The best funds to buy before the end of the tax year

Woman researching funds on the computer.

(Image credit: Getty Images - pixelfit)

published 27 March 2024

With the end of the tax year fast approaching, many of us are trying to shovel money into investments and make the most of our ISA allowance. But which funds or stocks are worth adding to your portfolio?

With thousands of funds, ETFs and trusts on the market, it’s a tricky question. To help you narrow your search, we take a look at Bestinvest’s top funds list.

A large number of investment platforms publish regular best-buy lists which can help you narrow down your search for the right funds – whether you’re researching for an ISA, a SIPP, or a different kind of investment account. These are a useful tool, and can simplify your research process considerably.

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“Each sector typically has a dedicated team of half-a-dozen investment managers involved in researching and monitoring the investment options available”, says Jason Hollands, managing director at Bestinvest.

“That is a huge amount of time and expertise focused on finding the right funds”, he adds.

Here are the top funds to consider, according to the experts at Bestinvest.

The best funds to invest in

Best UK equity funds for growth

Liontrust UK Growth
Artemis UK Select
Mercantile Investment Trust

Best UK equity funds for income

Murray Income Trust
BlackRock UK Income
Montanaro UK Income

Best targeted absolute return funds

Trojan Fund
Lazard Rathmore Alternative
TM Fulcrum Diversified Absolute Return

Best bond funds

Janus Henderson Strategic Bond
TwentyFour Absolute Return Credit

Best European equity funds

BlackRock Continental European Income
Fidelity European
BlackRock European Dynamic

Best Japanese equity funds

iShares Japan Equity Index
Jupiter Japan Income

Best Asian and emerging market funds

Schroder ISF Asian Total Return
Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Sustainability

Best US equity funds

Premier Miton US Opportunities
Loomis Sayles US Equity Leaders
Dodge & Cox Worldwide US Stock Fund

Best global equity funds

GuardCap Global Equity
Brown Advisory Global Leaders
Guinness Global Equity Income

Funds dropped from the best-buy list

The following funds featured on the best-buy list in September 2023, but have since been dropped:

Rathbone Ethical Bond
Aubrey Global Emerging Markets Opportunities
Baillie Gifford Japanese
Findlay Park American
AXA Framlington UK Mid Cap
iShares FTSE 250 ETF
HICL Infrastructure PLC Ord
SDCL Energy Efficiency Income
Barings Europe Select Trust
Baillie Gifford Global Discovery
CT Responsible Global Equity
Fundsmith Equity
JPM Japan
Ninety One Global Environment
Liontrust UK Ethical
Premier Miton UK Growth
WS Lindsell Train UK Equity

New best-buy funds added

These newcomers have been added to the list since the last edition:

Vanguard UK Short-Term Investment Grade Bond Index
JPM Global Macro Sustainable
SPDR MSCI World Technology ETF
SPDR S&P 500 ETF
NB Private Equity Partners Ltd Ord
Brown Advisory Global Leaders Sustainable
UBS FTSE RAFI Developed 1000 Index
GQG Partners US Equity

Key things to consider when researching funds

While a best-buy guide is a useful tool when researching funds, it doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. Before deciding which providers to invest with, DIY investors should think carefully about their objectives and their asset allocation.

For example, are you looking to achieve growth or income? How much risk are you willing and able to take? And what combination of different assets can help you achieve this?

If you aren’t sure and don’t have much experience with DIY investing, you might benefit from investment advice. A robo-advisor could be a cheaper option than speaking to a person. This is a popular starting point for many DIY investors.

Once you have your strategy nailed down, that’s where a best-buy guide comes in.

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.

Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.

Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.

Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.