The Investment Cuddle

This month the Cuddle looks at Investment platform costs, with a focus on how this works for retail investors. We also delve into the world of how investment vehicles effect the spread and overall costs.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Freetrade - Freetrade: Award-winning investment & trading platform
Hargreaves Lansdowne - Hargreaves Lansdown | ISAs, pensions, investments, savings
IG - Trade and invest with the UK's No.1 trading provider - IG UK
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) - Traders and Investors | Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited
InvestEngine - InvestEngine – The ETF Investing Platform
Trading 212 - Commission-free investing for everyone | Trading 212
Vanguard Investor - Vanguard Asset Management | Personal Investing in the UK
XTB - XTB – Investing, Savings & Trading Platform | XTB
 
 
Hugh Hendry (The Acid Capitalist) - Hugh Hendry
Hedgeye - Hedgeye
Grant Williams - The Grant Williams Podcast
 
Platform_Costs
 
 

This month the Cuddle looks at Bid offer spread, with a focus on how this works for  retail investors. We also delve into the world of investment platforms and try to assess their spread breakdown.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Fidelity International - Fidelity International | ISAs, Shares, Funds & Pensions (SIPPs)
AJ Bell - AJ Bell | Award-Winning Investment Platform
Interactive Brokers - Traders and Investors | Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited
eToro - Invest With eToro™ | Stocks, Crypto & ETFs in One Powerful App
InvestEngine - InvestEngine – The ETF Investing Platform
 
Bid_Offer_Spread_Platform_Table
 
 

This month the Cuddle looks at Financial Education, with a little help from secondary school pupils in years 7, 9 and 11. They let us know their thoughts on the world of money and financial education.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report - GOV.UK
Financial Times Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC)
FT FLIC | Mastering your money
Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)
https://pshe-association.org.uk/
 
Articles
Young Enterprise - Huge steps forward for financial education and life skills in schools | Young Enterprise
Just Finance Foundation - Financial Education In Primary Schools - Compulsory Citizenship Learning
 
Blazing Saddles (1974) - IMDb
 

This month the Cuddle looks at Financial Education, outlining the UK Governments 2025 review, and how this links to the Financial Times Flic initiative.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report - GOV.UK
Financial Times Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC)
FT FLIC | Mastering your money
Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)
https://pshe-association.org.uk/
 
Articles
Young Enterprise - Huge steps forward for financial education and life skills in schools | Young Enterprise
Just Finance Foundation - Financial Education In Primary Schools - Compulsory Citizenship Learning
 

This month the Cuddle looks at its income portfolio, paying homage to the Helen Pridham portfolio, and we talk through how our fund has changed in the last 12 months ready for 2026.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
AIC - https://www.theaic.co.uk
Edison research - https://www.edisongroup.com
 
Articles
11 investment trusts for a £10,000 annual income
Nine investment trusts to generate a £10,000 income in 2026
Nine investment trusts for a £10,000 income in 2025
 
Domestic Base
The City of London Investment Trust plc (CTY) https://www.janushenderson.com/en-gb/investor/product/the-city-of-london-investment-trust-plc/
Diverse Income Trust (DIVI) Premier Miton Group
Merchants Trust (MRCH) The Merchants Trust PLC - MRCH
 
Global Income
Murray International Trust (MYI) https://www.murray-intl.co.uk
Henderson High Income Trust plc (HHI) Henderson High Income Trust | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts
 
Specialist Trusts
The North American Income Trust plc (NAIT) The North American Income Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts
The European Smaller Companies Trusts (ESCT) The European Smaller Companies Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts
Blackrock Energy and Resources Income Trust (BERI) www.blackrock.com/uk/individual/products/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-energy-and-resources-income-trust/trust-information
BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (BRFI) https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-frontiers-investment-trust/performance-holdings
CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (CCJI) https://ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com
 

This month the Cuddle covers what went on in the markets in 2025, looking at indexes and individual sectors.  We talk through how our portfolio performed and review our best and worst performers and what to expect in 2026.
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (CCJI) https://ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com
Murray International Trust (MYI) https://www.murray-intl.co.uk
Blackrock Energy and Resources Income Trust (BERI) www.blackrock.com/uk/individual/products/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-energy-and-resources-income-trust/trust-information
BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (BRFI) https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-frontiers-investment-trust/performance-holdings
Henderson High Income Trust plc (HHI) Henderson High Income Trust | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts
The North American Income Trust plc (NAIT) The North American Income Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts
 
Index and sector performance
Sector Screener: a review of 2025 and look ahead to 2026
 
 

This month the Cuddle covers its Christmas Crackers, looking at the previous two years with the best winners and losers!  We talk through how these Christmas cracker gifts have performed.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Christmas Cracker Gifts 2023
Analogue Devices (ADI) Investor Relations - Analog Devices
Andrada Mining (ATM.L) Andrada Mining | Investors
The Buckle, Inc (BKE) The Buckle, Inc. - Investor Overview
Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) Hanesbrands, Inc. - Investors - Investor Relations Home | Hanesbrands Inc.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) Investor Relations :: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) (nclhltd.com)
Tharisa plc (THS.L) Investment Overview | Tharisa
 
