Remember, the value of investments can go up and down, so you may get back less money than you put in. Tax depends on your individual circumstances and the regulations may change in the future.
How your money's invested
Up until the age of 51, we invest your money in our Adventurous Growth approach. It’s higher risk but can generate higher returns – and you’ve got plenty of time to ride out the market ups and downs.
When you’re 51, we gradually move some of your money into our Careful Defensive approach each year until you’re 65. This blend of approaches keeps your money growing, while reducing those ups and downs ready for you to start taking it out. Best of all, it’s all done for you.
Percentage invested in each approach by age
Explore both approaches
Where your money’s invested
This approach aims for higher potential growth over the longer term. Our experts review the mix of investments regularly.
Here’s the detail at 31 December 2024
Higher risk
- 18% - Shares (emerging markets)
- 7% - Shares (UK)
- 5% - Real estate investment trusts
- 59% - Shares (overseas developed)
- 2% - Bonds (emerging markets)
- 5% - Bonds (high yield)
Lower risk
- 1% - Cash
- 0% - Short maturity bonds
- 0% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
- 0% - Global government bonds
- 1% - UK corporate bonds
- 2% - Global corporate bonds
How the fund invests
Your money is invested in a group of funds, rather than directly in stocks and shares. This is known as a fund of funds.
The following is up-to-date as of 31 December 2024.
- iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF
- iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF
- iShares Continental European Equity ESG Index Fund
- abrdn Sustainable Index World Equity Fund
- abrdn Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
- iShares MSCI Japan ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF
- iShares UK Equity ESG Index Fund
- abrdn Global REIT Tracker Fund
- abrdn Asia Pacific ex-Japan Tracker Fund
- abrdn SICAV I - Global High Yield Sustainable Bond Fund
What you could've earned already
The graph below gives you an indication of how much you could've earned, after charges, if you had invested £10,000 in this approach five years ago. Remember, past performance isn't a reliable guide to future performance.
Here's the detail at 31 December 2024.
-
Dec-19: £10,000Dec-19: £10,000
-
2020Jan-20: £9,906Jan-20: £9,985
-
Feb-20: £9,437Feb-20: £9,599
-
Mar-20: £8,403Mar-20: £8,730
-
Apr-20: £8,973Apr-20: £9,373
-
May-20: £9,474May-20: £9,863
-
Jun-20: £9,788Jun-20: £10,130
-
Jul-20: £9,656Jul-20: £10,079
-
Aug-20: £9,943Aug-20: £10,389
-
Sep-20: £9,995Sep-20: £10,415
-
Oct-20: £9,842Oct-20: £10,211
-
Nov-20: £10,691Nov-20: £10,940
-
Dec-20: £10,912Dec-20: £11,138
-
2021Jan-21: £10,924Jan-21: £11,044
-
Feb-21: £10,918Feb-21: £11,054
-
Mar-21: £11,237Mar-21: £11,402
-
Apr-21: £11,595Apr-21: £11,773
-
May-21: £11,549May-21: £11,676
-
Jun-21: £11,878Jun-21: £12,085
-
Jul-21: £11,861Jul-21: £12,119
-
Aug-21: £12,200Aug-21: £12,459
-
Sep-21: £12,056Sep-21: £12,220
-
Oct-21: £12,187Oct-21: £12,545
-
Nov-21: £12,279Nov-21: £12,675
-
Dec-21: £12,519Dec-21: £12,824
-
2022Jan-22: £11,832Jan-22: £12,373
-
Feb-22: £11,655Feb-22: £12,084
-
Mar-22: £12,123Mar-22: £12,428
-
Apr-22: £11,855Apr-22: £12,008
-
May-22: £11,690May-22: £11,979
-
Jun-22: £11,115Jun-22: £11,464
-
Jul-22: £11,606Jul-22: £12,142
-
Aug-22: £11,706Aug-22: £12,145
-
Sep-22: £11,081Sep-22: £11,504
-
Oct-22: £11,140Oct-22: £11,753
-
Nov-22: £11,632Nov-22: £12,202
-
Dec-22: £11,474Dec-22: £11,693
-
2023Jan-23: £11,938Jan-23: £12,185
-
Feb-23: £11,870Feb-23: £12,024
-
Mar-23: £11,799Mar-23: £12,165
-
Apr-23: £11,810Apr-23: £12,155
-
May-23: £11,789May-23: £12,175
-
Jun-23: £12,018Jun-23: £12,479
-
Jul-23: £12,330Jul-23: £12,722
-
Aug-23: £12,091Aug-23: £12,586
-
Sep-23: £12,003Sep-23: £12,492
-
Oct-23: £11,643Oct-23: £12,230
-
Nov-23: £12,175Nov-23: £12,770
-
Dec-23: £12,725Dec-23: £13,267
-
2024Jan-24: £12,737Jan-24: £13,335
-
Feb-24: £13,048Feb-24: £13,848
-
Mar-24: £13,442Mar-24: £14,236
-
Apr-24: £13,275Apr-24: £13,911
-
May-24: £13,395May-24: £14,196
-
Jun-24: £13,777Jun-24: £14,556
-
Jul-24: £13,801Jul-24: £14,612
-
Aug-24: £13,849Aug-24: £14,667
-
Sep-24: £14,017Sep-24: £14,730
-
Oct-24: £14,017Oct-24: £14,923
-
Nov-24: £14,339Nov-24: £15,547
-
Dec-24: £14,208Dec-24: £15,410
| December 2019 to December 2020 | December 2020 to December 2021 | December 2021 to December 2022 | December 2022 to December 2023 | December 2023 to December 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This fund | 9.1% | 14.8% | -8.4% | 11.0% | 11.7% |
| Performance Comparator* | 11.4% | 15.1% | -8.8% | 13.5% | 16.1% |
*The fund doesn’t use a benchmark as a guide for investing or as a target to beat. But we do use a performance comparator which investors may want to compare the fund’s performance against. This comprises 80% shares and 20% bonds. Shares are represented by the MSCI All Countries World Index GBP, whilst bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index – GBP Hedged. The fund invests differently to the performance comparator therefore returns will always be different. For example there are differences in the way the fund is built vs. the comparator, along with the cost of investing, which is included for the fund return, but not the comparator. You cannot invest in the performance comparator.
