Andrew Lodge
@andrewwj.bsky.social
Curious. Enjoys policy. And other subjects. Ex HMT, BoE, various other places. Based in Canada; but still close to UK
For young people who want a bit more risk, might want to do 80% equities, ie 80-20 portfolio.
November 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
For young people who want a bit more risk, might want to do 80% equities, ie 80-20 portfolio.
It’s a fund which has around 60% in shares (“equities”) and 40% in bonds. Bonds almost always do better which shares go down, so this smooths out performance. Low cost. Vanguard invented them 30+ years ago, they’re now in the UK. www.vanguard.co.uk/professional...
Model Portfolio Services | Vanguard UK Professional
Vanguard UK Professional
www.vanguard.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It’s a fund which has around 60% in shares (“equities”) and 40% in bonds. Bonds almost always do better which shares go down, so this smooths out performance. Low cost. Vanguard invented them 30+ years ago, they’re now in the UK. www.vanguard.co.uk/professional...
For younger people or those wanting more risk, might want 80% shares.
November 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
For younger people or those wanting more risk, might want 80% shares.
It’s a fund which has around 60% in shares (“equities”) and 40% in bonds. Bonds almost always do better which shares go down, so this smooths out performance. Low cost. Vanguard invented them 30+ years ago, they’re now in the UK. www.vanguard.co.uk/professional...
Model Portfolio Services | Vanguard UK Professional
Vanguard UK Professional
www.vanguard.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It’s a fund which has around 60% in shares (“equities”) and 40% in bonds. Bonds almost always do better which shares go down, so this smooths out performance. Low cost. Vanguard invented them 30+ years ago, they’re now in the UK. www.vanguard.co.uk/professional...
But that’s just a straw man caricature. These index funds don’t “pile into bonds”, they very slowly move from stocks to bonds over time. To lower the risk. Your comment sounds like every marketer for high-cost funds, jargon and suggestion there’s a magic way for ordinary investors to beat the market
November 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
But that’s just a straw man caricature. These index funds don’t “pile into bonds”, they very slowly move from stocks to bonds over time. To lower the risk. Your comment sounds like every marketer for high-cost funds, jargon and suggestion there’s a magic way for ordinary investors to beat the market
Yes, that’s the one! There was later on a book by a banker criticizing the hedge fund industry titled “Where Are the Customers’ Yachts?”… very good critique.
November 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Yes, that’s the one! There was later on a book by a banker criticizing the hedge fund industry titled “Where Are the Customers’ Yachts?”… very good critique.
It’s a big problem, the incentives of the industry are to overcomplicate this so the consumer ends up with high fees. John Kay (economist, FT writer) wrote a super book 20 years ago where he set out 4 funds to buy (which “give you a better return than the average fund manager”), ie index funds.
November 29, 2025 at 2:38 AM
It’s a big problem, the incentives of the industry are to overcomplicate this so the consumer ends up with high fees. John Kay (economist, FT writer) wrote a super book 20 years ago where he set out 4 funds to buy (which “give you a better return than the average fund manager”), ie index funds.
Amazing Olympic memory. Thoughts to his family.
November 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Amazing Olympic memory. Thoughts to his family.
Really bugs me we don’t do more to require passive investing. I remember the late Paul Myners (ex-HMT Minister in 2008 crisis) telling me he was amused/confused when running Gartmore fund mgt that his top traders often put their pensions into passive. They didn’t back themselves to best the market!
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Really bugs me we don’t do more to require passive investing. I remember the late Paul Myners (ex-HMT Minister in 2008 crisis) telling me he was amused/confused when running Gartmore fund mgt that his top traders often put their pensions into passive. They didn’t back themselves to best the market!
Indeed, good point. Company pension funds also access funds at lower fees typically too.
November 29, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Indeed, good point. Company pension funds also access funds at lower fees typically too.
Yes! Any ISA is better than no ISA. A balanced 60-40 index fund in an ISA is better than cash in an ISA.
November 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Yes! Any ISA is better than no ISA. A balanced 60-40 index fund in an ISA is better than cash in an ISA.
Massive failure not to teach people to invest. One problem too is that there’s a massive industry of active mangers trying to encourage people away from passive/index funds, even though it’s always better (on average, and almost always after fees) for low-sophistication investors to be in passive.
November 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Massive failure not to teach people to invest. One problem too is that there’s a massive industry of active mangers trying to encourage people away from passive/index funds, even though it’s always better (on average, and almost always after fees) for low-sophistication investors to be in passive.
Get a 60-40 balanced tracker. Better than cash always. Rebalances automatically. Even better, a Target Date fund (if Vanguard are doing that yet in the UK) - gradually moves into bonds as you reach retirement.
November 29, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Get a 60-40 balanced tracker. Better than cash always. Rebalances automatically. Even better, a Target Date fund (if Vanguard are doing that yet in the UK) - gradually moves into bonds as you reach retirement.
Yes, ok. (Thanks). I just would note it is taking a very different approach to the current Canadian govt.
November 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Yes, ok. (Thanks). I just would note it is taking a very different approach to the current Canadian govt.
UK? I think you’re misinformed on that. (The left-wing Labour government just did a hugely tax-raising budget with much more welfare spending).
November 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
UK? I think you’re misinformed on that. (The left-wing Labour government just did a hugely tax-raising budget with much more welfare spending).
Indeed, no. Stephan’s wine-tasting evenings (held amid the hairdressing chairs) were the very definition of elegant sophistication. Brighton would only benefit from it.
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Indeed, no. Stephan’s wine-tasting evenings (held amid the hairdressing chairs) were the very definition of elegant sophistication. Brighton would only benefit from it.
Chez Stephan in Putney already does this! Super wine shop-hairdresser. chezstephan.com
Chez Stephan Hair Salon & Wine Shop
Hairdressing & Appreciation of Great Wines from French, Europe and New World
chezstephan.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Chez Stephan in Putney already does this! Super wine shop-hairdresser. chezstephan.com
(*Simple anecdote alert*). My experience in the jury at a major trial made me far more open to this. Good jury. Made me realise too that citizen assemblies might also work for policy (a minority opinion in Whitehall at the time).
November 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
(*Simple anecdote alert*). My experience in the jury at a major trial made me far more open to this. Good jury. Made me realise too that citizen assemblies might also work for policy (a minority opinion in Whitehall at the time).
According to The Guardian, it was due to legal advice. Surely that’s sensible by BBC?
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
According to The Guardian, it was due to legal advice. Surely that’s sensible by BBC?
According to The Guardian: “Bregman said he was told a week ago that the claim was being examined by US lawyers, before being told on Monday it would be edited out. The BBC confirmed it removed the comment after seeking legal advice.”
It would be pretty irresponsible to ignore legal advice, surely?
It would be pretty irresponsible to ignore legal advice, surely?
November 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
According to The Guardian: “Bregman said he was told a week ago that the claim was being examined by US lawyers, before being told on Monday it would be edited out. The BBC confirmed it removed the comment after seeking legal advice.”
It would be pretty irresponsible to ignore legal advice, surely?
It would be pretty irresponsible to ignore legal advice, surely?
To be honest, I don’t think it’a realistic for a government to succeed in this without a) massive preparation, b) really strong change leadership, c) spend. As an example, a successful Singapore bank, DBS, completely rewired how it worked - it took 5+ years, huge consulting support, big investment.
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
To be honest, I don’t think it’a realistic for a government to succeed in this without a) massive preparation, b) really strong change leadership, c) spend. As an example, a successful Singapore bank, DBS, completely rewired how it worked - it took 5+ years, huge consulting support, big investment.