Unit Trusts > All Unit Trusts (A-Z)

Advantages: they're not bad but far from the best
Disadvantages: very expensive management charges

At 1% management charges, Virgin are very expensive. There are plenty of other UK Trackers which do the same job with charges from 0.1% - 0.5%. Why would you want to give them extra cash? I know that some others (especially the biggest banks) not only levy initial charges but also charge a massive 1.5%pa. Again they are not better at what they do. Who do you think pays for the City boys' bonuses each year? Most trackers have no intitial charges so ... Read review

Advantages: The fund tends to outperform in flat and falling markets, high dividend yield of around 3%, good long term performance and good manager
Disadvantages: Large £2.6 billion in size makes fund less flexible, 5% initial charge, underperforms when growth stocks are fashionable

...anxious when the acquisition of Perpetual Investment Management was announced by AMVESCAP (owners of INVESCO) because of the implications for the fund. I was worried that the star manager Neil Woodford might leave Perpetual because of the takeover. Fortunately AMVESCAP and Perpetual have agreed on good terms, AMVESCAP is going to let Perpetual continue with its current fund management style and remain in the Henley-on-Thames offices. I don't think ... Read review

Advantages: A relatively low risk fund, high income yield of almost 6%, below average initial charge, one of the top funds in its sector, low interest rates make bonds attractive
Disadvantages: Bonds underperform when equities outperform, long term performance is modest compared to equity funds

...five largest holdings of the Henderson Preference & Bond fund include: ICI Investments 7.625% Bonds - 21/8/2007 Daily Mail & General Trust 7.5% Bonds - 29/3/2013 Enterprise Oil 7.25% Bonds - 8/7/2009 National Westminster Bank 7.625% Bonds - 29/1/2049 Kingfisher 8.125% Bonds - 14/2/2007 Bonds are not like shares (equities) in a company. When you buy a bond issued by a company you are effectively lending the company money, bonds are in effect ...
...risk that bonds carry. Henderson Preference & Bond mainly invests in top quality bonds with an AAA rating from Standard & Poor's credit rating agency. Top quality bonds are less risky than low quality bonds and are less likely to default on payment of income. The result of top quality bonds being lower risk than low quality bonds is that they pay less in the eay of income. Bonds as an asset class have performed well over the last year. The strong ... Read review

Advantages: tracks ftse uk index,low charges, spread risk , can be ISA'd
Disadvantages: covers all sectors, can miss out on sector over performance

...So where to look? Well Fidelity Moneybuilder Index Fund fits the bill for me. It is available from Fidelity's Funds Network which is a supermarket of investment funds with over 950 different funds from 55 fund managers. Fidelity Moneybuilder UK index ------------------------------------------ Aims to track the FTSE all share index which means it invests in the Large FTSE 100 companies down to smaller companies in the main market, but not AIM market ...
...Now this is where Fidelity score over the competition. There is no initial charge on ISA and ISA/PEP transfers or non ISA holdings. The annual management charge is 0.10% with a total expense ratio of 0.30% compare that to the Virgin UK Index with has a charge of 1% There are no exit fees to pay. How to Invest You can apply online:- fidelity.co.uk/track or by phone :- 0800 22 25 20 9am-8pm 7 days Online the site navigates very easily , you ... Read review

Advantages: Tax free savings,Life cover,chice of low payments,Great service and very easy
Disadvantages: n/a.You need to check the payout forecast

...a saving plan called the Scottish Bond, which makes the most of your personal tax free allowance; obviously you can only save up to £25 a month. It runs for a 10 year term and also provides some life cover for my monthly payment it gives £2600 in addition to the final payout, just in case anything should happen. You can save less than the £25 but I chose this as I new I would not notice it each month and I am really looking forward to a nice lump ...
...a larger amount you can pay an annual payment, but again this can not exceed the equivalent of £25 a month (£300 pa). They offer a free gift once you have paid your first month's premium. I chose £15 M & S vouchers as they are always nice to spend. The plan is meant to be kept for 10 years and although you can take out your money you might not get back the amount you have paid in. It is so easy to join and they send you a pack with all the information ... Read review