Build your investment company knowledge
Our Investment Company Accreditation can help you strengthen and demonstrate your expertise.
Welcome
Welcome to the AIC’s financial adviser centre. Here, you can access training, news and guides on the investment company industry, including investment trusts and VCTs.
All our services for financial advisers and wealth managers are free of charge and our CPD is accredited by professional bodies.
AIC celebrates 100th person to achieve Investment Company Accreditation
Nick Britton presents a certificate to Ahsan Vayani of Quilter Cheviot.
How to explain investment trusts to a client
Nick Britton, Head of Intermediary Communications at the AIC, gets advisers’ views on explaining investment trusts to clients.
ESG remains a “minefield” for advisers and wealth managers
91% recommend sustainable funds and 72% expect demand to increase. Less than a fifth of intermediaries trust ESG ratings.
The Investment Company Accreditation
Find out how to build your investment company knowledge and gain CPD.
"The use of investment companies by advisers has increased sevenfold in the decade since RDR. Our training and educational materials are designed to help more advisers find their way to investment companies.”
Nick Britton, Research and Content Director
Guides to investment companies
What are investment companies?
Understand exactly what we mean by investment company, and the three main types.
How financial advisers use investment companies
Why are investment companies becoming more popular with financial advisers?
Researching investment companies
Considerations to bear in mind when researching and selecting investment companies for clients.
Investment companies and platforms
Investment companies are now available on a wide range of adviser platforms.
Trading on the stock market
This guide discusses the implications of stock market trading, including liquidity.
Differences from OEICs
Identifying the main structural differences between investment companies and open-ended funds.
Closed-ended structure
What does it mean to have a closed-ended structure, and what are the implications for investors?
Fees, charges and other costs
Making sense of the different disclosures of investment company costs.
Income features of investment companies
Investment companies can be attractive for income investors. This guide explains why.
Investment company performance vs OEICs
Assessing the reasons for investment companies' outperformance of open-ended funds over the long term.
Discounts and premiums
Explaining what discounts and premiums are, what drives them and why they matter.
Range of underlying investments
Discover why investment companies can offer access to a wider range of asset classes.
Governance
The separation between board and manager is central to investment companies, as this guide explains.
Regulation of investment companies
A simple summary of the laws and regulations that protect investors in investment companies.
Taxation of investment companies
Taxation of investment companies is very similar to other funds; here are some key differences.
Discount control policies
How do share buybacks and discount control policies work, and what are the benefits to investors?
Investment companies and NMPI status
The vast majority of investment companies fall outside the NMPI regime, as this guide explains.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
What are REITs and how are they different from mainstream investment companies?
Non-UK investment companies
This guide explains why some London-listed investment companies are based outside the UK.
Venture capital trusts (VCTs)
An introduction to venture capital trusts (VCTs) outlining the tax reliefs available.
David Prosser's monthly round-up
Every month, David Prosser rounds up what's happening in the investment company sector, including what the investment company analysts are saying. David's past roles include Business Editor of The Independent, Personal Finance Editor of the Daily Express, and Deputy Editor of Money Observer magazine.
Why investment companies work so well for investors in drawdown
David Prosser looks at why investment companies have an important role to play in savers’ retirement portfolios.
A light in the gloom
David Prosser examines the reasons for the continuing popularity of UK equity income investment companies.
Playing the waiting game in private equity
David Prosser assesses whether the sector’s deep discounts are justified.
Reliable income or total return?
David Prosser asks whether investors can have the best of both worlds.
Why advisers use investment trusts
Find out why financial advisers use investment trusts (investment companies).
New to investment companies?
Access our guides for individuals new to the sector. These guides are designed for all investors who want to find out more about investment companies.
Platforms
View a list of platforms that offer investment companies, and compare the costs for trading and custody both inside and outside model portfolios.
