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        <title>iShares FTSE 100 ETF News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
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	<title>iShares FTSE 100 ETF News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
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                                <title>How I&#8217;d start investing in a Stock and Shares ISA with £50 a month</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2022/02/12/how-id-start-investing-in-a-stock-and-shares-isa-with-50-a-month/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sat, 12 Feb 2022 14:44:55 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dividends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exchange-Traded Fund]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 100]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stock market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stocks and Shares ISA]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=267544</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This Fool explains why investing via a Stocks and Shares ISA is a 'no brainer' for him and what he'd buy as a beginner today.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2022/02/12/how-id-start-investing-in-a-stock-and-shares-isa-with-50-a-month/">How I&#8217;d start investing in a Stock and Shares ISA with £50 a month</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I vividly remember opening my <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/personal-finance/share-dealing/stocks-and-shares-isa/">Stocks and Shares ISA</a> many years ago. While a little daunting at the time (&#8220;<em>How on earth does the stock market work anyway?</em>&#8220;), I&#8217;d do exactly the same thing if I were thinking of getting started with investing now. </p>
<h2>Why invest via a Stocks and Shares ISA?</h2>
<p>With such an ISA, by far the biggest incentive for me is that any profits I make are free from capital gains tax. Call me miserly but I&#8217;d rather hand as little as possible back if I&#8217;ve taken on the responsibility of growing my wealth. </p>
<p>The tax benefits of an ISA don&#8217;t stop there. In addition to not paying any tax of profits, I&#8217;m also not required to pay anything back for <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2022/02/09/3-secret-inflation-busting-dividend-stocks-to-buy-for-passive-income/">dividends</a> I receive, assuming the investment I hold pays them.</p>
<p><em>Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.</em></p>
<h2>Here&#8217;s what I&#8217;d buy</h2>
<p>With £50 a month to invest, I&#8217;d start with buying an exchange-traded fund (or ETF).</p>
<p>An ETF simply tracks the return of the stock market. To give an example, the FTSE 100 index, which features the UK&#8217;s biggest companies, returned 14.3% in 2021. An ETF tracking the FTSE 100 would return almost exactly the same (once costs are factored in). </p>
<p>Buying an ETF would make particular sense to me as a newbie investor because my money would be spread between lots of different companies. While this won&#8217;t stop the value of my investment from falling in tough times, there are none of the risks that come from buying shares in a single business. </p>
<p>Clearly, I&#8217;m not obligated to buy a fund tracking the FTSE 100. There are actually <a href="https://www.justetf.com/uk/">a huge number of ETFs available</a> following all sorts of markets and types of stock.</p>
<p>Nor must I stick to buying only these funds (although many people like to keep things simple and do). Once I became more confident in how the market works, I can expand my portfolio to include other assets.</p>
<h2>Keep fees low</h2>
<p>It&#8217;s worth saying a little more about fees. Since it&#8217;s essentially managed by a computer rather than a human (aka a <em>passive fund</em>), an ETF&#8217;s fees tend to be low. Over years, this really matters. It means more of my money is allowed to compound. </p>
<p>I&#8217;d also take advantage of my broker&#8217;s &#8216;regular investing&#8217; service. This invests my money on a set date each month rather than immediately. As a result, my commission fees (what it costs to buy or sell a fund or stock) are roughly 10% of what they normally would be. Again, these savings add up over time and allow more of what I put in to grow in value. </p>
<h2>Any downsides?</h2>
<p>For me, there&#8217;s aren&#8217;t many downsides to opening a Stocks and Shares ISA. Still, let&#8217;s have a go at scraping the barrel. </p>
<p>One fairly obvious cost is having less cash to spend today. There&#8217;s no way of getting around this other than to earn more and/or reduce my spend. Becoming an investor also requires patience. This is no &#8216;get rich quick&#8217; scheme.</p>
<p>The good news is that investing for the long term quickly becomes a habit. In fact, knowing that money I put away now might/should become a great nest egg eventually makes the process rather addictive.</p>