Christmas Cracker Gifts 2024
Japan Gold Corp. (JG) Corporate
PureCycle Technologies (PCT) PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT)
Microstrategy (MSTR) Explore MicroStrategy's Investor Relations: Stay Informed on Financial Performance and Corporate Governance
Pan African Resources (PAF) Pan African Resources: Home
3M Company (MMM) 3M Company (MMM)
On Holdings (OnOn) On - Home
 
 

This month the Cuddle looks at the FIRE movement.  We talk through the different resources available to further understand Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) including a book review to inspire your journey.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
US
Mr. Money Mustache (Pete Adeney) - Mr. Money Mustache — Early Retirement through Badassity
Choose FI Podcast: Hosted by Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett, ChooseFI - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
Tanja Hester: Author of Work Optional – ISBN-13 978-0316450898
UK
The Escape Artist (Barney Whiter) - Start here | The Escape Artist
Monevator - Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE): my journey from first steps to leaving work - Monevator
Ken Okoroafor (The Humble Penny) - Home - The Humble Penny
 Europe
Retire in Progress (Switzerland) - Retire In Progress - Switzerland
Nordic FIRE - FIRE Europe - Financial Independence Retire Early for Europeans
 Rest of the World
Canada: Raptitude (David Cain) - About Raptitude
Australia: The Aussie FIREbug podcast - Podcast - Aussie Firebug
Singapore & Hong Kong – Fat FIRE - F.I.R.E. in Singapore: Navigating the Path to Early Retirement | Media OutReach Newswire APAC
 
Podcasts
Afford Anything Paula Pant - Home - Afford Anything
The Mad Scientist Podcast Brandon (Mad Scientist) - The Mad Scientist Podcast
FIRE Drill Podcast Gwen & J Women - Fire Drill | Podcast on Spotify
The Humble Penny Podcast Ken & Mary Okoroafor - The Humble Penny | Podcast on Spotify
 
Books
Your Money or Your Life Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez – ISBN-13 9780143115762
Financial Freedom Grant Sabatier – ISBN-13 978-0525534587
The Simple Path to Wealth JL Collins - ISBN-13‎ 979-8893310474
Quit Like a Millionaire Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung – ISBN-13 9781529407204
Set for Life Scott Trench – ISBN-13 9781947200807
Playing with FIRE Scott Rieckens – ISBN-13 9781608685806
From Zero to Financial Independence in Less Than 10 Years Robert Tracey – ISBN-13 978-1541095670
 

This month the Cuddle looks at the FIRE movement.  We talk through the different flavours of Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) including rules to live by through your journey.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Financial Freedom Documentary | Playing With FIRE
Investopedia
FIRE Explained: Financial Independence, Retire Early – Rules, Types & Planning
The Rule of Twenty Five
What is the 25x retirement rule and does it work? | MoneyWeek
 
Four Percent Rule
https://www.fidelity.co.uk/markets-insights/personal-finance/saving-for-retirement/the-4-percent-rule-the-basics/
 
Retirement Stats
Moneywise
Here’s why more Americans are retiring earlier than ever before — even if they don’t want to. Is it your turn to hang it up in 2025?
Gallop
More in U.S. Retiring, or Planning to Retire, Later
 

This month the Cuddle looks at an update on investment alternatives to Terry.  We talk through more potential alternatives and how our previous funds have performed over the last three years.
 
Music by https://audionautix.com
 
Information links
Funds to outperform over the next 10 years (Update)
GuardCap Global Equity: GuardCap Global Equity Fund I GBP Acc|IE00BVSS1C10 (morningstar.co.uk), GuardCap Global Equity I GBP Price & Performance | Bestinvest
Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas: Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity (D) Income Fund Price & Information (hl.co.uk)
Seilern World Growth: Seilern World Growth GBP U R|IE00B2NXKV01 (morningstar.co.uk)
Additional alternative funds that may outperform the baseline over the next 8 to 10 years
Evenlode Global Equity: IFSL Evenlode Global Equity F GBP Accumulation, GB00BMFX1P94:GBX charts - FT.com
Seilern World Growth: Seilern World Growth GBP U R|IE00B2NXKV01 (morningstar.co.uk)
Jupiter India Fund OEIC: Jupiter India Fund J GBP Acc, GB00BJJQ5G28:GBP performance - FT.com
Artemis Global Income Fund: Artemis Global Income Fund I Acc, GB00B5ZX1M70:GBP summary - FT.com
Fidelity Global Technology Fund: Fidelity Funds - Global Technology Fund I-Acc-GBP, LU2786262373:GBP charts - FT.com