Aim of Portfolio:

 AimBenchmarkTime frameRisk/VolatilityExclusionsCapital at risk
Balanced PortfolioTo deliver a return of between 6% and 8% gross over the long term. In a normalised environment, this should be above the higher rate of cash or inflation.A basket of strategies that track an index (for example, the FTSE 100).10-years plusThis is best suited for those investors seeking slightly more risk. At the same time, it looks to deliver a balance between defensive assets and traditional UK and international assets.
 
Currently, the portfolio has 60% in UK and International Assets, whereas the Cautious Portfolio has 46%.
No specific exclusions.Yes

For more information click here

Portfolio Review:

The Big PictureOctober 2023
Market OverviewOctober 2023
Portfolio UpdateOctober 2023
FE Analytics – LWM Balanced Portfolio ReviewOctober 2023
Quarterly Portfolio Update July 2023
Quarterly Market UpdateJuly 2023
FE Analytics Overview July 2023
Quarterly Portfolio UpdateApril 2023
Quarterly Market UpdateApril 2023
FE Analytics OverviewApril 2023
Quarterly Portfolio Update January 2023
Quarterly Market UpdateJanuary 2023
Morningstar Quarter 4 2022 Portfolio Overview January 2023
Quarterly Portfolio UpdateOctober 2023
Quarterly Market UpdateOctober 2022
Morningstar Quarter 3 2022 Portfolio OverviewOctober 2022

Performance:

The Portfolio was launched on 1 January 2009. The chart shows the total return up to 30 September 2023.

 10-year Annualised ReturnTotal Return Since LaunchAnnualised Return Since Launch
Balanced Portfolio5.79% p.a.219.32%8.19% p.a.
LWM Benchmark4.17% p.a.125.69%5.67% p.a.
 20192020202120222023Since Launch
Balanced Portfolio18.78%11.78%11.18%-18.61%-0.66%8.19% p.a.
LWM Benchmark15.52%7.01%9.91%-13.06%1.41%5.67% p.a.
 1 Year to 30/09/191 Year to 30/09/201 Year to 30/09/211 Year to 30/09/221 Year to 30/09/23
Balanced Portfolio1.03%5.47%19.61%-17.60%2.10%
LWM Benchmark4.46%2.31%14.81%-13.20%4.42%

Volatility

You should note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns and the value of your investments can fall as well as rise. The total return reflects performance without sales charges or the effects of taxation, but is adjusted to reflect all on-going fund expenses and assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. If adjusted for sales charges and the effects of taxation, the performance quoted would be reduced.

Split by funds within the Portfolio (as at 1 July 2023):

Read portfolio review 2023 summary.

Fund NamePercentage Holding
Alternatives40.00%
Premier Miton Strategic Monthly Income Bond Fund6.50%KIID
PIMCO GIS Income Fund6.50%KIID
Nomura Funds Global Dynamic Bond Fund6.50%KIID
Schroder Global Cities Real Estate Fund5.00%KIID
FP Foresight Global Real Infrastructure Fund5.00%KIID
AHFM Defined Returns Fund5.00%KIID
Henderson Diversified Alternatives Fund5.50%KIID
Equity Exposure60.00%
UK
Slater Growth Fund5.00%KIID
VT Castlebay UK Equity Fund5.00%KIID
US
AXA Framlington American Growth Fund6.00%KIID
L&G US Index Fund6.00%KIID
China
Abrdn China A Share Equity Fund3.00%KIID
Japan
GS Japan Equity Partners Fund3.00%KIID
Global
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC4.00%Documents
Morgan Stanley UK Global Brands Fund4.00%KIID
Heriot Global Fund4.00%KIID
Ninety One Global Enviroment Fund3.00%KIID
Europe
Premier Miton European Opportunities Fund3.50%KIID
Abrdn Europe ex UK Equity Fund3.50%KIID
Asia
Matthews Asia ex Japan Total Return Fund5.00%KIID
Emerging Markets
FP Carmignac Emerging Markets Fund5.00%KIID

Important notes

What is the difference between the aim of the strategies and benchmark?

The target or aim is to deliver returns of 6% to 8% p.a. over ten years. This includes the fund charges but not our fees and platform charges.

How do we test these figures?

