The experts' investments
As the investment industry gears up for Isa season, we ask the investment experts what funds they hold and why.
Mark Dampier - Research Director, Hargreaves Lansdown
Basically, I want to get everything in a tax-free environment so all my investments are made in a Self Invested Personal Pension (Sipp) or Isa. I also have shares in my employer company, Hargreaves Lansdown.
I don't follow the idea that you need your portfolio allocated across all markets. Instead I look for quality fund managers like Invesco Perpetual's Neil Woodford. I tend to favour my Sipp over the Isa because I get 40% tax relief and I can put whatever investments I like in it.
Funds held: Aberdeen Asia Pacific; Artemis Global Growth; Caledonian Investment Trust; Cazenove Absolute Equity, a hedge fund; Hargreaves Lansdown Multi Manager Special Situations Trust, Hargreaves Lansdown Multi Manager Income and Growth portfolio (I like these last two because they are invested in some of my favourite funds such as First State Pacific, and Renesburg UK Select fund); Jupiter Emerging Europe Select - this is an offshore fund just launched with a limit of £100million most of which has already been taken up; Jupiter Financial Opportunities; Merrill Lynch Gold & General; and Skandia Best Ideas.
Paul Ilott – senior investment adviser, Bates Investment Services
As well as funds, I've also got cash on deposit and we own an overseas property, meaning we are pretty well diversified. When I pick funds I try to look for consistency as well as funds that will stand up well against whatever the market conditions are. I do hold for the long term: I've held some of these funds for years and I only monitor my portfolio on a monthly basis.
Funds held: Artemis European Growth; AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities; Black Rock Gold & General; Black Rock MLIM UK Dynamic; First State Asia Pacific; Invesco Perpetual Income; Jupiter European Emerging Opportunities; Newton Oriental; Norwich Property; Old Mutual Corporate Bond; Schroder Japan Alpha Plus; and Schroder UK Alpha Plus.
Darius McDermott – Managing director, Chelsea Financial Services
Inherently, my Isa is higher risk than my pension but I've offset the risk by significant exposure to UK funds. My Sipp is less high-risk. Asset allocation wise it is broken down as 15 pc in bonds, 14 pc in property and the rest in equities. It includes a lot of the same investments as the Isa, but is a more balanced portfolio. To show the difference between the two, when the market dropped earlier this year the value of the Isa fell 16% while the Sipp fell just 4 %.
Funds held: Aberdeen Asia Pacific; Axa Framlington Equity Income; First State China Growth; Framlington Biotech; Invesco Perpetual High Income; Investec Global Energy; JPM Emerging Markets; Jupiter Emerging European Opportunities; Jupiter Financial Opportunities; JPM Emerging Markets; Legg Mason Japan Equity; Old Mutual UK Select Mid Cap.
Help with picking the best funds
Read our comprehensive tips and guides to funds to make sure you choose the right one for you...
- Fundwatch reveals share tips from star managers
- Top-selling funds
- Fund tips for novice and experienced investors
- Unit and investment trust guides
- Visit our supermarket to buy funds at a discount
- Put a question to the investment experts
- Read answers from investment experts
- Calculate how long to make £1m
Justin Modray - Investment adviser, Bestinvest
I try to practise what I preach to clients, so I invest across a range of unit trusts. I'm pretty comfortable with risk, hence I hold some fairly aggressive funds in the portfolio. I could probably do with increasing the contribution into my pension but, like most of the population, the money usually gets eaten up elsewhere.
I have an offset mortgage, so any spare cash simply reduces my monthly interest payments. And my girlfriend has some investment properties in Turkey which helps diversify our portfolio. Once a year, I go through my portfolio and decide whether I've got the asset allocation right - have I got the proportion of shares, property and cash right - but I do look at my funds regularly.
My current favourite is probably JPM Natural Resources which has done terrifically well although it is volatile. I'm also keeping faith with New Star Select Opportunities even though it has had a rough couple of years because I think Patrick Evershed is a great manager and hopefully Alternative Investment Market stocks will eventually come through.
Funds include: Aberdeen Asia Pacific; Artemis Global Growth; Artemis Strategic Bond; AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities; AXA Framlington UK Smaller Companies; Gartmore European Select Opportunities; JPM Natural Resources; JPM U.S.; Jupiter Emerging European Opportunities; Liontrust First Growth; New Star Select Opportunities; Old Mutual Japanese Select; SWIP Property Trust; Templeton Global Emerging Markets.
Helen Richar
I have always adopted the approach whereby I wouldn't recommend a fund if I wouldn't invest in it personally. I also manage my parents' portfolio (they are now retired) and ensure that all of us utilise our Isa allowances each year before contributing to any direct funds.
All of our portfolios are held within a fund supermarket allowing me to monitor performance regularly via the internet as well as offering cheap switching if I want to make any alterations.
My pension is with my employer's group scheme. As far as my fund selection goes, I look at asset allocation - my funds are obviously more racey than the ones I pick for my parents. My best fund at the moment is New Star Global Financials: it's had an amazing run.
Funds held: Aberdeen Emerging Markets; Artemis High Income; Axa Framlington UK Equity Income; Invesco Perpetual UK Growth; Jupiter Emerging European Opportunities; Jupiter Financial Opportunities; New Star Active Portfolio; New Star Global Financials; New Star Monthly Income; New Star UK Special Situations; Rathbone Special Situations; Rathbone Income.
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