35 questions UK investors ask — answered

Straight, in-depth answers to the questions we hear most — on fees, tax wrappers, diversification, risk, and real assets. Free to read. When you want to see any of this in your own portfolio, the Arken Invest App does it for you.

Portfolio Health

How many funds should I have in my portfolio?There's no perfect number — but most investors need fewer funds than they think.
How do I choose an index fund from scratch?Choosing an index fund comes down to five things: which index it tracks (a broad global one like FTSE All-World or MSCI ACWI gives you thousands of companies in a single fund), the ongoing charge (OCF — aim for 0.25% or less), whether it's accumulation (reinvests dividends) or income (pays them out), how big and well-established the fund is, and how closely it actually tracks its index. For most people starting out, one broad global tracker does almost all the work.
Should I invest more outside the US?Maybe — many investors are already more exposed to the US than they realise.
Is my portfolio well-diversified, or am I too concentrated?A lot of portfolios look diversified, but aren't. You might own several funds yet still be heavily exposed to the same countries, sectors, or even the same handful of companies — especially large US tech stocks.
How do I see my real sector exposure across all my investments?You need to look at your portfolio as a whole — not just individual funds.
Am I too concentrated in my portfolio?If a small number of investments are driving most of your returns (or losses), you're probably more concentrated than you realise.
Do I own too many ETFs or funds?Possibly. Owning more funds doesn't always improve diversification — it often just adds overlap and makes your portfolio harder to understand.
Do I have too much US tech in my portfolio?Probably more than you think. A lot of portfolios that look diversified are actually heavily exposed to US tech — just spread across different funds.

Performance & Fees

ISA, Tax & Wrappers

Risk & Behaviour

Commodities & Real Assets

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Arken is an educational tool. It is not regulated by the FCA and does not constitute financial advice.