‘Money… what’s it all about?’ – The Scottish Investment Trust launches learning hub with new video series

The Scottish Investment Trust PLC (The Scottish) today announces the launch of its online learning hub, www.thescottish.co.uk/learning-hub, created to provide financial education for investors looking for a different perspective.

The launch is marked by a three-part series of videos, ‘Money… what’s it all about?’, presented by Young Money blogger Iona Bain, as the Trust looks to reach out to a wider audience.

Money is fundamental to all our lives, yet it is something that we often seem to know ‘most’ and ‘least’ about.  The new series looks at the evolution and importance of money, its management, and how investors might patiently weather the vagaries of the stockmarket. It takes viewers on an enjoyable journey, investigating how the pound in the pocket is related to the actions of global central banks.

Clear communication has always been important to The Scottish, which sorts its stocks into three investment categories, to explain its contrarian stock picking approach to its many private investors. Stocks that may be out of favour with the market (Ugly Ducklings), on the verge of significant improvement (Change is Afoot) or still undervalued despite being more widely appreciated (More to Come).

The investment industry has undergone a shakeup in recent years, with options including investment apps, crowdfunding and cryptocurrencies now gaining traction with both new and experienced investors. As well as sharing insight on broad topics and contrarian investing alike, The Scottish’s new hub will provide access to the Association of Investment Companies’ investing basics and explain the benefits of investment trusts in general. Investment trusts are often able to provide a steady dividend and be held in an ISA or SIPP, potentially making them a tax efficient choice for investors of all ages.

The Scottish, which pays its dividend quarterly, is an independent trust with a high-conviction, active investment approach, investing globally over the long term. As one of the oldest and largest global trusts, it has provided investors with both capital growth and income since 1887.

James Will, Chairman of The Scottish commented: “The development of our learning hub embodies the educational and plain English approach we have long taken when communicating with our investors. Financial literacy is an essential life skill.”

Alasdair McKinnon, Manager of The Scottish commented: “Our unconstrained, contrarian style of investing is designed to provide low cost, global diversification for UK investors over the longer-term. It means that we approach markets, and specifically risk and reward, in a very different way to the passive or momentum investment style options out there. Markets are more often defined by emotion, not dispassionate calculation – we don’t look to follow the crowd.”

Iona Bain, Founder, The Young Money Blog added: “People today are faced with an overwhelming and sophisticated financial world. They may not be aware of the benefits of investing or the full spectrum of opportunities available to them to grow their money in the long-term. The Scottish is a Trust I have long followed and I have seen them present straightforward explanations of market conditions as well as pay a rising dividend. I am proud to be working with them on this important initiative. The Young Money Blog has always favoured a contrarian approach to personal finance, encouraging its readers to be questioning and thoughtful in this age of information overload.”

Past performance may not be repeated and is not a guide to future performance. The value of shares in The Scottish Investment Trust and any income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested. Dividend payments and increases in those payments are not guaranteed. The value of any tax benefits described depends on individual circumstances. Tax rules may change in the future.