<p>And of course, we&#8217;re talking about £50 here. I could potentially accumulate a lot more wealth by increasing the amount I set aside every month. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2022/02/12/how-id-start-investing-in-a-stock-and-shares-isa-with-50-a-month/">How I&#8217;d start investing in a Stock and Shares ISA with £50 a month</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Paul Summers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/" data-uw-rm-brl="false">us better investors.</a> </em></p>
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                                <title>The FTSE 100 is cheap and unloved. Is NOW the best time to buy?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2020/09/28/the-ftse-100-is-cheap-and-unloved-is-now-the-best-time-to-buy/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2020 07:02:14 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coronavirus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dividends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 100]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lloyds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lloyds share price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rolls-Royce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stocks and Shares ISA]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=178474</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>The FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) looks great value, but would it be a mistake to buy now? Paul Summers looks at the arguments for and against investing in the UK's top tier.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2020/09/28/the-ftse-100-is-cheap-and-unloved-is-now-the-best-time-to-buy/">The FTSE 100 is cheap and unloved. Is NOW the best time to buy?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The FTSE 100 closed at 5,843 last Friday. That&#8217;s almost 25% below where it stood at the beginning of the year (7,622). Back then, Boris Johnson had recently won an election and few people, aside from virologists, had ever uttered the word &#8216;coronavirus&#8217;.  </p>
<p>Since Warren Buffett always recommends investors should be &#8220;<em>fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful&#8221;</em>, is the index now a screaming buy? I&#8217;m torn and here&#8217;s why.</p>
<h2>FTSE 100: reasons to buy&#8230;</h2>
<p>First and foremost, the FTSE 100 looks good value on a P/E of 15. This makes the UK&#8217;s top tier of companies considerably cheaper relative to other developed markets. </p>
<p>Despite its recent performance, the FTSE 100 also contains some excellent companies. Life-saving technology firm <strong>Halma</strong>, credit checker <strong>Experian</strong>, and property portal <strong>Rightmove</strong> are just the sort of highly profitable businesses you probably want exposure to in order to grow your wealth. Buying the FTSE 100 via an index tracker or exchange-traded fund will do just that.</p>
<p>While far from a safe haven, buying a fund that tracks the FTSE 100 is also one of the less risky moves you can make. You won&#8217;t beat the market but you&#8217;ll match its returns (minus some tracking error and costs). You&#8217;ll also have saved yourself a lot of the time and energy that active investing demands.</p>
<p>Another positive is that a FTSE 100 tracker fund will generate income, even if a number of the index&#8217;s members have withdrawn their dividends for now. The <strong>iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF</strong> currently yields just under 4%.</p>
<h2>&#8230;and reasons to avoid</h2>
<p>One counter-argument to buying the FTSE 100 now is that something cheap can keep getting cheaper. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54304659">With coronavirus infection rates rising sharply</a>, the possibility of another national lockdown is growing every day. Should this happen, it&#8217;s hard to imagine markets responding positively. There&#8217;s also Brexit to consider.</p>
<p>Second, the performance of the aforementioned great companies in the FTSE 100 will always be offset by the stragglers. For every winner, you&#8217;ve got a <strong>Roll Royce</strong> or <strong>Lloyds Bank</strong>. This being the case, it&#8217;s very unlikely the FTSE 100 will give you anywhere near the sort of returns you can achieve <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2020/09/03/watch-out-fundsmith-i-think-lf-blue-whale-growth-fund-is-out-for-your-crown/">through informed stock picking or a quality-focused fund</a>. Indeed, it will likely be the reinvestment of dividends over time that builds your wealth, not share price growth.</p>
<p>Following on from this, one also needs to consider the opportunity cost of investing in <em>only</em> the UK market. Overvalued it may now be, but those allocating some of their capital to the tech-focused NASDAQ 100 index in the US, for example, would have done far better in 2020 so far. Having a &#8216;home bias&#8217; can get in the way of wealth generation, even if many FTSE 100 companies generate profits overseas.</p>
<h2>Just invest</h2>
