The financial backdrop can feel relentless. Inflation remains a concern, interest rates keep shifting, and headlines about conflict, elections, artificial intelligence, the cost of living and market volatility rarely pause for breath.
If that leaves you feeling uncertain about your savings, pension or investments, you are far from alone. Many women were never taught how to think about money in unsettled markets. The usual message was simple: save diligently, invest sensibly, and trust that things will work out.
But hope is not a strategy. Without a clear plan, your money can be pulled around by every change in market mood.
That is where an absolute return strategy can offer a more composed alternative. The aim is not to guess the next market trend, but to help your money remain resilient across changing conditions rather than being knocked off course each time the outlook shifts.
So, what is an “absolute return” portfolio?
Many portfolios rise and fall with the wider market. That can feel comfortable when prices are climbing, but distinctly less so when markets turn sharply, and the experience begins to feel beyond your control.
An absolute return portfolio is designed differently. Rather than simply tracking equities, it aims to grow capital steadily over time in a range of environments, while seeking to limit losses when markets become more turbulent.
It does that by remaining flexible. The portfolio can hold global shares, government bonds, corporate bonds or more cash, depending on where the best balance of opportunity and protection appears to be. When one part of the market is under pressure, another may offer more stability.
In essence, the MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio is built to offer steadier progress and greater peace of mind, not simply to pursue the highest return in buoyant markets.
A 17-year story, not a lucky streak
A portfolio can look impressive in a single strong year. What matters more is how it behaves across very different market conditions, especially the difficult ones.
The MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio, managed by our parent company SCM Direct, has been running since 8 June 2009. That means almost 17 years of real-world investing rather than a model designed to look persuasive on paper.
Across that period, it has navigated Brexit, the COVID market shock, the bond sell-off of 2022, a sharp interest-rate cycle and the cuts that followed. Since launch, it has delivered 174.2% net of all costs, as of 30 April 2026.
Cumulative return since launch — MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio (8 June 2009 to 30 April 2026, net of all costs). Source: SCM Private LLP / MoneyShe.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results
That does not mean every period has been positive, and no credible manager would suggest otherwise. It does suggest that the strategy has not depended on a single ideal backdrop to succeed.
Spread the bets, keep your options open
Diversification may be familiar advice, but it remains one of the soundest principles in investing.
This portfolio spreads money across a range of assets, including global shares, government bonds, corporate bonds and cash. It uses ETFs: low-cost funds that hold many investments at once and can be adjusted efficiently as conditions change.
Representative asset mix of the MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio. Source: SCM Private LLP / MoneyShe. Allocations change with market conditions.
See the latest monthly factsheet for current weightings.
Why is that valuable? It creates resilience in two important ways
First, it avoids relying on a single country, sector, or investment style to do all the work. If technology stumbles, your money is not overly exposed to it.
Second, the portfolio can respond without undue friction when markets change. Capital is not locked into holdings that are difficult or expensive to adjust.
What you pay, plain and simple
Fees may look modest in percentage terms, but over time they can erode returns more than many investors realise.
The typical charge is 0.82% a year, all in. There are no performance fees, no set-up charge and no penalty if you choose to withdraw your money.
Typical total annual cost. Source: SCM Private LLP / MoneyShe.
Typical UK figures shown are illustrative industry averages and should be confirmed before publication.
In practical terms, you keep more of what your money earns, and you know exactly what you are paying for.
Not just following the crowd
Many popular portfolios now look remarkably similar, with heavy exposure to large US technology names and to whatever has most recently performed well.
That can be rewarding for a time, but crowded trades rarely unwind gracefully when sentiment turns.
MoneyShe’s parent, SCM Direct, was founded in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, when its founders saw the risks of blindly following the crowd. This strategy reflects that thinking – look beyond the hype, focus on value and spread risk globally rather than relying on a handful of familiar names.
The result is a more disciplined approach, designed to feel measured and dependable in a market environment that often feels anything but.
Could this be right for you?
If you are looking for a way to be invested without feeling anxious about every market swing, an absolute return strategy offers you a steadier fit.
It does not remove risk, because no honest investment can. It does, however, seek to manage risk thoughtfully by staying flexible, diversified and cost-conscious as conditions change.
That is the role the MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio is designed to play: offering a long real-world track record, a clear low-cost structure, and an investment approach intended to help women feel informed, composed, and in control of their financial future.
Explore the MoneyShe Absolute Return Portfolio or speak with the team to see whether it may suit your investment and pension goals.
Important information
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk. Investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest.
This blog is a financial promotion and is intended for information only. It is not personal advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you, please speak to a qualified financial adviser.
