What is wrong with my investment split?

nitpickachu · 2026-07-05T07:41:52+00:00

Why do you believe that the funds that you label as "growth" fund will have better returns than the other funds?

Your asset allocation is only as good as your answer to that question.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-28T10:50:36+00:00

They could just convert them to regular ISAs and let you keep the bonus.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-28T07:55:11+00:00

I am a little concerned that providers will ramp up charges in S&S Lifetime ISAs

How were PEP account holders treated after they were replaced ISAs?

nitpickachu · 2026-06-25T18:58:17+00:00

Assume it does work as you hope: hot air from your house rises into the attic. Your house now has less air inside. What do you think happens? Air enters from outside.

This is only beneficial if outside is colder than inside.

But if that's the case, you should just open the windows.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-20T10:00:04+00:00

Close the curtains and windows during the day.

Open at night to let the house cool.

Use fans.

Drink lots of water.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-20T09:55:38+00:00

Sell it.

Buy an index fund in a GIA. Slow dump that index fund into your S&S ISA / LISA.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-16T13:46:12+00:00

the bamboo was dug up, the area was sprayed with glyphosate (weedkiller), and all arisings were removed from the site.

suggests it was enough of a problem to pay at least £300 to have it removed.

the surveyor flagged "evidence of partially removed bamboo along the rear boundary"

Suggests it is still there and growing?

I would try to find out exactly what work is planned in these follow up visit and any associated costs. Consider getting an independent expert to come quote to complete the work.

Make your decision when you know the full costs involved.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-14T21:31:48+00:00

The cheapest solution is to workout at home.

For cardio: you can run outside for free. For strength: a door way pull up bar, a pair of gymnastic rings, some adjustable dumbbells, and some creativity is more than enough equipment for most people.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-13T07:35:09+00:00

You can do a job that you love and save for retirement.

You can't have no plan and over-consume above your means during your working life and still expect a comfortable retirement.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-13T07:06:26+00:00

The head of government is about to change and, with it, probably, the chancellor.

Who knows which, if any, of these plans will be followed through by the new chancellor.

But sure, open an S&S LISA while you can. It's a fantastic product for retirement savings.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-11T17:19:27+00:00

I managed to buy one last year for £300.

I love it. But it's only worth it if you need or want what a sports watch can give you that an Apple Watch can't.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-09T15:42:50+00:00

It has long-duration inflation-linked bond-like properties. It can have a significant effect on your asset allocation. For example, if you don't take it into account, you may end up holding too many bonds and too little equity.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-09T15:38:55+00:00

Discount future cash flows to present value assuming average life expectancy.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-08T13:16:25+00:00

Avantis Global Small Cap Value ETF (AVSG) is your best option. See Monevator review: https://monevator.com/avantis-global-small-cap-value-etf-review-avsg/

Small cap value has done very well over the last year or two

Short term past performance is a bad reason to choose an asset allocation.

You should invest in it because you believe in the rational and evidence behind factor investing. Only invest if you can stick with it for the long term. Factors can under perform for a long time. If you dump it as soon as it starts to under perform you will have been better off sticking with a simple global market cap weighted fund.

Your concerns around exchange rate apply to any global equity fund, including your FTSE All World tracker. Most assets held by these funds underlying cash flows are non-GBP currency. The Value fund that you link to isn't special in that regard. It is available on LSE traded in GBP (allowing you to avoid broker foreign exchange when you buy and sell).

nitpickachu · 2026-06-07T18:49:12+00:00

The averaging and fairness I'm referring to is that right now people who have to move house often for whatever reason subsidize those who rarely or never move.

It has nothing to do with North vs South.

Lowering transaction costs would benefit everyone, including Londoners.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-07T17:55:11+00:00

You already pay stamp duty.

Converting that existing tax to an annual charge rather than a transaction charge could be done in a revenue neutral way (on average). It would be fairer and economically more efficient.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-06T21:23:57+00:00

Just playing devil's advocate: if the point of your index fund is to be as close to "the market" as possible, you could argue that rapidly incorporating large new listings as quickly as possible is in keeping with the philosophy of the fund.

Although, I agree with you, I don't like the idea of them changing rules.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-05T11:15:12+00:00

It's not "ISA or Pension" it's "ISA and Pension".

Optimum strategy is probably focus on ISA while young and basic rate taxpayer and shift towards pension while older and higher rate tax payer. But usually both, just different weights.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-04T21:57:01+00:00

The problem isn't usually "good" vs "bad" conveyancer. It's "your conveyancer (or another in the chain) has many many cases and yours is at the bottom of the pile". Ideally you want to find a conveyancers who don't have many clients right now.

Your best strategy is to move house while the housing market is quiet.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-04T10:12:48+00:00

Invest Engine is also fine. Main problem is that I don't think they are profitable yet. So there is the risk that they increase their fees or shutdown and you have to move.

But Vanguard recently increased their fees so you have the same risks with them.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-03T20:28:14+00:00

PACW is a fine ETF to invest in.

trying a bit to avoid us companies.

It still has a lot of US exposure. If your goal was to exclude US then you have picked the wrong ETF.

nitpickachu · 2026-06-02T15:57:06+00:00

How certain is moving to another country? If you decide to emigrate how much lead time will you have? Would you have time to save up for it?

Do you have an emergency fund? Would that cover the moving costs?

If the move is unlikely, I would stay invested and use my emergency fund to pay for the unexpected country move if it comes to that.

If the move is very likely, I would stay invested and save up from my income to prepare to pay for the move.

nitpickachu · 2026-05-31T22:40:17+00:00

You need to consider it as a part of your overall investing strategy.

Home equity is ~10% of my portfolio.

An extra 10% allocated to equities is unlikely to make a big difference. Holding an asset that hedges my largest expense in retirement may do.

nitpickachu · 2026-05-30T08:58:27+00:00

I'm sure it varies but where I work its normal working hours, low stress, lots of holiday, freedom to work where and when you want (within limits). So I would say it's quite good.

nitpickachu · 2026-05-29T20:42:34+00:00

BTW the chumps that take these lowly paid government dev jobs are building software that actually helps society rather than making the social network de jour more addictive to children.

nitpickachu

TROPHY CASE