How to find your ideal Investment Trust. There's a book that helps...

whichcord

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting on this forum and I hope someone can help.

Around 2002 I borrowed a book from my local library about how to save for the future and it turned out to be a step by step guide to how to choose an investment trust. I used it to choose a trust, saved £80,000 over a number of years (with £250 a month) and used this sum to put a deposit on my first flat. I didn't keep investing (sadly) but now I would like to start again. I would love to find this book (or something similar) but so far I haven't been able to find it as I can't remember the title or the authors. I remember there were two authors, both men, and that the book was written as if it were a very light-hearted conversation between them.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've truied every search I can find across a variety of websites but to no avail.

Any pointers would be much appreciated!

tacpot12

I can't help with the name of the book, but you should definitely check out www.theaic.co.uk. This website has all the data you might need on every Investment Trust.  

whichcord

tacpot12 said:

I can't help with the name of the book, but you should definitely check out www.theaic.co.uk. This website has all the data you might need on every Investment Trust.  

Thanks very much, it does provide the functionality to filter the ITs: if only I could remember the criteria! All I can remember was "global" and very large amount of assets!  

JohnWinder

Sorry, I also can’t identify the book for you. You had a very favourable experience after using that book, but if it was the road map to success you may be expecting it would be widely well known and we’d be falling over ourselves to get you back into it.  Care advised.

Secondly, there are other pooled fund collective investments than investment trusts, and very popular as well with theoretical and empirical benefits, so you might benefit from some broader research along those lines before proceeding.

wmb194

The investing world has moved on quite a bit in the last twenty years. If you're looking for a global fund there are some good ETFs from Vanguard, HSBC and Fidelity that will probably tick the boxes and cost far, far less than a global investment trust like F&C (LSE:FCIT) but it comes down to active vs passive. Of course, it isn't all or nothing, you can own lots of different things.

Daliah

Investment funds are specific instruments - do you really mean these, or are you interested in investment strategies? If the latter, you could start reading here: https://monevator.com/category/investing/passive-investing-investing/

tacpot12

Very diversified (e.g. global) and large capitalisation are good criteria, but you should also look at charges (which should be low), their management track record, and the aim of each fund. Sometimes you might realise that the fund's aim is not one that will work for you in the long term.

EFT's can be a good alternative, if you want a passive investment. I hold a portfolio of mostly ITs, but also have a couple of ETFs to see how they perform for me.

whichcord

Thanks very much everyone. I've noted your words of caution and suggestions of alternatives. I'll be doing some more research before I just attempt to reproduce the past!