Stakeholder returns vary by 30%

Best returns came from with-profit vehicles, with Norwich union's fund topping the list

Policyholders in stakeholder default funds have seen total returns vary by 30% since the product's inception in April 2001. Between 6 April 2001, when stakeholder launched, and 31 October 2003, the lowest total return was the -18.13%, bid to bid, produced by Royal London Managed and Prudential Equity, neither of which are with-profit vehicles. By contrast, the best return was the 12.1% produced by Norwich Union's With Profit fund. The research, carried out by Hargreaves Lansdown, highlights the discrepancy between different funds and shows the importance of fund selection, according to t...