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Funds commentaries

2012

An APR for funds?

It’s sometimes said that what the fund management industry needs is an APR – the annual percentage rate which provides a single number with which to compare different credit offerings.

(8 May 2012)

“Hidden costs” – what hidden costs?

Here’s a new year puzzle for you. Fund A has annual charges of 1.5%, and in addition incurs annual trading costs in its portfolio of 0.2%.

(27 January 2012)

2011

Irresponsible scaremongering, yet again

I groaned inwardly over breakfast this Sunday when I read the front page headline in the normally excellent Observer. 

(19 December 2011)

Sorting out the managed sectors

Keen followers of the industry will recall the mixed reception we got when announcing proposals following our review of the IMA managed sectors in June.

(29 November 2011)

“Hidden charges” – great story, but the numbers don’t add up

Recent weeks have seen a plethora of stories reviving the old chestnut that fund managers’ reckless over-trading and wilful failure to disclose the associated trading costs mean that investors are losing billions every year without realising it.

(28 November 2011)

Easy as ABC?

A modest proposal from the IMA last week attracted a certain amount of comment over the weekend. Okay, a torrent of criticism.

(31 May 2011)

What price capital guarantees?

Two weeks ago the IMA released research which compared the returns on National Savings & Investments “Guaranteed Equity Bonds” with ordinary index tracking funds. What a to-do resulted.

(28 April 2011)

You can’t lose ... can you?

One of the more enticing investment pitches is the promise that you can get a stock-market-related return with no risk of losing your money.

(11 April 2011)

A deadlock that's costing investors £80 a year

Up to now, if you use your full annual ISA allowance of £10,200 in a property fund you have  had to pay a completely unnecessary £80 a year to the taxman.

(2 February 2011)

2010

Are fund charges too low?

Funnily enough, I have yet to see a news story arguing that they are.

(11 October 2010)

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