How to tidy up an investment portfolio – for busy investors short of time

Portfolios often evolve – sometimes significantly – over time, as new experiences, shifting risk appetites, and changing financial goals shape investment decisions.

The assortment of holdings that make up your portfolio today may be the result of a series of investment choices made over many years, rather than the product of following a masterplan from start to finish.

What might have begun as a handful of more speculative positions in individual stocks during early return-seeking years could now have matured into an expansive collection of funds, bonds, property, alternative assets, personal business interests, and tax-efficient investments.

However, while each element may have suited you at the time, your current portfolio, when viewed in aggregate, could be disjointed and misaligned with your needs. These disparate holdings may also mean an unintended concentration in a particular asset class or market segment, potentially increasing risk.

How could you tidy up your portfolio, particularly if you’re short of time to dedicate to it? How to make it sufficiently diversified to strike a balance between risk, volatility and growth potential? How could you make it easier to manage?

Here we discuss in brief an option for more experienced investors – you should form your own view and seek advice if unsure.

One option to consider is to delegate the management of part – or the whole – of your portfolio to a team of professionals, without taking personal financial advice. You choose which portfolio to invest in, and it is then managed on your behalf.

It could be a practical, time-saving alternative to self-management that removes the burden of deciding when to rebalance, which sectors to trim, or how to navigate a sudden market move.

Broad diversification, designed for more experienced investors

Our portfolios have also been built to address the more specific needs of experienced investors. They incorporate a broader selection of assets, not usually found in many existing solutions. Whilst the core of the portfolios is invested in low-cost passive funds, they also include actively managed funds, where we believe the manager has a track record of adding significant value, as well as investment trusts and overseas-listed investment companies, which provide exposure to private equity and infrastructure investments.

Priced to deliver best value

It is the sort of portfolio a private bank might build for you – usually at some considerable cost.

Yet, our service is still priced similarly to what you’d pay for managing a fund portfolio on a DIY platform.

Please note: the service is non-advisory and does not provide personal recommendations. You should consider whether any portfolio is right for your personal circumstances.

Invest through an ISA, SIPP or GIA

You can invest tax efficiently through an ISA or SIPP – new contributions or transferring existing funds – or through a General Investment Account.

This could be a solution to consider for your whole mainstream portfolio or just for part of it. Some investors prefer the peace of mind that comes from leaving all the investment decisions to a professional team. Others prefer to retain some control and only delegate day-to-day portfolio management for some of their investments, freeing up time and energy to focus on investments that may require a more hands-on approach.

The Wealth Club Managed Portfolios are managed by our investment team, led by Head of Investment Research, Jonathan Moyes.

Jonathan is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and was named in the Citywire Wealth Manager’s Top 100 for 2025. He previously co-managed £400 million across over 10,000 discretionary investor portfolios at award-winning wealth management boutique, Whitechurch Securities. His portfolios consistently won awards for their risk-adjusted performance (PAM Award in 2016, Portfolio Adviser in 2014/16/18, Citywire in 2014/15/16).

Jonathan is supported by Isaac Stell, MCSI, who previously oversaw investment fund research for Parmenion’s discretionary managed portfolio service, and Ellie Sawkins, CFA, named in Citywire’s “Top 30 under 30” for 2025.

The monthly Investment Committee is chaired by Alan Durrant, a Director of Harwood Capital Management and investment committee member at Cohesion Asset Management. Alan started his investment career at Hargreaves Lansdown, where he spent 13 years, latterly as Investment Director. Subsequent roles include: Group Chief Investment Officer of Hurst Point Group, Chief Executive Officer of Harwood Wealth Management Group, Group CIO of The National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Managing Director of Gulf Finance House, and Chief Investment Manager at Skandia Investment Management. During this time, he was awarded Financial Adviser’s Multi Manager of the Year three years running.