Welcome to the FE Trustnet Education Centre
Here you'll find educational material designed to help you understand the investment options available to you,
alongside useful links to tools and resources across the site, sorted into categories which complement your investment strategy.
If you have any queries, or can't find what you're looking for please click here
1. Portfolio objectives & constraints
The first thing an investor must do before developing a portfolio is decide upon a clear set of objectives, without which it would be impossible to determine an acceptable level of risk, and apply the constraints needed to achieve returns in that context.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
2. Risk & return in a portfolio
Understanding risk is a key element of portfolio construction, and failure to understand it can create major problems for investors. Various strategies are employed by managers to create funds which are attractive to investors who are concerned about their exposure to risk, and FE Trustnet provides a number of tools designed to help you understand risk yourself.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
3. Portfolio Modelling
The majority of positive returns are won by strong asset allocation, many investment experts believe, so a good grasp of the basics of portfolio modelling is an essential step toward a more productive portfolio.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
4. Cash and money markets
Cash and money market investments provide a valuable, low risk complement to any balanced portfolio, and are particularly useful for investors who need rapid access to part of their savings and a predictable, low volatility return profile for the same.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
5. Fixed interest
Fixed interest investments offer a lower risk, income producing alternative to equity investments, and can be useful for investors at many stages of the portfolio life cycle.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
6. Investing in equities
Equity investments offer exposure to global stock markets through a diverse and exciting variety of strategies. Returns are available in both capital and income terms, but volatility can be unpredictable, and can vary greatly between different strategies so a careful eye to stock selection coupled with a strong understanding of asset allocation is essential.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
7. Investment Trusts
Investment trusts provide a flexible and resilient alternative to unit trusts and Oeics, allowing investors to gain exposure to niche areas as well as better known investment themes covered by other investment strategies. Often overlooked by less experienced investors, these vehicles are a vital asset to any serious investment plan.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
8. Investing in property
Property offers an attractive means to diversify an investment portfolio away from the usual split between fixed interest and equities toward an attractive asset class offering strong potential yields and capital growth. Strategies vary however, with some property funds holding actual property while others invest in companies exposed to the sector, so it is essential to know how to tell the difference.
Resources
Guides
Maximise (+)
9. Analysing companies
A solid understanding of the underlying companies which funds invest in, either through their fixed interest exposure or by buying equities, can be very helpful to investors looking for greater control and peace of mind when managing their portfolio.
Guides
Maximise (+)