Evidence over opinion Issue 2026
Rational GB Evidence-based money

Guide collection

Index Funds and ETFs

Index Funds and ETFs reviews, comparisons and buying guides from Rational GB.

10 guides / Updated 2026 / Independent & evidence-checked
Best Index Funds and ETFs for UK Investors No. 01
Index Funds and ETFs No. 01

Best Index Funds and ETFs for UK Investors

The best index funds UK investors actually use: global trackers, the all-world ETFs, and budget developed-market options, compared on coverage and cost.

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Vanguard vs HSBC vs Fidelity Index Fund: Global Trackers Compared No. 02
Index Funds and ETFs No. 02

Vanguard vs HSBC vs Fidelity Index Fund: Global Trackers Compared

Vanguard vs HSBC vs Fidelity index fund, compared for UK investors: charges, what each tracks, small-cap and emerging market exposure, and which to pick.

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Index Funds vs ETFs: Which Is Better for UK Passive Investors No. 03
Index Funds and ETFs No. 03

Index Funds vs ETFs: Which Is Better for UK Passive Investors

Index funds vs ETFs in the UK explained, the real differences in trading, cost and platform fees, and a simple rule for which to pick for passive investing.

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04
Index Funds and ETFs No. 04

Best Global Tracker Funds: One-Fund Portfolios Compared

The best global tracker fund options for UK investors compared: FTSE Global All Cap, FTSE All-World and MSCI World, plus how to pick one for a whole portfolio.

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05
Index Funds and ETFs No. 05

Best S&P 500 Index Funds and ETFs in the UK

The best S&P 500 index fund UK investors can hold: the leading low-cost trackers and ETFs compared on cost and structure, plus the risks worth knowing.

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06
Index Funds and ETFs No. 06

Best Dividend ETFs for UK Investors: A Measured Guide

The best dividend ETFs for UK investors, from IUKD to VHYL, plus why total return and fees matter more than headline yield. Capital at risk.

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07
Index Funds and ETFs No. 07

Vanguard LifeStrategy Review: 60/40 and 80/20 Compared

An evidence-based Vanguard LifeStrategy review: how the 60/40 and 80/20 funds work, the low OCF, the UK home bias, and who a one-fund portfolio really suits.

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08
Index Funds and ETFs No. 08

Accumulation vs Income Funds and Units: Which Share Class to Buy

Accumulation vs income funds explained for UK investors: how each share class works, the tax on notional distributions, and which one to actually buy.

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09
Index Funds and ETFs No. 09

What Is the OCF (Ongoing Charges Figure) and Why It Matters

The ongoing charges figure (OCF) explained: what the fund fee includes, what it leaves out, and how a small percentage quietly compounds into a big loss.

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10
Index Funds and ETFs No. 10

How Many Index Funds Should You Own? What a UK Portfolio Needs

How many index funds should I own? Why one global tracker is often enough, when a second fund helps, and how adding more can quietly duplicate holdings.

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