<p>The direction of markets in the short term depends on a huge range of variables. As such, it&#8217;s hard to say whether now is the <em>best</em> time to invest in the FTSE 100. For someone disinclined to thoroughly research stocks, however, I think buying a tracker fund within a diversified Stocks and Shares ISA is unlikely to ever be a <em>bad</em> idea.</p>
<p>That said, those worried about the value of their investments falling in the short term may find it psychologically easier to drip-feed their money rather than go &#8216;all in&#8217;.</p>
<p>As we always say, the most important thing about investing is just to get started. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2020/09/28/the-ftse-100-is-cheap-and-unloved-is-now-the-best-time-to-buy/">The FTSE 100 is cheap and unloved. Is NOW the best time to buy?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://boards.fool.com/profile/psummers/info.aspx">Paul Summers</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Experian, Halma, Lloyds Banking Group, and Rightmove. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>No savings at 40? I&#8217;d start by buying this FTSE 100 tracker inside a Stocks and Shares ISA</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/10/13/no-savings-at-40-id-start-by-buying-this-ftse-100-tracker-inside-a-stocks-and-shares-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2019 12:23:27 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harvey Jones]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=134853</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Harvey Jones says the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) is a simple first step for your retirement savings.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/10/13/no-savings-at-40-id-start-by-buying-this-ftse-100-tracker-inside-a-stocks-and-shares-isa/">No savings at 40? I&#8217;d start by buying this FTSE 100 tracker inside a Stocks and Shares ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you aren&#8217;t saving for your retirement, you need to get your act together, and fast. The alternative is to carry on working until you drop, or spend your final years scraping by on the State Pension, <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/05/26/warning-the-state-pension-will-not-cover-your-living-expenses-in-retirement/">which is currently worth a maximum of just £8,767.20 a year</a>.</p>
<h2>Keep it simple</h2>
<p>So well done for clicking on this article. It&#8217;s an important first step. Your next step is working out where to invest your money.</p>
<p>Investing in the stock market can seem complex and daunting to the beginner, as there are literally thousands of shares and funds to choose from. Many find the sheer weight of choice overwhelming. So in this article, I&#8217;m keeping things simple.</p>
<p>If you are looking to get exposure to the stock market – at any age – a great place to start is a low-cost tracker fund that passively follows the performance of the <strong>FTSE 100</strong>, the UK&#8217;s index of top 100 stocks, measured by size.</p>
<p>This instantly gives you exposure to the fortunes of the UK&#8217;s biggest companies, including names such as <strong>BP</strong>, <strong>British American Tobacco</strong>, <strong>GlaxoSmithKline</strong>, <strong>HSBC</strong>, <strong>Tesco</strong>, <strong>Unilever</strong> and <strong>Vodafone</strong>.</p>
<h2>Never overlook dividends</h2>
<p>Not only will you benefit when their share prices grow, you will also pocket the dividends that companies pay to shareholders, as a reward for holding their stock. Currently, FTSE 100 dividends yield around 4.5%, more than three times the very best savings accounts. Ideally, you should reinvest this income straight back into your fund, as that way it will steadily grow and your dividends will roll up, year after year.</p>
<p>Although listed in the UK, FTSE 100 companies generate more than three quarters of their total earnings overseas. This means you are plugging into the global economy, while reducing currency risk by investing in sterling.</p>
<h2>High charges eat wealth</h2>
<p>Many investors overlook the impact of underlying fund charges on their total return. Some funds can charge as much as 1.5% a year in total fees, while others charge a fraction of that. Expressed as a percentage, charges can seem minuscule, but they can be a real drain over time.</p>
<p>Say you invest £10,000 in a fund that grows at an average rate of 7% a year. If that fund has an annual management charge of 1%, your money will grow to £42,919 after 25 years. However, if the fund charges just 0.07% a year, your money will be worth £53,393 – more than £10,000 more.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why I like low cost exchange traded fund <strong>iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-isf/">LSE: ISF</a>), because its charges total… 0.07% a year.</p>
<h2>Avoid the taxman</h2>
<p>You then need to keep your capital growth and dividend income out of the reach of HM Revenue &amp; Customs, and the best way to do that is to buy the fund through an <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/mywallethero/best-share-dealing/stocks-and-shares-isa/">online platform that offers a Stocks and Shares ISA</a>. Set up an ISA with one of the platforms listed on that link, or another of your choosing, then simply load up your account and start investing.</p>
