250: Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast - with Richard Stone (15 Jan 2025)

In this edition of the Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast, Jonathan Davis, editor of the Investment Trusts Handbook and winner of the 2024 AIC Best Broadcast Journalist Award, is joined by Richard Stone, chief executive of The Association of Investment Companies (The AIC). This discussion was recorded on 10 January 2025, before Boaz Weinstein's Saba Capital webinar on 14 January. *** Out now: The 2025 Investment Trusts Handbook *** The Investment Trusts Handbook is an independent educational publication designed to provide investors with a handy annual reference book that summarises all you need to know about investment trusts. Now in its eighth year, the Handbook is a high-quality, full-colour hardback of more than 340 pages, the largest yet, with reviews of the past year, extensive interviews and commentary, plus nearly 80 pages of “how to” information and performance data. The Handbook is an indispensable companion for anyone looking to invest in investment trusts. There is also a free e-book version you can read on a PC, tablet or smartphone. Available to order from Harriman House (https://harriman-house.com/ithb2025) or Amazon. *** Section Timestamps: 0:00:24 - Introduction 0:00:34 - Looking back at 2024 0:02:52 - Consolidation 0:04:12 - Looking at the average discount 0:06:20 - An existential crisis in alternative assets? 0:08:44 - Activist investors in general 0:12:03 - Saba’s proposals and corporate governance 0:16:12 - A short break 0:17:07 - The retail investor situation 0:21:38 - A Saba fund to target discount opportunities 0:23:36 - A wake-up call for boards 0:24:18 - An update on the cost disclosure issue 0:34:31 - Hopes and aspirations for 2025 0:37:47 - Close If you enjoy the weekly podcast, you may also find value in joining The Money Makers circle. This is a membership scheme that offers listeners to the podcast an opportunity, in return for a modest monthly or annual subscription, to receive additional premium content, including interviews, performance data, market/portfolio reviews and regular extracts from the editor's notebook. This week, as well as the usual features, the Circle features a profile of Rockwood Strategic (RKW). Future profiles include Syncona (SYNC) and TR Property (TRY). Look out for the latest edition of our new expanded weekly subscriber email which summarises Jonathan's latest thoughts and includes a comprehensive summary of all the latest news. The content of that email is also available for subscribers via the website. A subscription costs £12 a month or £120 for one year. For more information about the Money Makers circle, please visit money-makers.co/membership-join. Membership helps to cover the cost of producing the weekly investment trust podcast, which will continue to be free. We are very grateful for your continued support and the enthusiastic response to our 250 podcasts since launch. You can find more information, including relevant disclosures, at www.money-makers.co. Please note that this podcast is provided for educational purposes only and nothing you hear should be considered as investment advice. Our podcasts are also available on the Association of Investment Companies website, www.theaic.co.uk. Produced by Ben Gamblin.