AJ Bell Favourite funds
Funds can make investing easier. No picking individual stocks and shares, no spending hours researching individual companies. But there are thousands of funds to choose from – spread across multiple sectors, regions, asset classes, and investment strategies. How do you begin to know which to choose?
Ryan Hughes, Head of Fund Selection introduces the AJ Bell Favourite funds list
That’s where the AJ Bell Favourite funds list comes in. We’ve surveyed the markets and picked out the funds we think are likeliest to provide your portfolio with an income, or with medium- to long-term growth. The list is chosen by our experts, is regularly updated, and features only funds that offer a combination of the following:
- Low-cost and great value
- Proven track record compared to benchmark and peers
- Quality fund management team
With the help of our handy filter tool, you can find the right fund to meet your criteria – whether that’s fund type, fund sector, or investment goal. But before you go ahead and invest, make sure you do your own research too. That includes reading factsheets, analysts’ ratings and reports, as well as Key Information Documents (KIDs and KIIDs).
The AJ Bell Favourite funds list is designed to help you choose your investments, but isn’t a personal recommendation. You may own funds not included on the list – this doesn’t mean we recommend that you sell them. If you’re not confident about making your own financial decisions, or are looking for advice, you should speak to a suitably qualified financial adviser. To view our full range of funds, please use our Fund screener tool.
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How do you choose funds for the AJ Bell Favourite funds list?
How funds are chosen
The Favourite funds list includes both active funds (where a fund manager is paid to choose investments that outperform a benchmark) and tracker funds (which simply track an index or benchmark). To understand more about different types of funds, read our investing in funds page.
When choosing the active funds on the list, we considered:
- The fund manager, their team and the wider organisation
- The investment philosophy underpinning the investment process
- The fund’s objective and suitability to meet the fund’s strategy
- The way the fund portfolio is constructed and whether it’s suitably diversified
- The performance of the fund and its ability to meet its objectives
- The cost of the fund and the value added by the fund manager
When choosing the tracker funds on the list, we researched the following:
- The fund manager and their ability to successfully track the chosen index
- The investment approach to index replication – we've only selected funds which physically replicate the index they track
- The cost of the fund or ETF
- The size of the fund and whether it's large enough to ensure liquidity
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| Name | Sector | Rating? | Fund mgrs' charge? | 3 yr return? | Yield? | Goal | Fund type | Income freq | OCF range | Fund size range | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyxor FTSE Actuaries UK Gilts 0-5yr ETF | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.07 | - | 3.18 | Income | Tracker | Annually | ltpt5 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Artemis European Opportunities Acc | Europe (ex UK) | AA | 0.84 | 13.74 | 1.47 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Artemis Strategic Bond Quarterly Inc | Corporate & government bonds | AA | 0.57 | 5.30 | 3.88 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Artemis US Select Acc | North America | A | 0.84 | 20.72 | 0.07 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Artemis US Smaller Companies Acc | North America | A | 0.87 | 22.80 | - | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Growth Acc | Global | AA | 0.61 | 19.76 | 0.41 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Baillie Gifford High Yield Bond Inc | Corporate & government bonds | A | 0.38 | 5.79 | 3.85 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| Baillie Gifford Japanese Acc | Japan | AA | 0.63 | 19.32 | 0.83 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Baring Europe Select Trust Inc | Europe (ex UK) | AA | 0.79 | 18.40 | 1.29 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Blackrock European Dynamic Acc | Europe (ex UK) | AAA | 0.92 | 14.66 | 1.12 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| BlackRock Gold and General Acc | Other | AA | 1.17 | 12.98 | 0.01 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1pt5 | 0 | ||