<p>Over time, you may want to spread your wings and put money into other investment funds, or even individual company stocks. Nevertheless, I think iShares Core FTSE 100 is a great place to start.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/10/13/no-savings-at-40-id-start-by-buying-this-ftse-100-tracker-inside-a-stocks-and-shares-isa/">No savings at 40? I&#8217;d start by buying this FTSE 100 tracker inside a Stocks and Shares ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://boards.fool.com/profile/Jonesey12/info.aspx">Harvey Jones</a> owns shares of iShares FTSE 100. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever. The Motley Fool UK has recommended HSBC Holdings and Tesco. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Three reasons I&#8217;d swap Neil Woodford for a FTSE 100 tracker</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/05/05/three-reasons-id-swap-neil-woodford-for-a-ftse-100-tracker/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 05 May 2019 08:09:03 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harvey Jones]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=126833</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Harvey Jones has been a loyal supporter of Neil Woodford but even he is starting to consider a FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) tracker instead.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/05/05/three-reasons-id-swap-neil-woodford-for-a-ftse-100-tracker/">Three reasons I&#8217;d swap Neil Woodford for a FTSE 100 tracker</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When I look at my Stocks and Shares ISA portfolio of investment funds it is a sea of blue, which is my favourite colour because this means they&#8217;re all in profit. Well, nearly all. Of the 13 funds assembled over the past decade or two, one sticks out like a big fat red sore thumb.</p>
<p>Unlucky 13 is <strong>CF Woodford Equity Income</strong>. Ace fund manager Neil Woodford was supposed to head the pack, not trail it. Mr Blue, not Mr Red. </p>
<h2>Mr Wrong</h2>
<p>I first bought units in his fund in January 2015, with a couple of small top-ups later that year. After more than four years, I am in the red by 0.16%. That is only a tiny loss because I was lucky enough to get in when Mr Woodford still delivered.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve stayed loyal and fought his corner in these pages. In December,<a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/12/28/why-im-tipping-neil-woodford-to-fight-back-in-2019/"> I valiantly tipped him to fight back in 2019</a>. Here are three reasons why I&#8217;m beginning to lose heart.</p>
<h2>1. He deserves to be relegated</h2>
<p>Fund management is like football management: reputations rest on results. There is a difference, though. Football managers pay for bad performance with their job. As owner manager, Woodford stays in post even as punters walk out of the door. His flagship fund peaked at £10.2bn in May 2017, today it manages just £4.3bn.</p>
<p>Recent results have been woeful. Trustnet.com figures show that over three years, the UK All Companies sector returned 28.9%. Woodford fell 7.2%. As for fighting back in 2019, forget it. His benchmark sector is up 8.1%, he is down 1.2%. In Premier League terms, Woodford has a Manchester City profile, and Huddersfield form.</p>
<h2>2. He&#8217;s destroyed my faith in star managers</h2>
<p>My faith in star managers has never been that strong, I have seen too many enjoy a day or two in the spotlight, then fade. Typically, I prefer trackers for core markets like the UK and US.</p>
<p>Neil Woodford was the great exception after smashing markets for 25 years, and dodging the dotcom crash and banking crisis. Now it turns out he&#8217;s fallible after all. Every manager can expect the odd stock picking disaster but he&#8217;s had too many lately.</p>
<p>Do I want to hold a fund that still has a 5% stake in doorstep lender Provident Financial? <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/02/28/is-now-the-time-to-snap-up-these-2-unloved-stocks/">That&#8217;s a stock I wouldn&#8217;t touch myself,</a> yet he owns a quarter of the calamity and is backing a £1.3bn takeover bid to buy the rest of it.</p>
<p>And don&#8217;t get me started on misguided investment trust foray <strong>Woodford Patient Capital</strong>. Luckily, I dodged that bullet.</p>
<h2>3. Trackers charge less</h2>
<p>There is another reason I prefer trackers – their fees are so much lower. Thankfully, actively-managed fund fees have been driven from the days when you paid 5.25% upfront, and up to 1.75% a year. Woodford Equity Income has zero initial fee, and an annual charge of just 0.75%.</p>
<p>However,<strong> iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF</strong> has an annual charge of just 0.07%. Say you invest £10,000 and both funds grow 5% a year on average over 20 years. With Woodford, you would have £22,898 but £26,181 with the ETF. That&#8217;s £3,283 more due to charges alone.</p>
