The funds that fuel our online ISA

What exactly are you investing in if you set up an ISA through Coutts Invest?

You’re putting your money into our Personal Portfolio Funds (PPF) – a selection of five multi-asset funds, each with its own risk profile. So whether you’re a more cautious investor or feeling adventurous, the funds match a range of appetites for – and tolerance of – risk.

Are these low-cost ‘fire and forget’ funds with a set allocation? Or are they actively managed and flexible for change?

A bit of both. We actively manage the extent to which the funds are exposed to particular assets. For example, if our house view reflects an increased preference for bond exposure, we’ll hold more of them in the funds that include them.  

However, we gain exposure to different assets through what are known as ‘index tracker’ funds. These underlying funds are created to reflect a basket of assets, and they move in line with markets. They are an efficient way to get exposure to different assets. And when they’re backed up by the expertise of a professional portfolio manager, they can be a powerful way to take advantage of shifting markets without having to pay for investment advice.

What changes have you made to them recently and why?

We have been scaling back the equity risk in our portfolios to a more neutral stance, reflecting current, more uncertain market conditions. 

In December, we reduced our investment in European equities as the region is struggling, partly due to the tough time being had by China which is a major trading partner.

We also reduced our exposure to Japanese equities. We still like them, but right now a stronger yen is joining forces with the decelerating global economic backdrop to dent the potential for gains.

On the other hand, we’ve been increasing our holdings in UK government bonds because they’re a good way to offset some of the risks that come with equities. Historically, bond prices rise when equities fall. 

It’s important to say that, although we’ve reduced our investment in equities, we still think they’ll make a positive return for investors this year. Global economic growth may be getting slower, but it is still growth. One question we ask is: do we see a US recession on the horizon? Such a development is often followed by market falls. But right now the US is actually in good shape – company profits are solid, business sentiment is positive and unemployment is low.