Frequently asked questions

What type of investments do you monitor?
We monitor PEPs, Equity ISAs, Unit Trusts and OEICs (Open Ended Investment Companies). We do not monitor Investment Trusts, Insurance and Pension Funds, or Cash ISAs.

Who is behind Moneyspider?
Moneyspider is a totally independent investment research and information company for private investors. It is not tied to or part of any Fund Management Group. Its directors and staff have many years experience working in the investment industry.

Are you regulated by the Financial Services Authority?
Moneyspider Limited is an appointed representative of Anthony, Bryant & Company (Investment Consultants) Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Anthony, Bryant & Company (Investment Consultants) Limited, founded in 1975, are financial advisers to the Finnish, German, Luxembourg and Swiss Embassies and their institutions in Great Britain.

What will my report tell me?
Your Personal Report will provide you with a current valuation for each fund you register. It will also give you a five year performance review; a comparison with the top five funds in the same sector; a list of the 10 best performing funds overall; and the unique Moneyspider Rating®.

Will I be able to see past reports?
Yes, your monthly email reports will be stored in the members' area and can be viewed or printed off at any time.

How does the Moneyspider Rating® work?
The Moneyspider Rating® provides an independent assessment of the performance of each of your funds, measured against four key parameters. It compares them with similar funds in the same sector; with the 2000 or so other funds available to UK investors; with the FTSE 100 Index; and, crucially, with the option of keeping your savings in cash in a secure deposit account.

Although the Moneyspider Rating is generated from a highly sophisticated, computer-based performance analysis, it produces a simple and straightforward result; scoring each of your funds from A (a very high rating) to E (a distinctly poor rating).

If registration is free, how can you afford to provide the service?
The cost of providing all the Moneyspider services is covered by charges your Fund Manager is already deducting from your fund each year. Part of these annual management fees (typically 0.5%) is normally paid as a renewal commission to your current financial adviser to cover the cost of providing you with ongoing information and services. You can't avoid or reclaim this commission, even if you don't have an adviser or feel that you don't get a good, ongoing service from your adviser.

When you register with Moneyspider, you simply authorise your Fund Manager to pay Moneyspider the commission in future in order to meet the cost of the services we will be providing to you. This means that if you are not currently getting the ongoing service you are already paying for, you will at least receive something really valuable for your money - essential, regular, and above all, meaningful information which is updated daily.

Will Moneyspider advise me on the best funds to buy?
No, Moneyspider does not advise on investments. Your Personal Reports are not intended, and should not be construed, to constitute advice or a personal recommendation that any investment should be bought, sold or held.

What should I do if my funds keep getting a poor Moneyspider Rating®?
You should consult a suitably qualified professional on any specific investment issues.

Can you help me buy or switch investments?
Yes, we can help.
Moneyspider researches, monitors, analyses and values the investments you have registered so we can show you how they are performing, leaving you to make the decisions.

However, if one of your decisions is to buy a particular fund, or switch from one fund and/or fund manager to another, we can help you to do this. We will retain one half of any commission payable from such transactions to cover our administration expenses, and rebate the remainder into your investment.

After I have registered with Moneyspider, will I still get statements from my fund managers?
Yes. When you register with Moneyspider, we don't move or change your investments in any way. Your investments remain in the same funds with the same fund managers (e.g. Fidelity or Jupiter) as before, and they will continue to send you statements in the normal way. The only time your investments will change is if you decide to change them.

After I have registered, what happens if I buy or sell investments?
When you have registered, you will have access to the Members area where you can update your current funds and we tell you how to switch, buy or sell funds.

Can't I get all the information Moneyspider provides from newspapers and finance magazines?
You may be able to calculate the value of your funds and, depending on which journal you are using, their performance over the past five years. However, you won't easily be able to compare the performance of your fund/s with the 2000 or so funds available in the UK which are held on our database and which we value every day. To research and monitor these funds and their managers is a daunting, if not impossible, task for any individual.

And crucially, you won't be able to access the unique Moneyspider Rating and you certainly won't be able to see all your funds analysed and valued on a single report. Perhaps most important of all there is no additional cost whatsoever in registering with Moneyspider. So you have absolutely nothing to lose and a great deal to gain.