With so many things to consider before you make you take the investment plunge, investing can seem scary at first.
First step
I reckon the first step to successful investing is figuring out your objectives and risk tolerance. You need to define your goals and objectives before you are able to make good decisions on which investments to choose. What you’re investing for, the risks you’re willing to take and your investment horizon can all affect how much you’ll need and which options you should pick.
If you’re just starting out, you’ll probably want to consider investment trusts first. Shares in such trusts are traded just like other shares. But as a fund, investment trusts offer the advantages of being run by a professional fund manager and diversification from buying into a well-balanced portfolio of investments.
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Growth and income
If you’re looking for a combination of growth and income, then the Lowland Investment Company (LSE: LWI) might be a great first pick.
This fund invests in a broad spread of predominantly UK companies, with the aim of giving shareholders a higher than average return with growth of both capital and income over the medium-to-long term.
With 121 holdings as at 31 December, the fund invests in a diversified portfolio of companies of differing sizes. Normally, not more than half of its portfolio by value is made up of the largest 100 UK companies, with the balance invested in small- and medium-sized firms.
Outperformance
The fund has a strong track record of outperforming the benchmark FTSE All-Share Index. For the five years to the end of December, the net asset value (NAV) of the trust increased by 79%, easily beating the performance of the FTSE All-Share index, which generated a return of 63% over the same period.
At the time of writing, shares in the trust offer investors an attractive dividend yield of 3.5% and it trades at a slight discount to its net asset value of 6%.
Global diversification
Investors seeking geographical diversification may instead consider the Murray International Trust (LSE: MYI)
Launched in 1907, this fund has invested in a well-balanced portfolio of UK and international shares, with the aim of delivering both growth and income to shareholders. Its investment approach is to seek undervalued, but quality, companies that have a solid business focus, sound management, a strong balance sheet and a good corporate governance record.
Fixed income investments
Equities dominate its portfolio, with an 83% weighting, but the trust also owns a number of fixed income investments, which account for a further 16% of its portfolio. This gives the Murray International Trust even more diversification than some simple equity funds, since the price of bonds generally do not move in tandem with the stock market.
The fund’s top five equity holdings are: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (4.8%), Quimica Y Minera (4.3%), Groupo Asur (4.2%), British American Tobacco (3.8%) and Unilever Indonesia (3.4%).
This fund could also appeal to income seekers, as shares in the trust currently offer a yield of 4.2%.
