The Association of Investment Companies’ training programme has been updated and refreshed to help more finance professionals get up to speed with investment companies, often referred to as investment trusts.
The Investment Company Accreditation is a three-hour programme of interactive e-learning split into four 45-minute courses. It covers all the important aspects of the structure and features of investment companies such as discounts and premiums, gearing and unique income features.
A total of 218 people have now completed the Accreditation, earning a certificate from the AIC demonstrating their knowledge of the structure and features of investment companies.
Participation in the programme is free of charge for all finance professionals. The training is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), and the Investment Company Accreditation aligns with the CII’s Professional Map.
Nick Britton, research director at the AIC, said: “We launched the Investment Company Accreditation last year to allow financial advisers, planners and paraplanners to demonstrate that they understand how investment companies work. This year, we’ve updated and refreshed all the training material so that the examples and data are relevant to current market conditions.
“One of the main barriers to broader use of investment companies by advisers has been a lack of understanding, so it’s important to us that the AIC continues to provide free training and education. Our training is practical rather than abstract and 82% of users say it has given them more confidence in recommending investment companies.”
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