<p>Of course Woodford might justify the higher fee by storming back into form. I&#8217;m holding on, just in case, but I&#8217;m not too hopeful. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/05/05/three-reasons-id-swap-neil-woodford-for-a-ftse-100-tracker/">Three reasons I&#8217;d swap Neil Woodford for a FTSE 100 tracker</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/30/10000-put-in-a-cash-isa-at-the-start-of-2026-is-now-worth/">£10,000 put in a Cash ISA at the start of 2026 is now worth…</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://boards.fool.com/profile/Jonesey12/info.aspx">Harvey Jones</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Found a share you love? Don&#8217;t buy until you&#8217;ve answered this vital question</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/22/found-a-share-you-love-dont-buy-until-youve-answered-this-vital-question/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2019 07:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BHP Billiton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dividends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 100]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Index trackers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=125979</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>If your new favourite stock doesn't do this, is it really worth owning?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/22/found-a-share-you-love-dont-buy-until-youve-answered-this-vital-question/">Found a share you love? Don&#8217;t buy until you&#8217;ve answered this vital question</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stock-picking requires time and a willingness to <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/31/dont-buy-a-single-small-cap-stock-until-you-can-answer-these-4-questions/">thoroughly research companies</a> before buying them. Even Warren Buffett &#8212; generally regarded as the best stock-picker that&#8217;s ever lived &#8212; believes the vast majority of us shouldn&#8217;t be active investors. Those who enjoy the challenge, however, should read on.</p>
<h2>The big question</h2>
<p>Reading through MoneyWeek executive editor John Stepek’s (highly recommended) new book, <em>The Sceptical Investor</em>, I&#8217;m reminded of what I believe is one of the most important questions to ask whenever you&#8217;re considering purchasing a new stock.</p>
<p>Regardless of which company we&#8217;re talking about (Stepek uses mining giant BHP Group in his example), you need to ask yourself whether it&#8217;s going to <em>outperform the benchmark</em>.</p>
<p>While there are no guarantees in investing, if you can&#8217;t at least state why you <em>think</em> this is going to happen, you arguably shouldn&#8217;t be buying said stock. To answer that question, however, you first need to select an appropriate benchmark.</p>
<p>In his example, Stepek reflects that it can make sense to use the FTSE 100 (BHP is, after all, a constituent of the index) and then ask yourself what it is about BHP that will allow it to outperform the market&#8217;s top tier.</p>
<p>A response might be that miners are likely to do well going forward (perhaps due to a commodities bull market) and you don&#8217;t want your investment to be impacted by the woes of other companies in unrelated sectors. Since there are plenty of large-caps that <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/04/16/why-im-still-avoiding-ftse-100-dividend-stocks-vodafone-centrica-and-sse-like-the-plague/">aren&#8217;t necessarily good investments right now</a>, there&#8217;s a logic to that.</p>
<p>But if you think the mining sector will outperform, then a better benchmark would surely be something like an investment trust focused on miners, he suggests.</p>
<p>So now a different question presents itself: Why buy BHP over a fund, particularly as the latter helps to lower risk through diversification?</p>
<p>To be clear, Stepek doesn&#8217;t rule out buying BHP but he does stress the importance of matching a bullish call with the &#8220;<em>correct</em> <em>financial instrument&#8221; &#8212;</em> be it in the form of individual shares or something else &#8212; if you&#8217;re going to make the most money. </p>
<h2>What to do instead&#8230;</h2>
<p>If, after consideration, you feel your new favourite stock is unlikely to outperform the (most appropriate) benchmark, then it makes sense to look into ways of investing in the benchmark instead.</p>
<p>Since the existence of a specialist fund for particular sectors isn&#8217;t a given and the FTSE 100 could still be the best comparison, I&#8217;ll stick to focusing on exchange-traded funds here.</p>
<p>As they sound, these are low-cost, passive vehicles that help an investor generate the same return as the market, minus a bit of tracking error and the obligatory fees. The <strong>iShares Core FTSE 100 </strong>and the <strong>Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF</strong> are examples.</p>
