Wealth Shortlist Trackers

Our Wealth Shortlist contains tracker funds from across the main sectors that our analysts believe offer both quality and value.

The process for selecting tracker funds for the Wealth Shortlist is similar to the same as for actively managed funds. You can read how our analysts research and select funds for the Wealth Shortlist. However, there are a few considerations unique to tracker funds outlined below.

What did we look for?

We drew up this list after carefully researching the market. We not only want to make sure each fund has tracked its index closely in the past, but that it’s is best placed to track well in future.

Index tracked - It is important to consider which index a fund aims to track. We generally feel that broader, more diversified indices are better and have wider appeal.

Charges - Costs are the only guaranteed contributor to ongoing performance. Unlike with active funds, where there is potential for a good fund manager to outperform an index, passive funds will broadly deliver the market less fees. This is why they’re an important consideration when assessing passive funds. We feel these funds offer the best combination of quality and value.

Physical replication - When the fund holds all the shares or bonds in the index, whereas partial replication is when the fund chooses not to hold some smaller stocks. We generally think that full replication is best for investors, as it leads to more precise tracking, but recognise that this is unfeasible in some markets.

Stock lending - The process where a fund lends its holdings to a third party in exchange for a fee. Stock lending offsets costs, but it does carry some risk. We’re are comfortable with this only if investors benefit and the manager takes steps to control the risks.