26 April 2017

Performance Comparisons: Danger of first Impression

Fund Supermarkets (or Platforms as they are sometimes called) are a massive step in the right direction, i.e. giving private investors more control over their investments. But apart from the problem that each one of these sites can only cover so many funds the performance comparisons can be difficult to interpret. In the example below one would have to know what exactly is meant when a Sterling bond fund is having the 'Extra Yield' words in its name. Does it really make sense to compare it to the Investment Association's 'Strategic' Sterling bond fund? Is one comparing apples and oranges? However small the difference between the two, the verdict on the fund could be heavily influenced by it.
Royal Sterling Extra Yield Bond Fund - Analysis by Hargreaves Lansdown