<p>Another positive from selecting these funds is that they pay dividends, thus allowing investors to receive income for less risk than if they bought shares in specific companies instead. The funds mentioned above offer yields of 4.24% and 4.73%, respectively &#8212; lower than BHP, but still worth having. </p>
<p>Bottom line? Taking the time to question whether a particular share will truly outperform its benchmark might seem (irritatingly) sensible to some, but those committed to generating the best returns over the long term should acknowledge this is a vital step to take. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/22/found-a-share-you-love-dont-buy-until-youve-answered-this-vital-question/">Found a share you love? Don&#8217;t buy until you&#8217;ve answered this vital question</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Paul Summers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Is it better to buy the FTSE 250 or the FTSE 100 right now?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/10/is-it-better-to-buy-the-ftse-250-or-the-ftse-100-right-now/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:05:49 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brexit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 100]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 250]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 250 ETF]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=125573</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>A resolution to Brexit could see the FTSE 100 (LON:INDEXFTSE:UKX) and FTSE 250 (LON: INDEXFTSE:MCX) bounce. But which will give you the best return?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/10/is-it-better-to-buy-the-ftse-250-or-the-ftse-100-right-now/">Is it better to buy the FTSE 250 or the FTSE 100 right now?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s no secret that those wanting to build a decent nest egg but wary of trying to beat the market could do a lot worse than buy shares in a passive investment vehicle such as an index tracker or exchange-traded fund. </p>
<p>And while investing all your money in a single market isn&#8217;t advised, it&#8217;s perhaps only natural for UK retail investors to show a degree of home bias and favour investing in the <strong>FTSE 100</strong> or<strong> FTSE 250</strong>, at least when starting out.</p>
<p>But which is likely to give better returns if I were to buy today? In order to answer that, we need to look at some basic facts.</p>
<h2>Overseas earnings</h2>
<p>The FTSE 100, of course, contains the biggest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Think <strong>Unilever, HSBC </strong>and<strong> Vodafone</strong> &#8211; businesses that just about everyone in the land recognises.</p>
<p>What those new to investing and the stock market may overlook, however, is that the vast majority of these companies <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/09/fear-another-market-meltdown-i-think-these-3-ftse-100-stocks-offer-great-protection/">make most of their cash overseas</a>.</p>
<p>The fact that these earnings will be denominated in foreign currency is important since it means that these firms benefit from a fall in the value of sterling, which is exactly what has happened since the outcome of the referendum vote all the way back in 2016. </p>
<p>While many of the companies in the FTSE 250 will also have some of their earnings coming in from abroad, their success will depend to a greater extent on the health of the UK economy.</p>
<p>Go even further down the market food chain and you&#8217;ll find lots of firms whose ability to remain profitable depends entirely on what&#8217;s happening on these shores, hence why the last few years of political uncertainty have been particularly hard for some owners to stomach.</p>
<h2>Brexit bounce?</h2>
<p>Right now, it could be argued that <em>any</em> kind of resolution to <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2019/03/19/3-things-the-brexit-crisis-reminds-us-about-investing/">the current impasse over Brexit</a>, be it in the form of a no-deal, the acceptance of Theresa May&#8217;s request for an extension (which should be decided at some point today) or even the UK remaining in the EU permanently could see a bounce in UK stocks. As with most events, the market tends to dislike uncertainty more than a perceived &#8216;negative&#8217; outcome. </p>
<p>While any plan for action could see a rise in both indexes, the FTSE 250 <em>could</em> benefit the most if whatever agreement is reached <em>pleases </em>the market. If the worst possible scenario plays out, the FTSE 100 could be the best (or at least more reliable) horse to back, at least in the short term.</p>
<p>That last bit is important. As long-term investors, we&#8217;re very much believers that it is time spent in the market rather than market timing that leads to wealth. As such, an investment in <em>either</em> index should do your wealth no harm at all if you buy and hold for years rather than months. </p>
<p>So how do you go about getting exposure to either index?</p>