Source: Lipper, year on year, 31 December 2019 to 31 December 2024, bid to bid with net income reinvested.
Where your money’s invested
This approach aims for more stability, but with slower growth. Our experts review the mix of investments regularly.
Here’s the detail at 31 December 2024
Higher risk
- 5% - Shares (emerging markets)
- 4% - Shares (UK)
- 1% - Real estate investment trusts
- 6% - Shares (overseas developed)
- 2% - Bonds (emerging markets)
- 3% - Bonds (high yield)
Lower risk
- 17% - Cash
- 21% - Short maturity bonds
- 10% - UK Government bonds (Gilts)
- 16% - Global government bonds
- 10% - UK corporate bonds
- 5% - Global corporate bonds
How the fund invests
Your money is invested in a group of funds, rather than directly in stocks and shares. This is known as a fund of funds.
The following is up-to-date as of 31 December 2024.
- abrdn Liquidity Fund
- abrdn Global Government Bond Index Fund
- L&G ESG GBP Corporate Bond 0-5 Year Fund ETF
- Vanguard UK Government Bond Index Fund
- abrdn Short Dated Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
- Vontobel TwentyFour Sustainable Short Term Bond Fund
- iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Enhanced Units ETF
- abrdn Global Inflation-Linked Bond Tracker Fund
- abrdn Short Dated Global Corporate Bond Tracker Fund
- abrdn ASI Sustainable Index American Equity Fund
What you could've earned already
The graph below gives you an indication of how much you could've earned, after charges, if you had invested £10,000 in this approach five years ago. Remember, past performance isn't a reliable guide to future performance.
Here's the detail at 31 December 2024.
-
Dec-19: £10,000Dec-19: £10,000
-
2020Jan-20: £10,123Jan-20: £10,138
-
Feb-20: £10,095Feb-20: £10,161
-
Mar-20: £9,709Mar-20: £9,849
-
Apr-20: £9,962Apr-20: £10,107
-
May-20: £10,104May-20: £10,229
-
Jun-20: £10,196Jun-20: £10,321
-
Jul-20: £10,238Jul-20: £10,396
-
Aug-20: £10,207Aug-20: £10,394
-
Sep-20: £10,246Sep-20: £10,429
-
Oct-20: £10,232Oct-20: £10,390
-
Nov-20: £10,432Nov-20: £10,575
-
Dec-20: £10,506Dec-20: £10,631
-
2021Jan-21: £10,488Jan-21: £10,566
-
Feb-21: £10,306Feb-21: £10,436
-
Mar-21: £10,381Mar-21: £10,461
-
Apr-21: £10,465Apr-21: £10,546
-
May-21: £10,488May-21: £10,548
-
Jun-21: £10,562Jun-21: £10,660
-
Jul-21: £10,688Jul-21: £10,772
-
Aug-21: £10,741Aug-21: £10,810
-
Sep-21: £10,611Sep-21: £10,686
-
Oct-21: £10,675Oct-21: £10,717
-
Nov-21: £10,739Nov-21: £10,802
-
Dec-21: £10,721Dec-21: £10,784
-
2022Jan-22: £10,539Jan-22: £10,574
-
Feb-22: £10,412Feb-22: £10,415
-
Mar-22: £10,375Mar-22: £10,282
-
Apr-22: £10,200Apr-22: £9,982
-
May-22: £10,153May-22: £9,967
-
Jun-22: £9,883Jun-22: £9,757
-
Jul-22: £10,112Jul-22: £10,063
-
Aug-22: £9,959Aug-22: £9,833
-
Sep-22: £9,540Sep-22: £9,463
-
Oct-22: £9,624Oct-22: £9,471
-
Nov-22: £9,817Nov-22: £9,724
-
Dec-22: £9,728Dec-22: £9,545
-
2023Jan-23: £9,920Jan-23: £9,789
-
Feb-23: £9,812Feb-23: £9,630
-
Mar-23: £9,904Mar-23: £9,818
-
Apr-23: £9,930Apr-23: £9,852
-
May-23: £9,853May-23: £9,817
-
Jun-23: £9,844Jun-23: £9,853
-
Jul-23: £9,926Jul-23: £9,891
-
Aug-23: £9,879Aug-23: £9,859
-
Sep-23: £9,793Sep-23: £9,699
-
Oct-23: £9,751Oct-23: £9,603
-
Nov-23: £10,008Nov-23: £9,940
-
Dec-23: £10,296Dec-23: £10,267
-
2024Jan-24: £10,207Jan-24: £10,259
-
Feb-24: £10,204Feb-24: £10,273
-
Mar-24: £10,357Mar-24: £10,401
-
Apr-24: £10,260Apr-24: £10,217
-
May-24: £10,287May-24: £10,328
-
Jun-24: £10,435Jun-24: £10,449
-
Jul-24: £10,523Jul-24: £10,617
-
Aug-24: £10,601Aug-24: £10,715
-
Sep-24: £10,685Sep-24: £10,821
-
Oct-24: £10,612Oct-24: £10,722
-
Nov-24: £10,707Nov-24: £10,911
-
Dec-24: £10,643Dec-24: £10,823
| Virgin Money Defensive Fund comparison | December 2019 to December 2020 | December 2020 to December 2021 | December 2021 to December 2022 | December 2022 to December 2023 | December 2023 to December 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This fund | 5.0% | 2.1% | -9.3% | 5.9% | 3.4% |
