Help Centre/Tutorials/How to use the portfolio tool

How to use the portfolio tool

2 min read

Summary

The Portfolio tab shows your allocation across seven asset classes and lets you set a different mix per account.
Choose a template (Aggressive, Balanced, Cautious) or build a custom split.
The tool shows your total portfolio value, equities vs. bonds-and-cash split, and weighted average fee, plus a qualitative explanation of how your mix trades off growth potential against volatility.

Steps

1. Open the Portfolio tab to see your allocation across all seven asset classes (global and UK equities, bonds, property, gold, cash, and other).

2. Each account can have its own allocation. Select an account to adjust its mix, or choose from templates like Aggressive, Balanced, or Cautious.

3. The tab shows your equities percentage, weighted average fee, and an explanation of the growth-vs-volatility trade-off for your current mix. For the actual effect on your projection's outcomes — expected wealth range, Plan Confidence — check the main projection chart and dashboard, which respond live as you change allocations.

4. Experiment with different allocations to see the trade-off between growth potential and consistency — a higher equity weighting gives more upside but wider outcome bands.

Example scenarios

"What happens if I hold more equities?"

Increase the equity percentage on one account using a template like Aggressive, or a custom split. Expected return and the width of the probability bands both tend to increase — more long-term upside, but a wider range of possible outcomes.

"I want a more cautious mix as I approach retirement"

Apply the Cautious template to an account, or manually shift the allocation toward bonds and cash. Volatility usually falls along with the width of the probability bands, at the cost of some expected long-term growth.

Frequently asked questions

Can each account have its own allocation?

Yes — each account is linked to its own portfolio, so you can hold a more aggressive allocation in one account and a more cautious one in another.

What templates are available?

Common templates include Aggressive, Balanced, and Cautious, or you can build a fully custom allocation across seven asset classes.