We follow the BlackRock Capital Market Assumptions https://www.blackrock.com/institutions/en-zz/insights/charts/capital-market-assumptions

These outline the long-term asset return expectations. The current return expectations for the portfolios are:

Return
Cautious Portfolio6.52% p.a.
Balanced Portfolio6.78% p.a.
Moderately Adventurous Portfolio7.11% p.a.
Adventurous Portfolio7.34% p.a.

Would we review the expectations?

If the market expectations for returns were reduced, we would reduce our long-term return profile. We review this quarterly, and although the long-term market expectations have come down, they are still within the 6% to 8% target.

Do we guarantee a return of 6% to 8% p.a. over a ten-year period?

This is our stated aim. We do not guarantee this. The challenging market environment since 31 December 2021 has meant we have missed the 6% target for the Cautious and Balanced Portfolio. The table below only shows the portfolios with a ten-year track record.

10-years (p.a.)Since launch (p.a.)
Cautious Portfolio4.97%7.43%
Balanced Portfolio5.79%8.19%
Moderately Adventurous Portfolio6.10%8.53%
Adventurous Portfolio6.29%8.71%

Why do we have a benchmark?

The benchmark is a measure of performance vs a basket of passive funds. Passive funds follow a particular index. We aim to deliver a return of between 6% and 8% p.a. over ten years. In doing that over the same period, we should also outperform this basket.

In the short term, there will be periods where passive funds outperform, particularly in periods of extreme market volatility.

The table below shows performance vs the benchmarks over five years, ten years and since launch.

5-years (p.a.)10-years (p.a.)Since Launch (p.a.)
Cautious Portfolio2.61%4.97%7.43%
Benchmark1.52%3.46%4.99%
   
Balanced Portfolio1.63%6.10%8.35%
Benchmark2.34%4.50%5.81%
   
Moderately Adventurous Portfolio1.51%6.42%8.67%
Benchmark3.46%5.74%6.73%
   
Adventurous Portfolio1.16%6.62%8.85%
Benchmark3.74%6.14%6.93%
   

How do we measure performance?

Portfolio Level

We have several touchpoints when monitoring performance:

  1. We monitor performance monthly.
  2. We have an internal monthly investment risk matrix. Within this, we monitor the target return and compare the performance to a range of discretionary managed portfolios.
  3. We update the website quarterly with performance data and provide updates.
  4. From September to February, we conduct a comprehensive review of the portfolios and rebalance on 1 July each year (subject to your approval).

The primary focus of this work is to understand periods of underperformance and adjust where we see appropriate.

For example, we increased exposure to fixed income (debt) in 2023 to reflect higher interest rates and a more conducive environment for these investments.

Fund Level

At a minimum, we review all the funds within the portfolios once a year. We write up the notes from these reviews which are available on the website.

Although we consider more extended-term performance, we also look at short-term performance to understand the reasons for any underperformance or sudden spike. We may change the strategy where we feel that there is a long-term shift in the environment, where we think the investment will no longer be appropriate, if there are better opportunities, or where there has been a significant change to the operation of the strategy.

For example, with higher interest rates, the availability of cash will naturally be limited, meaning companies needing money to develop will find it harder. Therefore, we have increased our exposure to “quality” and reduced our exposure to strategies that carry higher risk with more innovative and cash-poor companies.

Charges

The performance data includes the fund charges but not the platform and LWM fees. Fees are fully disclosed. Below are the fund fees as of 30 September 2023 provided by Trustnet.

Fund fees
Cautious Portfolio0.74%
Balanced Portfolio0.80%
Moderately Adventurous Portfolio0.89%
Adventurous Portfolio0.90%
 
Cautious Positive Impact Portfolio0.94%
Balanced Positive Impact Portfolio0.91%
Adventurous Positive Impact Portfolio0.91%
 
Income Portfolio0.99%
Positive Impact Income Portfolio1.06%

We review our charges within the Consumer Duty Fair Value Assessment. We also disclose under transparency on the website.

Performance

You should note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns and the value of your investments can fall as well as rise. LWM only invests in UK based investments although some funds / assets may have overseas holdings, the performance of funds / assets where some holdings are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to variations in currency rates.

Factsheets

These factsheets are provided by third parties for information. LWM is not responsible for these factsheets, has not reviewed them, and accepts no liability in connection with your use of them or any of their content. These factsheets display the fund manager’s standard retail charges and please note that product charges and fees may replace the charges displayed.