Fidelity Focus: a new fund shortlist

We know our investors are always on the lookout for fund ideas. Our articles flagging up new investment opportunities and updates on existing funds, trusts and ETFs are among the most widely read on our Markets and Insights page.

We also know that many of our investors come to Fidelity because they value the expertise of our portfolio managers and the support they receive from our large team of experienced investment analysts based in various locations around the world.

That’s why we have this week launched a new list of selected Fidelity funds. We hope you will find it to be a useful source of fund ideas.

• Explore Fidelity Focus

What is Fidelity Focus?

As the name of our new list suggests, Fidelity Focus is a curated list of funds managed by Fidelity’s own portfolio managers. We’ve narrowed down a long list of more than 150 Fidelity funds to arrive at a focused list of 12 funds that scored most highly against our selection criteria. 

We’ve selected funds to reflect all the main areas that investors commonly focus on when building their portfolios. It includes geographical regions like the US, UK and Japan, and funds with a global reach too.

The list covers different asset classes, such as shares and bonds, and different investment styles. We can include both open and closed ended funds (also called investment trusts), as well as both active and passive funds (whether these are index funds or ETFs).

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Which funds can be considered for the list?

To be eligible for the Fidelity Focus list, a fund must have a sterling (GBP) share class and be available to invest in an ISA, a SIPP and Investment Accounts.

We have not included multi-asset funds, because these are available through our Navigator tool. This offers a range of multi-asset funds based on what’s important to you in terms of your risk appetite and whether you’re looking for an actively managed fund or a passive index tracker.

Fidelity Focus is aimed at investors who want to pick their own investments but to do so from a curated list of high-quality funds.

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What about the Select 50 list?

Fidelity Focus is similar to the Select 50 list in that both are carefully selected lists of funds in which we have strong conviction.

They have some important differences too. We know that some of our investors like the wide choice of managers available on our platform, while others come to us specifically for the expertise of Fidelity’s own fund managers.

The Select 50 can include funds managed by any of the asset managers with funds listed on our platform. As its name suggests, Fidelity Focus is restricted to funds managed by Fidelity.

The two lists are also compiled using different methodologies. This means a Fidelity fund may be included in one list but not the other.

How are funds selected for Fidelity Focus?

Funds are assessed for inclusion on the Fidelity Focus list using a consistent, data-driven approach and clear selection criteria.

Our colleagues in our multi-asset fund selection team consider a range of factors, including performance over different time periods, value for money, the consistency of returns, how a fund compares with similar funds and its benchmark, and the experience of the fund’s manager.

We compare all the funds on our long list using a carefully defined quantitative methodology. Our approach is designed to pick a list of well-managed funds that will evolve over time but won’t chop and change unnecessarily. The list will be reviewed every six months.

It’s important to say that if a fund is removed from the Fidelity Focus list this does not mean we are recommending that you sell it. It probably means that we have identified another fund that we like as much or more than the fund it is replacing.

How to use Fidelity Focus

If you like to pick your own investments, you are likely to use Fidelity Focus alongside the Select 50. Both are designed to provide you with strong fund ideas, but we should stress that neither is a personal recommendation.

If you’re not sure which investments are suitable for you, please consult Fidelity’s advisers or another authorised financial adviser.

As with the Select 50, we will periodically write up funds on the Fidelity Focus list and keep you informed about key developments at the funds.

For more information, including links to all the funds on the list, please visit the Fidelity Focus page.

We are proud to have launched Fidelity Focus. We hope you like the list and find it useful.

Got a burning question you want to ask? Why not drop us a line. Click here to ask your question.

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Important information - investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. Overseas investments will be affected by movements in currency exchange rates. There is a risk that the issuers of bonds may not be able to repay the money they have borrowed or make interest payments. When interest rates rise, bonds may fall in value. Rising interest rates may cause the value of your investment to fall. Fidelity Focus is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.