Defaqto reveals top 10 recommended Single Asset investment solutions for 2025  

Defaqto, one of the UK’s most trusted sources of financial product and market intelligence, has identified the top 10 most recommended single asset funds via their Engage adviser research software by value for the year 2025 .

The size and breadth of single asset investment solutions is vast, and yet 2025 has shown that Advisers have still predominantly retained a preference for passives and index trackers, undoubtedly due to lower costs and considerations around Consumer Duty.

There were a total of six new entrants within the top 10 overall, of which four have risen significantly. The most meteoric rise was that of Dimensional International Core equity which rose a phenomenal 393 places to land straight into third place.  

Top spot was retained by the Vanguard LifeStrategy 100% Equity fund, followed by the HSBC American Index fund, which rose one place to take second spot.

Fourth and fifth places were taken by another two new entrants in the shape of an HSBC stablemate, the FTSE-All World Index fund and the Heriot Global fund. The next three places were all taken by funds retaining their places within the top 10, albeit L&G Global 100 index had dropped a place to sixth, the Vanguard US Equity Index fell five places to seventh and Royal London Short Term Money Market rose two places into eighth place.

The final two places both saw new entrants with the Orbis OEIC Global Equity rising 36 places into ninth and another Dimensional offering, the World Equity being tenth having risen 85 places.

The data is drawn from Defaqto Engage; the adviser research software used by more than 30% of advisers in the UK to help their clients make smarter financial decisions. It depicts the most popular single asset solutions chosen through the research software, by a representational cross section of the UK financial adviser market.

Andy Parsons, Head of Investment & Protection at Defaqto, commented:

“Overall, 2025 delivered healthy market returns, despite the numerous headwinds encountered along the way. The start of the year was dominated by the unease and uncertainty around global trade tariffs before moving towards the summer months and concerns as to whether markets were heading for an AI bubble. For Central banks, the big questions were continually centred around how quickly they would reduce interest rates, against the backdrop of mixed economic data and persistent and challenging inflation data. And alongside all the economic challenges, there remained the difficult and damaging geo-political tensions.”

“As the top 10 clearly indicates, Advisers chose a preference for the US (directly or indirectly), with many of the key underlying holdings of the solutions aligned to a growth and technology/AI bias.”

“What transpires in 2026 will be interesting. Will investors continue to be rewarded? And for once, continuing the green shoots of last year, old Blighty is beginning to show appeal to investors. Generally, the year has started off in a positive manner but its still early days and a number of new and challenging geo-political challenges are emerging.”

Defaqto Engage consolidates all the information advisers need into one software solution, providing a comprehensive holistic service. It gives advisers the power to model a client’s financial objectives, capture risk profiles, conduct investment research, and oversee client reviews – all from one place.

Powered by Defaqto’s data, including more than 18,000 funds, 2,900 DFM MPS portfolios, platforms and products, Defaqto Engage is recognised by advisers as a trusted source of financial product and market intelligence. Recommendations of £57bn annually go through the system.

More information about Defaqto Engage can be found at www.defaqto.com/solutions/engage