The Mixed Investment sectors offer a wide variety of funds. They usually blend together shares and bonds and some also invest in other types of assets to provide more diversification. Portfolio mix aside, these funds can have very different aims. Some focus on growth while trying to provide some shelter from volatility. Others seek to protect your wealth in all market conditions. Between them they offer a wide range of approaches, from the cautious to the more adventurous, so you need to choose carefully to match your risk appetite.
There are several sectors within the Mixed Investment category:
- Flexible investment funds - can invest up to 100% in shares or invest more in bonds or cash. Generally the most adventurous mixed investment funds
- Mixed investment 40-85% shares funds - must invest between 40% and 85% in shares. The rest can be in bonds or other assets
- Mixed investment 20-60% shares funds - must invest between 20% and 60% in shares. They’re likely to have more invested in bonds than the two types of fund above
- Mixed investment 0-35% shares funds - can only invest up to 35% in shares. They’re likely to hold the most in bonds, and are among the most cautious funds in the mixed investment sectors
- Targeted Absolute Return - try to minimise the impact of falling markets. These funds can perform quite differently from more traditional ones and aim for positive returns in a variety of market conditions
Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest.
HL view
Mixed and flexible investment
Funds in these sectors are a convenient way to diversify across different assets. They’re useful for investors looking for a more balanced approach than funds only investing in shares or bonds.
You can match how much risk you’re comfortable with to how much a fund manager invests in the stock market. The Mixed Investment 0-35% Shares and 20-60% Shares sectors could make up the more cautious part of a portfolio. Funds in the Flexible and 40-85% Shares sectors tend to be used for seeking higher gains but come with more volatility risk.
It’s difficult to consistently perform well by regularly switching between different asset classes, such as shares and bonds. We prefer fund managers who take a long-term view, and either maintain a fairly consistent asset allocation or have successfully shifted the portfolio when the time is right. The Wealth Shortlist highlights those funds our analysts believe have the potential to outperform over the long term.
Targeted absolute return
This sector contains a varied mix of funds. It includes those focused on the UK, Europe and global stock markets, bonds and alternative assets. Many try to make positive returns in a variety of market conditions, but do this in different ways and returns aren’t guaranteed. Each fund should be judged against its own aims and shouldn’t necessarily be compared directly with other funds in the same sector.
We tend to prefer ‘Total Return’ funds. They usually aim for positive returns over the medium-to-long-term. They seek out some growth when stock markets rise, as well as some shelter when they fall. They often invest in a combination of assets including shares, bonds, cash, commodities, and currencies.
Investment notes
Please remember past performance is not a guide to future returns. Where no data is shown, figures are not available. This information is provided to help you choose your own investments, remember they can fall as well as rise in value so you may not get back the original amount invested.
Wealth Shortlist funds in this sector
Funds chosen by our analysts for their long-term performance potential
SEE THE WEALTH SHORTLISTWe regularly review all the main investment sectors. Here we provide comments on a selection of funds in the Mixed Investment sectors. They’re provided for your interest but not a guide to how you should invest. If you're unsure if an investment is right for you, seek personal advice.
For more information on the risks, please refer to the Key Investor Information Document for each fund. Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. Past performance isn’t a guide to the future.
Our Wealth Shortlist features a number of funds from this sector, selected by our analysts for their long-term potential. There is a tiered charge to hold funds with HL. It is a maximum of 0.45% a year - view our charges.
Wealth Shortlist Fund Reviews table:
This is a more adventurous option than many other funds in the Mixed 40-85% Shares sector. Iain McCombie and Steven Hay invest in typical Baillie Gifford style – seeking out companies for their growth prospects.
The managers are true long-term investors and are currently invested largely in the UK, US and Europe. The managers also have the flexibility to invest in higher-risk emerging markets.
They change how much is invested in shares depending on their view of the world. Currently around 80% of the fund is invested in shares, with the remainder in bonds and cash to try to reduce volatility. The managers can also use derivatives to help them invest, which adds risk if used.
The fund’s adventurous approach has worked well over the long term. It’s normally done better than other mixed-asset funds when markets have been rising, but not so well when they’ve wobbled. That’s not an indication of future performance.
We admire the managers' approach and we’re confident they’ll stick with it through thick and thin. We think the fund’s low charges also make it excellent value.
Please note the fund currently has a holding in Hargreaves Lansdown plc shares.
The fund looks to dampen volatility and provide some shelter during market wobbles and aims to deliver 4% more than SONIA (the average interest rate major banks pay to borrow money from other banks) over five years. It could be a potential option for a defensive portfolio seeking steadier gains.
The fund is invested into a mix of assets that can be broadly described in two categories: long-term growth investments such as shares and corporate and emerging bonds, and investments that add stability to returns such as gold, government bonds and cash.