| Performance Comparator* | 6.3% | 1.4% | -11.5% | 7.6% | 5.4% |
*The fund doesn’t use a benchmark as a guide for investing or as a target to beat. But we do use a performance comparator which investors may want to compare the fund’s performance against. This comprises 85% bonds and 15% shares. Shares are represented by the MSCI All Countries World Index GBP, whilst bonds are represented by the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index – GBP Hedged. The fund invests differently to the performance comparator therefore returns will always be different. For example there are differences in the way the fund is built vs. the comparator, along with the cost of investing, which is included for the fund return, but not the comparator. You cannot invest in the performance comparator.
Source Lipper, total return (income reinvested).
What do these terms mean?
Close ModalBonds: These are like IOUs, used by companies and governments to raise money. The buyer effectively lends money to the seller, in return for interest on their investment over a set amount of time. When that time’s up, the value is paid back.
Gilts: These are just a type of bond. But instead of lending money to a company, it’s lent to the UK Government.
Shares: A share is a tiny bit of a company. Share owners are called shareholders. If a company does well, shareholders are rewarded with a proportion of the profits, paid out as dividends. The value of shares rises and falls according to the company’s performance, and other factors.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs): These are pools of money gathered by a company from investors. They’re used to buy, manage or invest in property and land (real estate) to generate income – a way of investing in commercial property without needing millions.
Key information
In our important documents you’ll see our Careful Defensive approach and Adventurous Growth approach, which refers to our Virgin Money Defensive Fund and Virgin Money Growth Fund 3. Before applying, please make sure you've read the following.
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Got a question?
We've got the answer.
Use the app or sign in to Online Service and track the performance of your investments – we update your account balance every day. You'll also get a statement every six months.
Our charges are up to 0.75% in total each year, based on the value of your account. This is made up of two clear and simple charges.
An Account Charge, which is 0.30% of your investments. This is collected from your account by cashing in a small number of investment units each month.
An Annual Management Charge, which is up to 0.45% of your investments. This is collected by making a small adjustment to the unit price of your investment each day.
Further info about performance comparator
Close ModalWe have changed the performance comparator (PC) for the fund. The new PC is more aligned to how the fund invests and performs.
Previous performance comparator: UK Base Rate + 0.75%
New performance comparator: 85% Global Bonds, 15% Global Shares
This change brings the fund’s PC in line with our other multi-asset funds. The split between bonds and shares is based on the approximate risk level of each fund. For example, our Growth Fund 1 uses a 70/30 bonds/shares split, whilst our Growth Fund 3 uses a 20/80 split as it is higher risk and invests more in shares.
By moving to a stock market-based comparison, rather than one linked to interest rates, the new PC provides a better comparison over periods when stock markets and interest rates are moving in different directions.
Please note that this change does not affect the strategy or holdings within the fund itself, just what we use to compare the returns of the fund against.