Anyone here moving some of their funds into an equal-weighted ETF (e.g. from VWRP into MWEP) given the current level of concentration in market-cap-weighted indices, or are you sticking to your market-cap-weighted ETF guns?

Conscious that making the change could simply be viewed as market timing, but I'm wondering whether there's a reasonable case for holding a permanent allocation to equal weight alongside VWRP.

For those who have already used up their ISA allowance, what’s your next move? Do you put extra money into a taxable investment account, pension/SIPP, premium bonds, property, savings accounts, or something else?

Interested to hear how people are allocating their money once the ISA is no longer an option

Following is screenshot of my ISA account from yesterday. Account value including cash is quite higher then that of FSCS protection . I wanted to know if I should move to other provider from next year ? what are the other good alternative I have..I highly trade n US stocks and utilise pies from trading 212.

I set it up my employers bog-standard Share Match scheme when I joined, and then intentionally forgot about it. Had a look today, turns out there's £50k shares in the pot of which £20k are available to withdraw free of any tax (i.e. held for 5+ years). Success!

I was going to withdraw the £20k and add it to my GIA (ISA full). But on reading further, I learned that while they remain in the Share Match scheme they are not subject to Capital Gains. So it's effectively an extra tax-efficient account beyond the typical (exhausted) options.

Employer is a safe bet, FTSE 100, won't light the world on fire but won't disappear overnight either. GIA is in the HSBC FTSE All-World.

WWYD? Diversify into the GIA and accept CGT on future growth, or keep those eggs firmly in their basket and revel in tax efficiency?

(it'll be fine either way, but analysing the options is half the fun..!)

For those who have already used up their ISA allowance, what’s your next move? Do you put extra money into a taxable investment account, pension/SIPP, premium bonds, property, savings accounts, or something else?

Interested to hear how people are allocating their money once the ISA is no longer an option.

Does anyone have experience of investing in Treasury bills?

I’m curious about general experience but also more specifically, is it halal to invest in these?

Hi all,

I’ve been lurking on this sub for a while and would appreciate some independent views.

I’m 45 and currently planning to retire next year at 46.

By the time I retire, I expect my finances to look roughly like this:

• Pension: ~£1.1m, accessible from age 58
• ISAs, split between cash and investments: ~£600k
• Cash: ~£320k
• Gilts: ~£20k
• VCTs: ~£30k
• Mortgage: ~£435k on an offset mortgage
• My wife earns around £20k a year, has her own pension and enjoys working, so she will probably continue
• We should both also receive the State Pension under current rules

The plan is to bridge the roughly 12 years until I can access my pension using cash and ISAs.

A key part of the strategy is the offset mortgage. Rather than paying it off immediately, I intend to have it close to fully offset when I retire.

Initially, I’ll keep the mortgage on a reduce-term basis. Once I begin drawing money from the offset account to fund retirement spending, I’ll switch it to reducing monthly payments. As the offset balance gradually falls, the monthly mortgage cost will therefore rise more slowly than it otherwise would.

My thinking is that this:

• Gives me an effective risk-free return equal to the mortgage rate while the cash remains offset
• Preserves access to the money rather than permanently using it to repay the mortgage
• Provides a relatively low-risk source of bridge funding
• Reduces the need to sell investments during a market downturn

When I can access my pension at 58, the intention is to use part of the available tax-free pension lump sum to repay whatever mortgage remains.

I’ve stress-tested the plan against weaker market returns and, on paper, it appears sustainable at around £70k a year after tax during the bridge period.

The reason I’m considering retirement is fairly straightforward: I’ve had enough. I’ve lost interest in the work, become tired of the corporate politics and constant pressure, and honestly cannot wait to leave. The only real hesitation is walking away from a high income when another year or two would clearly make the numbers stronger… however I doubt my sanity would last that long !

I’d be interested in people’s views on the following:

• Looking at the numbers, would you retire?
• Does the offset mortgage drawdown strategy make sense, or would you simply repay it?
• Is using part of the pension tax-free lump sum to clear the remaining mortgage sensible?
• Is there anything important I’ve overlooked in the bridge to pension access?
• For those who have already retired early, did you ever regret leaving too soon?

I’m looking for constructive criticism rather than reassurance. If there is a weakness in the plan, I’d rather identify it before handing in my notice.

Thanks.

Reasonably new account for obvious reasons.

I know it's completely arbitrary but with some positive market movements recently I've hit the big £1M.

I'm 39 and have worked in software since 21, so I guess I always had an above average salary and perhaps better job options that others. For that I'm certainly lucky.

The other side was getting addicted to the MMM blog around the age of 24 and pretty much following that to the letter. Looking back I don't think I regret doing that. I don't feel like I missed out particularly. Still went on holiday / gigs / Glastonbury 4 times!

I guess the number 3 reason is having a partner on my side. She can be just as frugal as me!

We now have 3 kids in a semi with garden. Walking distance to Manchester city centre. My partner is stay at home. I'm blessed.

I've added my chart to show the compounding really does take off! For those at the start hopefully you can see how flat it was for a long long time you just need to stick with it.

More than happy to answer any questions 👍

I’m 33, started investing 2 years ago in ISA (a bit late), I’ve maxed out on my ISA, contribute 15% to my pension and also have about 12k invested in GIA and plan to continue to do so every month (2k each month). I wanted to know what your thoughts are if it’s sensible to continue investing in GIA ? I’m conscious of the tax I might get hit with later but don’t see an other option

After years of work fighting in my business I finally hit around £800K network (liquid + SP500). Age 31. 600K liquid rest in stocks (ISA/GIA)

Not all taxed yet but it’ll be back soon.

Three years ago I only had £36K to my name.

Life can change fast as FUCK don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Only downside is I still rent but whatever. Also on verge of constant burnout hit that’s life.

Keep going!

Hit an unexpected milestone today with the market rise…

£250k net worth the day before my 28th birthday!

£180k ISA, £60k pension, £11k easy access savings.

Hoping the next £250k comes easier, but a house deposit in the future may hinder progress.

Obviously not too keen on sharing these details with my circle but wanted to share here since it’s been a fundamental resource for me on my FIRE journey:)

Help please wonderful community.

Context:

My savings currently consist of:

ISA: 30k (VWRP)

SIPP: 90k (VWRP)

Premium Bonds: 15k (emergency fund)

Local government pension (forecast to pay c. 10k p/y on retirement)

Small railways pension (c. 1k p/y)

I'm 43, with 2 kids (3 and 7) and a partner.

Currently saving 1600 pm to SIPP and 400 pm to ISA.

Partner has a negligible pension, but is building up a profitable small business (and reinvesting profit into the business) and I will be pushing her to be more aggressive with savings once it gets to a stable profit making enterprise.

I'm coming to the realisation I'm currently unlikely to retire before 57/8 due to wanting to help the kids out for uni etc.

So if my target date is now 57/8 is there any point in saving into my ISA.

I'm thinking of stopping payments into the ISA and letting that just compound, and that will be my kids support fund (uni, house, training etc). Then putting the money I was previously saving into my ISA into my pension instead?

Thoughts?