AI, global growth and defensive income are popular among UK retail investors right now, according to search and investor forums data. UK retail investors searching for active OEIC funds (open-ended investment companies) right now are largely focused on four themes: defensive income, AI and global growth exposure, risk-managed multi-asset funds, and increasingly sustainability-labelled strategies.
The clearest trend is a move away from traditional UK equity active funds and toward global or defensive mandates.
Data from the Investment Association shows UK All Companies has remained one of the worst-selling sectors, while Short Term Money Market, Targeted Absolute Return and diversified mixed-asset sectors have attracted the strongest inflows.
💡Most Appealing Themes
Here are the areas UK retail investors appear most interested in:
| Theme retail investors are searching for | Why interest is rising | Typical active OEIC examples |
| Global growth & AI funds | Investors want exposure to US tech, AI infrastructure and private-market growth stories | Fundsmith Equity, Blue Whale Growth, Scottish Mortgage-style strategies |
| Defensive cash-plus funds | Higher rates made money market and low-volatility funds attractive | Royal London Short Term Money Market, Ninety One Diversified Income |
| Multi-asset ‘set-and-forget’ funds | ISA/SIPP investors want diversification and lower volatility | Vanguard LifeStrategy Active alternatives, Trojan, Ruffer-style funds |
| Income-focused global equity | Retirees and ISA investors searching for sustainable dividends | Artemis Global Income, Guinness Global Equity Income |
| Sustainable/ESG-labelled funds | FCA SDR labels are now a major search filter | Sustainability Focus and Sustainability Impact funds |
| Emerging markets & private assets | Investors seeking cheaper valuations outside the US | Global Emerging Markets OEICs, private capital strategies |
The biggest behavioural shift is that investors are increasingly searching for:
- ‘Best active global OEIC’
- ‘AI funds UK’
- ‘Wealth preservation funds’
- ‘Income funds for ISA’
- ‘Active funds outperforming index’
- ‘Low volatility OEICs’
🌍 UK vs Globally Diversified
At the same time, enthusiasm for active UK equity funds has weakened sharply. UK equity funds suffered a tenth consecutive year of outflows despite strong FTSE 100 performance.
Platform data from interactive investor also suggests investors are favouring globally diversified strategies, passive building blocks and selective active growth funds rather than traditional UK stock picker OEICs.
✔️ Privates Access
Another notable trend is rising interest in active managers with access to private markets. Retail investors increasingly search for exposure to companies like SpaceX before IPO via active growth strategies and investment trusts, reflecting broader interest in AI, defence and space themes.
SpaceX IPO: What UK Retail Investors Need to Know About the Potential $1.75 Trillion Market Debut
Discussions on UK investing forums also show growing debate around whether active management may outperform increasingly concentrated passive indices dominated by mega-cap US tech.
Disclaimer: The author Steven Frazer has a personal interest in Scottish Mortgage, Blue Whale Growth, Fundsmith Equity.
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