| Evenlode Income Inc | UK equity income | A | 0.9 | - | 2.49 | Income,Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Fidelity Asia Acc | Asia (ex Japan) | A | 0.94 | 18.54 | 0.74 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Fidelity Emerging Markets Acc | Emerging markets | A | 0.98 | 12.89 | 0.83 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Fidelity Enhanced Income Inc | UK equity income | A | 0.92 | 3.32 | 6.85 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Fidelity Index World Fund Acc | Global | - | 0.12 | 15.24 | 1.76 | Growth | Tracker | Annually | ltpt5 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Fidelity Strategic Bond Inc | Corporate & government bonds | AA | 0.66 | 2.57 | 2.16 | Income,Growth | Active | Monthly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| First State Global Listed Infrastructure Acc | Global | AA | 0.8 | 14.07 | 3.05 | Income,Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| FP Crux European Special Situations Acc | Europe (ex UK) | AAA | 0.88 | 14.29 | 1.31 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Franklin UK Mid Cap Acc | UK equity | A | 0.82 | 9.66 | 1.90 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Henderson Fixed Interest Monthly Income Inc | Corporate & government bonds | A | 0.69 | 5.09 | 4.94 | Income,Growth | Active | Monthly | lt1 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Henderson UK Property PAIF Acc | Other | R | 0.84 | 3.66 | 2.15 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Invesco Perpetual Asian Acc | Asia (ex Japan) | A | 0.9 | 20.20 | 1.29 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Invesco Perpetual Corporate Bond Inc | Corporate & government bonds | AAA | 0.61 | 4.29 | 3.20 | Income,Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Investec UK Alpha Acc | UK equity | A | 0.73 | 8.85 | 2.24 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares Core FTSE 100 Dist ETF | UK equity | - | 0.07 | 8.53 | 3.90 | Growth | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares Core MSCI EM IMI Acc ETF | Emerging markets | - | 0.18 | 12.28 | - | Growth | Tracker | None | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares Core MSCI Pacific ex-Japan ETF Acc | Asia (ex Japan) | - | 0.2 | 13.24 | - | Growth | Tracker | None | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares Core MSCI World ETF | Global | - | 0.2 | 14.89 | - | Growth | Tracker | None | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Acc | North America | - | 0.07 | 18.23 | - | Growth | Tracker | None | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares GBP Corporate Bond ETF Dist | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.2 | 5.88 | 2.75 | Income | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares Global Government Bond ETF | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.2 | 8.21 | 0.98 | Income | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares Global High Yield Corp Bond ETF | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.5 | 10.52 | 4.80 | Income | Tracker | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| iShares Japan Equity Index Fund Acc | Japan | - | 0.16 | 12.71 | 1.54 | Growth | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares Overseas Govt Bond Index Fund Acc | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.17 | 9.10 | 1.03 | Income | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| iShares UK Equity Index Fund Acc | UK equity | - | 0.06 | 8.97 | 3.16 | Growth | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares UK Property ETF | Other | A | 0.4 | -0.34 | 3.15 | Growth | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| iShares £ Index-Linked Gilts Dist ETF | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.25 | 8.49 | 1.88 | Income | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| JP Morgan Emerging Markets Income Inc | Emerging markets | A | 0.75 | 11.55 | 3.67 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| JP Morgan Multi Asset Income Inc | Other | A | 0.65 | 3.69 | 3.88 | Income,Growth | Active | Monthly | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| JP Morgan US Equity Income | North America | A | 0.9 | 16.36 | 1.95 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Jupiter Asian Income Inc | Asia (ex Japan) | AA | 0.98 | - | 3.76 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Jupiter UK Special Situations Acc | UK equity | AA | 0.76 | 9.69 | 2.20 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Kames Ethical Cautious Managed Acc | Other | A | 0.79 | 4.30 | 2.01 | Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Kames Investment Grade Bond Inc | Corporate & government bonds | AA | 0.78 | 5.26 | 2.72 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Lazard Emerging Markets Acc | Emerging markets | AA | 1.08 | 11.01 | 1.92 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1pt5 | 0 | ||
| LF Woodford Equity Income Inc | UK equity income | AAA | 0.75 | 0.59 | 3.47 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Liontrust Special Situations Inc | UK equity | AA | 0.86 | 14.74 | 1.83 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Lyxor FTSE Actuaries UK Gilts ETF | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.07 | - | 2.79 | Income | Tracker | Semi-annually | ltpt5 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Majedie UK Equity Acc | UK equity | AA | 0.77 | 7.50 | 2.48 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Man GLG Japan Core Alpha Acc | Japan | AAA | 0.9 | 11.90 | 1.70 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Man GLG Undervalued Assets Acc | UK equity | A | 0.9 | 11.23 | 1.87 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Newton Global Dynamic Bond Inc | Other | AA | 0.67 | 1.64 | 2.87 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Newton Global Income Inc | Global | A | 0.79 | 16.30 | 2.89 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Old Mutual UK Smaller Companies Acc | UK smaller companies | AA | 0.94 | 19.72 | 0.63 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Polar Capital Global Insurance Acc | Other | AA | 0.88 | 14.73 | - | Growth | Active | None | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Polar Capital Global Technology Inc | Other | A | 1.16 | 32.57 | - | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1pt5 | 0 | ||
