A bit about this report
The purpose of the report during the last three decades, was to emphasise the importance of choosing funds carefully and then regularly checking in to monitor how they are doing relative to the markets they invest in.
The importance of fund selection
There is a wide difference in returns between the very best performing funds and the laggards, so being selective is key. Funds can go through periods of relative underperformance for a variety of reasons, including their style or approach being temporarily out of favour with recent trends, so it is important to explore the reasons why a particular fund may have lagged for a period before taking a decision on whether to switch out or stick with it.
Transitioning from Spot the Dog
Although we are no longer publishing the Spot the Dog report, which began life before the age when fund performance data became accessible on the internet, if you are making your own investment decisions, it continues to be important to check how they are doing. This is why we provide extensive performance data for funds, investment trusts, ETFs and shares on our website to help you keep a beady eye on how your investments are doing both individually and for your overall account.
Tools to help on Bestinvest
Within your Bestinvest account, through the Performance tab, you can see how each holding has performed both in absolute terms (Abs), i.e. how much it has risen, and relative (Rel) compared to an appropriate market benchmark.
Select Discrete performance from the slider in the top right-hand corner of the of the performance tab, and you can see this information for each of the last five discrete 12-month periods. Looking at discrete year relative performance, will enable you to see how consistently a fund has performed versus its benchmark in each of the last five years.
By selecting Cumulative performance from the slider in the top corner you can also see absolute and relative performance over both a full three- and five-year period. We also provide charting tools, so you can visually see how a fund has fared and add comparisons, such as the sector it sits in, or another fund.
Support and guidance for investors
Ready-made solutions
If you find you no longer have the time or inclination to review and manage your investments yourself, it might be worth considering transferring your investments into one of our Ready-Made Portfolios. Designed for a variety of risk profiles, each Ready-Made Portfolio is comprised of a diverse selection of investments picked by the expert teams at Evelyn Partners, our parent company, and reviewed on an ongoing basis with adjustments made when they believe it is appropriate.
Explore our range of Ready-made Portfolios
Investment coaching
If you are looking for more general guidance, perhaps just a chat about what’s happening in the markets right now, a discussion about your risk profile or a chat about how Ready-Made Portfolios work, then book a free session with one of our Coaches, who are all qualified financial planners.
Investment advice
If you would like a deep dive into your investments, why not explore our Portfolio Health Check service where one of our Investment Advisers will undertake a one-off personalised review with recommendations?