<p>If you prefer the geographical diversification offered by the FTSE 100 then an investment in a cheap fund such as that offered by Blackrock is probably the best way forward. Its iShares Core FTSE 100 product has a total expense ratio of just 0.07% and yields 4.2%. Those interested in the FTSE 250 could go for Vanguard&#8217;s exchange-traded fund, which has an ongoing charge of only 0.1%.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2019/04/10/is-it-better-to-buy-the-ftse-250-or-the-ftse-100-right-now/">Is it better to buy the FTSE 250 or the FTSE 100 right now?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Paul Summers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Unilever. The Motley Fool UK has recommended HSBC Holdings. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>3 low-cost ETFs to consider for your ISA</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/29/3-low-cost-etfs-to-consider-for-your-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:18:41 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Tang]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTSE 100]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ISAs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=95340</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>A look at whether investors should consider buying these low-cost ETFs before the upcoming ISA deadline? </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/29/3-low-cost-etfs-to-consider-for-your-isa/">3 low-cost ETFs to consider for your ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With just a week to go before the annual ISA deadline, it&#8217;s still not too late to consider taking advantage of any remaining ISA allowance you have. If you&#8217;re not sure on which stocks to buy, then consider investing in these exchange traded funds (ETFs).</p>
<h3 class="western">FTSE 100</h3>
<p>Stocks are the cornerstone of almost every investment portfolio, and almost every UK investor has at least some exposure to the <b>FTSE 100 Index</b>. It is, after all, the UK&#8217;s most watched stock market indicator. With a combined market value of around £2trn, FTSE 100 companies account for roughly 80% of the entire market capitalisation of the London Stock Exchange.</p>
<p>Investing in the FTSE 100 gives you a great deal of exposure to the UK economy, but it also has a lot of international exposure too. That&#8217;s because more than 75% of the revenues from FTSE 100 companies actually comes from overseas. Also, being packed with multinationals making most of their earnings in foreign currencies means the index has benefited from the acute weakness of sterling seen in the wake of the Brexit vote of last June.</p>
<p>With an Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF) of only 0.07%, the<b> iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-isf/">LSE: ISF</a>) is one of the cheapest funds which track the performance of the FTSE 100 Index.</p>
<h3 class="western">European exposure</h3>
<p>Although the US stock market has outshone European equities in recent years, I think the performance of European stocks could catch up in the coming months. European stocks are, on average, relatively cheap, with a cyclically adjusted price to earnings (CAPE) ratio of around 17, compared to 28 for US stocks.</p>
<p>For exposure to European equities, I reckon the <b>db x-trackers Euro Stoxx 50® UCITS ETF</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-xesx/">LSE: XESX</a>) is a great choice. The ETF tracks the performance of the 50 largest companies in the eurozone and benefits from very low costs &#8212; its OCF is just 0.09%.</p>
<h3 class="western">Smart-beta</h3>
<p>For investors who aren&#8217;t so keen to track broad market indexes, smart-beta ETFs may offer many of the benefits of active management but at much lower cost.</p>
<p>Unlike most traditional passive ETFs, such as the two mentioned above, which follow stock market indexes that give larger companies a proportionately bigger slice of the index, smart-beta ETFs follow a different kind of index, in which stock weights are based on other factors, such as volatility, momentum, value or dividend yield. As such, smart-beta ETFs track tailor-made indexes which attempt to beat the market.</p>
<p>In this space, I&#8217;m currently interested in the <b>Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility UCITS ETF</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-vmvl/">LSE: VMVL</a>). It&#8217;s a relatively new fund, which uses a quantitative model to select stocks based on their individual volatility levels and diversification characteristics. Thus, its goal is to produce a portfolio which delivers less volatility and better risk adjusted returns compared to the global equity market.</p>
