High versus growing income – what will you pick this ISA season?

There are plenty of investments that produce an income. From bond funds to property funds, infrastructure funds to plain old UK equity income funds, the choice is vast.

But when you are constructing a portfolio of funds that generate said income, should you opt for those that have a lower but growing yield or those that have already established a high yield?

One advantage of a growing yield is that your future income is building – while an advantage of a higher and established yield is that it provides the income you need right now. Generally speaking, however, most income portfolios should probably have a mix of both.

Here are three of each type for consideration:

High income

1. M&G Emerging Markets Bond

This is the highest yielding Elite Rated fund at 5.9%*. Emerging market debt is a very complex asset class, but manager Claudia Calich is extremely knowledgeable and her track record speaks for itself. She begins by looking at the macroeconomic environment: analysing growth, politics, central bank policies, commodity prices and inflation. She will then look at individual countries and both the government and corporate bonds on offer.

2. Man GLG UK Income

This equity income fund invests predominantly in UK companies and has a bias towards those smaller in scale. The fund’s flexible mandate also means that manager Henry Dixon can invest up to 20% in continental European firms that derive a substantial part of their revenues from the UK or in a company’s bond, rather than its equity, if he feels the risk/reward characteristics are more favourable. It’s current yield is 5%*.

3. LF Seneca Diversified Income

For those looking for a diversified high income stream, LF Seneca Diversified Income fund offers just that: it aims to produce a high level of regular income (currently 4.9%*), by investing directly in UK equities as well as other funds investing in overseas equities, fixed income and property. It also has holdings in specialists funds – such as those investing in aircraft hangers and infrastructure.

Growing income

1. GAM UK Equity Income

This equity income fund invests in UK companies of all sizes – from the very small and those listed on the AIM stock market, through to those in the FTSE 100. While manager Adrian Gosden (who previously co-managed the popular Artemis Income fund) is aiming to generate a yield on the fund that is higher than the yield of the UK stock market, he is also looking for steady dividend growth. The fund was launched in October 2017 and the current yield is 3.95%*.

2. Schroder Asian Income

Asian markets – both developed and emerging – remain an attractive hunting ground for income seekers. This fund, run by Richard Sennitt, invests in good quality, competitively priced businesses that are able to grow and maintain their dividend payouts. It invests across the higher growth Asian economies, excluding Japan but including Australia and New Zealand and currently yields 3.8%.

3. Invesco Global Equity Income

This fund invests in companies all over the world. It has been designed to capture the best regional ideas from the wider Invesco equity income teams, with the manager, Nick Mustoe, aiming to generate a rising stream of income from holdings, rather than simply investing in high yielding companies. The current yield is 3.55%*.

*Source: FE Analytics, 19 March 2019.