Where we're putting our ISA money
If you're a bit stuck for ideas this ISA season, we've asked our fund research team where they're putting their money.
Darius McDermott, managing director
"There are a lot of uncertainties in the world at the moment so I'm playing it fairly safe this ISA season. I already have a portfolio consisting of a number of different funds, so I've chosen to add Smith & Williamson Enterprise, an absolute return fund. It aims to deliver equity-like performance but with half the volatility of the UK equity index. With markets looking a little 'toppy' at the moment I think that is a useful attribute. Whilst the main use of this fund in my portfolio is to add a little bit of protection should markets take a turn for the worse, I also like this fund because it has a history of performing well in rising markets."
Juliet Schooling Latter, research director
"India has been one of my favourite emerging markets for a number of years as the long-term growth opportunities are so strong. It has great demographics, an increasingly educated workforce and an entrepreneurial culture. Business has been stifled in the past by too much red-tape but prime minister Narendra Modi has proven himself to be very pro-business and has made a number of reforms which should lessen the bureaucracy. I hold a few Indian equity funds in my portfolio and have added to Goldman Sachs India Equity Portfolio this ISA season.”
James Yardley, senior research analyst
“I've invested in two extremes this ISA season. Firstly, for long-term growth, I've chosen Fidelity Asia Pacific Opportunities, a fund that we added to the Chelsea Selection last month. It is relatively new but has got off to a very strong start and is run by a very practical and sensible manager. I've then put the rest of my money into alternatives to add some stability in the shorter term. I've chosen SVS Church House Tenax Absolute Return, a solid multi-asset fund that has been very sensibly put together and adds some protection in down markets, and Jupiter Absolute Return, another new entry on the Chelsea Selection. It has very low correlation to markets and an adaptive process that can adjust to different environments.”
Ryan Lightfoot-Brown, research analyst
“I've put some of my money into Schroder Recovery as I think value funds are looking the best option at the moment. Growth strategies have done very well for a long time now and I think we may be due a reversal of fortunes. I've also put some money into Wood Street Microcap. I believe that UK smaller companies were oversold after the EU referendum. We have some great smaller British companies that I think will continue to do well and grow in the future.”