, or we believe changes in fund size mean the fund will need to be managed differently. Any alterations to our list are instantly reflected as they are made on the Bestinvest website, with clients able to see which funds are included on the Best Funds List. Details of the newcomers and dropouts on the List since the last edition can be found on Page 5.
The new Best Funds List is yapping at the heels of the latest Spot the Dog report, published last month, which highlighted 137 consistently ‘paw-performing’ equity investment funds holding £53.42 billion of investors’ wealth.
Evelyn Partners is the UK’s leading wealth management and professional services group, created following the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson in 2020. With £62.2 billion of assets under management (as at 30 June 2024), we are one of the largest UK wealth managers ranked by client assets and the seventh largest accountancy firm by ranked by Group fee income (source: Accountancy Age 50+50 rankings, 2023).
We have a network of offices in 30 towns and cities across the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands. Through our operating companies, we offer an extensive range of financial and professional services to individuals, family trusts, professional intermediaries, charities, and businesses.
Our purpose is to ‘place the power of good advice into more hands’, and we are uniquely well-placed to support clients with both their personal financial affairs and their business interests. Our personal wealth management services include financial planning, investment management, personal tax advice and, through Bestinvest, we have a multi award-winning online investment service for self-directed investors. For businesses, our wide range of services includes assurance and accounting, business tax advice, employee benefits, forensics, fund administration, fund governance, recovery and restructuring and transaction services.
For further information please visit: https://www.evelyn.com/
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