As we wrap up the first quarter of the year and approach the end of the tax year, many investors may be thinking about how best to use their remaining ISA allowance. Questions often arise around positioning portfolios for the year ahead, whether to diversify away from the US, adopt a multi-asset approach, seek income, or take a broader global stance.
To offer some inspiration, we’ve taken a look at the most popular funds on the Chelsea Platform, based on assets under administration (AUA)*. This provides a useful snapshot of where fellow investors are currently allocating their capital.
Please remember that the value of investments will fluctuate and returns may be less than the amount originally invested. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and the ISA and tax rules can change. Chelsea does not offer advice and so you must manage your ISA yourself. Funds mentioned are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not present a recommendation.
We’re particularly pleased to see that the top four positions are all held by the VT Chelsea Managed Fund range, highlighting the continued trust clients place in our in-house solutions:
- VT Chelsea Managed Aggressive Growth: Designed for investors seeking higher long-term returns, this fund takes a more adventurous approach with a greater allocation to equities, including higher-risk regions and sectors.
- VT Chelsea Managed Balanced Growth: A well-diversified portfolio balancing growth and risk, combining equities and defensive assets to provide smoother returns over time.
- VT Chelsea Managed Monthly Income: Focused on delivering a consistent income stream, this fund invests across a range of income-generating assets while maintaining a diversified approach.
- VT Chelsea Managed Cautious Growth: A more defensive option, aiming for steady growth, with lower volatility, by holding a higher proportion of bonds and other lower-risk assets.
Beyond these, it’s encouraging to see that the remaining funds in the top ten are all part of the Chelsea Selection, demonstrating that clients are actively using our research tools to guide their investment decisions:
- Artemis Global Income: This fund offers investors access to a portfolio of global equities, with manager Jacob de Tusch-Lec providing a modest and growing income. Jacob’s atypical approach, whereby he tries to avoid the more stereotypical dividend-paying stocks in favour of less well-known names, will mean the fund can perform differently from its peers.
- Artemis UK Select: A high-conviction UK equity fund focusing on a concentrated portfolio of domestic opportunities. The fund has a multi-cap approach and can also hold short positions in selected holdings where the managers believe a company may have negative prospects and can consequently make money from a falling share price.
- AXA Framlington American Growth: This fund aims to invest in companies exhibiting genuine organic growth. It is mainly invested in large-caps but does have some mid-caps as well. The fund does have a heavy style bias to growth and investors should be aware that the fund may underperform when this is not in favour.
- Rathbone Global Opportunities: A quality-growth focused global fund investing in companies with durable competitive advantage. There are no constraints on geography or sector, but manager James Thomson tends to have a bias towards mid-sized companies in developed markets, which he describes as his sweet spot.
- Artemis SmartGARP UK Equity: This is a portfolio of 70-100 stocks which invests predominantly in UK equities, regardless of size. The fund combines value and growth disciplines using Artemis’ in-house software tool “SmartGARP”. The SmartGARP process tends to work well when markets are trending but can struggle at times.
- Man Income: A multi-asset income fund aiming to deliver attractive yields through a diversified portfolio. This fund has a value-driven approach and also has the ability to invest up to 20% in corporate bonds – a flexibility that sets it apart from the majority of its peers.
If you’re still considering how to invest your ISA this year, exploring the Chelsea Selection can be a great place to start, helping you identify funds aligned with your goals and risk appetite.
Finally, a reminder as we approach the tax year end: the current annual ISA allowance is £20,000 for the 2025/26 tax year, and it’s a use-it-or-lose-it opportunity. Any unused allowance cannot be carried forward, so contributions must be completed by midnight on 5 April 2026.
To support our clients during this busy period, we’re offering extended opening hours over Easter:
- Saturday, 28 March: 9am–5pm
- Sunday, 29 March: 9am–5pm
- Good Friday, 3 April: 9am–5pm
- Saturday, 4 April: 9am–5pm
- Sunday, 5 April: 10am–11pm
- Easter Monday, 6 April: 9am–5pm
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options, our team is here to help.
