AIC launches Income Finder

• Available from theaic.co.uk/income-finder
• Create a virtual portfolio of investment companies and track dividends

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has launched Income Finder (theaic.co.uk/income-finder), a new set of tools and resources to help income seekers research and analyse investment companies.

Income Finder enables investors to create a virtual portfolio of income-paying investment companies, track the dividend dates and see how much income they could receive over a year. This allows investors to customise their investment company portfolio to smooth monthly income over the year, ensuring there are no periods without dividend payments, or shape the income to meet their needs.

Income Finder comprises four sections: Income Builder, Dividend Diary, My Income Portfolios and Guides & Glossary.

Income Builder allows investors to create a portfolio of income-paying investment companies. Investors can sort and select investment companies based on their dividend frequency, dividend yield or the month in which dividends are paid. Once investors have created a portfolio, the dividends paid are displayed across an interactive 12-month graph. The graph shows useful information including the average monthly income and the number of months when no income is paid. This can be viewed for the last 12 months and for any of the past three calendar years. For first-time visitors to Income Builder there is an interactive tutorial to help them get started.

Dividend Diary shows every investment company dividend payment date for each month from January 2016, helping investors find investment companies which are paying income in the months when they need it. Dividend Diary is updated as investment companies announce new dividend payment dates and investors have the option to include or exclude special dividends in their search.

The My Income Portfolios section gives investors more information about the portfolios they have created such as the dividend cover, 5-year dividend growth and the frequency of the dividends. Guides and Glossary provides a range of resources to help income seekers including videos, articles and jargonbusters.

Ian Sayers, Chief Executive of the Association of Investment Companies, said: “Income is a top priority for many investors. We have launched Income Finder to help our investors easily research income-paying investment companies, with clear graphs and images to see how much cash they would have received over the year and when dividends are paid. Investors can tailor their income portfolio to suit their needs, whether this is making sure they receive income in time for Christmas or ensuring they get a steady stream of dividends every month. There is also a Dividend Diary which shows when every AIC member pays dividends and a Guides and Glossary section with income-focused information. Last year, there were a record number of visitors to our website and we hope Income Finder will be a useful tool to help inform investors’ choices.”

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Notes

1. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) was founded in 1932 to represent the interests of the investment trust industry – the oldest form of collective investment.  Today, the AIC represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts and other closed-ended investment companies and VCTs. The AIC’s members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. The AIC’s mission statement is to help members add value for shareholders over the longer term. The AIC has 358 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £184 billion.
2. Disclaimer: The information contained in this press release does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation and it is not an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity. You should seek independent financial and, if appropriate, legal advice as to the suitability of any investment decision. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.  The value of investment company shares, and the income from them, can fall as well as rise.  You may not get back the full amount invested and, in some cases, nothing at all.
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