<p>Vanguard&#8217;s smart-beta fund has an OCF of 0.22%, which isn&#8217;t much more expensive than the cheapest ETFs on the market today. However, the OCF does not include portfolio transaction costs incurred by the fund, and these transaction costs will most likely be higher for this fund, as it requires periodic re-balancing to ensure less volatile stocks receive larger weightings.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/29/3-low-cost-etfs-to-consider-for-your-isa/">3 low-cost ETFs to consider for your ISA</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Jack Tang has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Retire early with these 3 ETFs</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/03/retire-early-with-these-3-etfs/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2017 13:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harvey Jones]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 100 ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iShares FTSE 250 ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vanguard S&P 500 Growth]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=92520</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>You can either work until you drop or retire early on these three ETFs instead, says Harvey Jones. It's your choice.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/03/retire-early-with-these-3-etfs/">Retire early with these 3 ETFs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nobody wants to work until they drop, but you may have little choice as the state retirement age climbs ever higher. There&#8217;s only one way to seize back control, and that&#8217;s by investing under your own steam. The following three exchange traded funds (ETFs) are great low-cost building blocks for your retirement portfolio.</p>
<h3>Fees cost</h3>
<p>ETFs have come into their own in recent years as investors wake up to the damage that high annual management fees inflict on investment fund performance. Say you invest £1o0,000 in a portfolio of actively-managed funds charging 1% a year. If it grows at 5% a year, you will have more than doubled your money to £219,112 over 20 years. However, if your ETFs charge 0.2% on average (and some charge as little as 0.03%), you will have £255,402, an incredible £36,290 more, assuming the same rate of fund growth.</p>
<p>If managers could regularly beat the market they would justify their higher costs, but three-quarters don&#8217;t. Investors are waking up to the message and these three ETFs are particularly popular, numbering among the top five most traded in the UK.</p>
<h3>Vanguard performance</h3>
<p>The first is the <strong>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-vusa/">LSE: VUSA</a>), which does exactly what it says on the tin, tracking the S&amp;P 500. The total expense ratio is a minuscule 0.15% a year, which Vanguard claims is 87% lower than the average charge on funds with similar holdings.</p>
<p>Over five years it&#8217;s up 140%, according to Trustnet.com, piggybacking on the booming US market. Look at this: the average actively-managed fund in the Investment Association North America sector has returned notably less at 113%, according to Trustnet.com. The charges will be higher as well.</p>
<h3>iSpy iShares</h3>
<p>You won&#8217;t be surprised to discover the second most popular ETF among British investors is the<strong> iShares FTSE 100 ETF </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cukx/">LSE: CUKX</a>), which tracks the UK benchmark index of blue-chip stocks. Its ongoing charges are even lower, at just 0.07%, and it has grown 52% over five years.</p>
<p>Unit trust trackers have also become cheaper. For example, HSBC FTSE 100 charges just 0.18% a year. However, on £10,000 invested for 20 years, this is the difference between ending up with £25,638 (iShares) or £25,298 (HSBC). That slither of a charging difference has amounted to £340.</p>
<h3>Mid-cap winner</h3>
<p>In a single low-cost swoop, you&#8217;ve now bought into 600 of the largest companies in the Western world, big names such as <strong>Apple</strong>, <strong>Microsoft</strong>, <strong>Exxon Mobil</strong>, <strong>Amazon </strong>and <strong>Facebook</strong> in the US, and <strong>HSBC Holdings</strong>, <strong>Royal Dutch Shell</strong>, <strong>BP</strong> and <strong>British American Tobacco</strong> in the UK.</p>
<p>My third suggestion for your early retirement ETF portfolio is the <strong>iShares FTSE 250 </strong>(FTSE: MIDD), the fifth most popular ETF in the UK. This mid-cap index has thrashed its blue-chip counterpart lately, and the ETF is up 100% accordingly. Now you have a spread of smaller companies to go with your retirement portfolio&#8217;s big boys. However, the total expense ratio is slightly higher at 0.4%. That&#8217;s actually more than the HSBC FTSE 250 tracker, whose ongoing charges total 0.18%.</p>
<p>ETFs may be cheap, but they&#8217;re not always cheapest. Yet when their performance is so strong, they certainly are very appealing.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/03/retire-early-with-these-3-etfs/">Retire early with these 3 ETFs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/30/10000-put-in-a-cash-isa-at-the-start-of-2026-is-now-worth/">£10,000 put in a Cash ISA at the start of 2026 is now worth…</a></li></ul><p><em>Harvey Jones holds iShares FTSE 100, HSBC FTSE 100 and HSBC FTSE 250. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Amazon.com and Facebook. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool UK has recommended BP, HSBC Holdings, and Royal Dutch Shell B. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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