| River & Mercantile UK Equity Income Inc | UK equity income | AA | 0.88 | 7.54 | 3.59 | Income,Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Schroder Tokyo Acc | Japan | A | 0.91 | 12.69 | 0.98 | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| SPDR ® FTSE UK All Share ETF | UK equity | - | 0.2 | 8.37 | - | Growth | Tracker | None | ltpt5 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Standard Life Investments Global Smaller Companies Acc | Global | A | 1.06 | 24.07 | - | Growth | Active | Annually | lt1pt5 | 0 | ||
| Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders Acc | Asia (ex Japan) | AAA | 0.89 | 12.47 | 1.12 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| Stewart Investors Worldwide Sustainability Acc | Other | A | 0.99 | 16.15 | 0.31 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| TB Saracen Global Income & Growth Dis | Global | A | 0.99 | 11.18 | 2.60 | Income,Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt500m | 0 | |
| Threadneedle Dynamic Real Return Acc | Other | A | 0.94 | 4.88 | 0.77 | Growth | Active | Semi-annually | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Threadneedle UK Equity Income Inc | UK equity income | AA | 0.82 | 9.28 | 3.82 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| Unicorn UK Income Inc | UK smaller companies | A | 0.8 | 6.65 | 4.12 | Income,Growth | Active | Quarterly | lt1 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF | UK equity | - | 0.1 | 8.13 | 2.97 | Growth | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | lt1bn | 0 | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe ex UK ETF | Europe (ex UK) | - | 0.12 | 10.50 | 2.90 | Growth | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| Vanguard FTSE Japan ETF | Japan | - | 0.19 | 12.06 | 1.61 | Growth | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | 0 | ||
| Vanguard UK Inflation-Linked Gilt Index Fund Acc | Corporate & government bonds | - | 0.15 | 8.57 | - | Income | Tracker | Quarterly | ltpt5 | gt1bn | 0 | |
| VT AJ Bell Passive Adventurous fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | 1.68 | Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt100m | 4 | |
| VT AJ Bell Passive Balanced fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | 1.81 | Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt100m | 2 | |
| VT AJ Bell Passive Cautious fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | 1.38 | Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt100m | 0 | |
| VT AJ Bell Passive Global Growth fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | - | Income,Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | 0 | ||
| VT AJ Bell Passive Moderately Adventurous fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | 1.75 | Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt100m | 3 | |
| VT AJ Bell Passive Moderately Cautious fund | Multi-asset | - | 0.5 | - | 1.78 | Growth | ajbell | Semi-annually | lt1 | lt100m | 1 |
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Find out moreChanges to the Favourite funds list
The Favourite funds list is continually reviewed by our experts and the following changes have recently been made. The removal and additional of funds from the list are not a personal recommendation to buy or sell the fund and the updates are provided for information only.
June 2018
- VT AJ Bell Passive Global Growth fund added to the list following launch.
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Previous changes to the list
May 2018
- Vanguard UK Gilt ETF, iShares Core UK Gilt ETF and iShares UK Gilts 0-5yr ETF removed from the list as lower cost, better alternatives have been identified
- Lyxor FTSE Actuaries UK Gilts ETF and Lyxor FTSE Actuaries UK Gilts 0-5yr ETF have both been added to the list
March 2018
- Invesco Perpetual Global Financial Capital removed from the list following a change in rating
- Artemis Strategic Bond Quarterly Inc added to the list
February 2018
- River & Mercantile UK Equity Smaller Companies removed from the list following the departure of the fund manager
- Franklin UK Mid Cap fund added to the list
- First State Global Resources removed from the list following the announcement that First State intends to close its Global Resources capability
- BlackRock Gold and General fund added to the list
January 2018
- BlackRock Japan Equity Tracker Fund Acc changed its name to iShares Japan Equity Index Fund Acc
- BlackRock Overseas Govt Bond Tracker Fund Acc changed its name to iShares Overseas Govt Bond Index Fund Acc
- BlackRock UK Equity Tracker Fund Acc changed its name to iShares UK Equity Index Fund Acc
August 2017
- Schroder Tokyo fund downgraded from AAA to A
June 2017
- Schroder UK Dynamic Smaller Companies removed from the list following the departure of the fund managers
- Unicorn UK Income fund added to the list
April 2017
- Invesco Perpetual Asian fund downgraded from AA to A following a change in the fund manager
- GS Emerging Markets Equity portfolio removed from list following the departure of the fund manager
- Fidelity Emerging Markets fund added to the list
