“Diversification is the only free lunch in investing,” in line with the late economist Harry Markowitz. A technique buyers can diversify their portfolios is by investing an index just like the FTSE All-Share.

I’m undecided whether or not Markowitz would or wouldn’t have put his personal cash on this UK share index right this moment. However as a house to a large spectrum of development and earnings shares, it gives buyers an opportunity to make huge returns whereas additionally spreading danger.

In addition to the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, the FTSE All-Share additionally contains the FTSE Small Cap Index. In whole, it covers round 98% of your entire market capitalisation of the London inventory market.

However how a lot would ISA buyers have right this moment if they’d invested £20,000 within the index a decade in the past?

Strong return

Since 23 December 2014, the FTSE All-Share has risen 24.9% in worth. Mixed with dividends, the typical annual return for the index comes out at 6.1%.

This efficiency means somebody who invested £20k — the utmost yearly allowance for a Shares and Shares ISA — would now be sitting on £36,752, give or take a few cents.

That’s not a foul end result. The truth is, it’s higher than the 5.5% common annual return the FTSE 250 would have offered, together with the Footsie’s corresponding return of 6%.

An vital caveat

That stated, the FTSE All-Index’s returns are nonetheless far lower than what a lump sum funding might have achieved elsewhere.

Let’s say an investor determined to park their money within the S&P 500 as a substitute. Based mostly on a median annual return of 11.3% since 2014, a £20,000 lump sum in an index fund would have made them a whopping £61,587.

Previous efficiency is not any dependable information to future returns. And following current underperformance, some analysts imagine UK equities might outperform lots of their abroad friends in future, given their superior worth.

Nonetheless, there are additionally causes to anticipate UK shares to maintain lagging. The US inventory market has a excessive focus of high-growth tech shares that would drive it larger. Moreover, indicators of revived weak spot within the British financial system might weigh on home share costs.

One high inventory

Up to now, I haven’t been tempted to purchase a UK tracker fund. As a substitute I’ve purchased one which tracks the S&P 500, together with a few US-focused sector and thematic exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Nonetheless, I’ve additionally bought some particular person UK shares I feel might outperform the market. Video games Workshop (LSE:GAW), an enormous within the tabletop gaming business, is one I’ve elevated my holdings in throughout 2024.

Over the previous decade, it’s delivered a median annual return of 40.3%, pushed by surging international curiosity in fantasy wargaming. It’s now a proud member of the FTSE 100 membership following promotion this month.

The identical sturdy efficiency isn’t assured. However I’m assured it may well proceed its proud file as retailer numbers develop all over the world, and it seems to be to supercharge royalty revenues by way of movie and TV offers with Amazon.

Income might sluggish throughout financial downturns. However on stability, I feel this development share will stay a greater funding for me than a FTSE All-Share tracker fund.