It’s underperformed its SONIA +4% benchmark over five years, with the challenging market conditions during 2022 causing the fund to lose value. It is particularly difficult for a fund like this when lots of different investments all lose value at the same time. We think the fund will beat its benchmark over the long term but there are no guarantees.
The team behind the fund have the flexibility to invest in emerging markets, derivatives and high yield bonds, which can add risk to the portfolio. Please note the fund's charges can be taken from capital. This increases the yield, but reduces the potential for capital growth.
This fund sits in the Flexible Investment sector but is more conservatively run than many other funds in the sector.
The fund is run using a team-based approach rather than managed by an individual. The team at Pyrford invests in a mix of shares, government bonds and cash. The amount invested in each asset depends on the team’s view of the world.
Bonds currently make up around 62% of the fund, reflecting the team’s cautious approach. The companies they invest in tend to be well-established ones from developed markets, but they also invest in some from higher-risk emerging markets.
The aim of the fund is to provide a modest long-term return while keeping volatility relatively low. On both counts the team has achieved this, but that’s no guarantee of future performance. The fund tends not to keep pace in a rising market, but it becomes more resilient during periods of poor market performance.
We think the Pyrford team is highly experienced and skilled and view the fund as a good option for potentially adding some stability to a portfolio.
This is an offshore fund, so investors aren’t normally entitled to compensation through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
This is a ‘fund of funds’ where Johanna Kyrklund and Remi Olu-Pitan primarily invest in funds run by other Schroders fund managers. Collectively those managers invest in a broad range of assets including global shares and bonds. They tend to favour shares in positive economic environments and bonds or cash in times of stress.
The aim of the fund is to deliver performance broadly in line with the IA Mixed Investment 40-85% shares sector. We think the fund managers are experienced and dedicated to what they do. We like the fact they are supported by a strong and well-resourced investment team.
The managers have the freedom to invest in derivatives and high yield bonds, which adds risk if used.
This fund lies within the Flexible Investment sector and looks to grow investors' money steadily over the long run, while limiting losses when markets fall.
The fund invests across of range of assets and tries to limit the ups and downs experienced in a portfolio that’s mainly invested in shares. Sebastian Lyon looks for established companies that can grow over the long term and endure difficult economic conditions. He also has the freedom to invest in higher-risk smaller companies.
The rest of the fund focuses on investments that could offer some stability during more difficult markets such as bonds, gold and cash. Avoiding large losses has been an important characteristic of the fund and it’s tended to come into its own and hold up well in weaker markets. We saw this during the global financial crisis in 2008 and again during the COVID-19 sell-off in 2020.
We like that the aim of the fund is simple, to shelter investors’ capital during uncertain economic times and grow it over the long term. It also looks to achieve a return that is above the rate of inflation which it has managed to do since it launched in May 2001. That’s not an indication of future performance.
The team behind the fund are experienced and we view the fund as an option to potentially add some stability to a portfolio. While the fund contains a diverse range of investments, it is concentrated. This approach means each investment can contribute significantly to overall returns, but it can increase risk.
Latest news on this sector
Mixed and total return sector review – mixed economic data and peak rates
Hal Cook | 28 November 2023
We look at what’s been happening in the world, the impacts of this on shares and bonds and how mixed investment and total return sector funds have performed. Read article.
Hal Cook
28 November 2023 | 6 min read
Please note the research updates are not personal recommendations to trade. If you are unsure of the suitability of an investment for your circumstances please seek advice. Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.
Latest research updates on funds in this sector
BlackRock Consensus 85: January 2024 fund update
Tue 13 February 2024
In this update, Senior Investment Analyst Hal Cook shares our analysis on the manager, process, culture, ESG Integration, cost and performance of the BlackRock Consensus 85 fund.
Pyrford Global Total Return: January 2024 update
Fri 12 January 2024
In this fund update, Senior Investment Analyst Hal Cook shares our analysis on the manager, process, culture, ESG Integration, cost and performance of the Pyrford Global Total Return Fund.
BNY Mellon Sustainable Real Return: November 2023 fund Update
Thu 30 November 2023
In this fund update, Senior Investment Analyst Hal Cook shares our analysis on the manager, process, culture, ESG integration, cost and performance of the BNY Mellon Sustainable Real Return fund.
BNY Mellon Real Return: November 2023 fund update
Wed 29 November 2023
In this fund update, Senior Investment Analyst Hal Cook shares our analysis on the manager, process, culture, ESG integration, cost and performance of the BNY Mellon Real Return fund.
Schroder Managed Balanced: October 2023 Fund Update
Fri 03 November 2023
In this fund update, Senior Investment Analyst Hal Cook shares our analysis on the manager, process, culture, ESG integration, cost and performance of the Schroder Managed Balanced fund.
Our expert research team provide regular updates on a wide range of funds.