An animation plays on screen that compliments what is being explained in the voiceover.
“Picture a successful investor and you might imagine a man in a pin stripe suit, that’s a dab hand at picking companies with a strongly rising share price.
This isn’t necessarily wrong, but in the story of the tortoise and the hare, this ‘growth’ investor generally falls within the ‘hare’ category. They might have periods where they’re steaming ahead, but there are also times where they fall behind.
The ‘tortoise’ is the ‘income’ investor, and the generally more modest but steadier returns offered by income investing is one of the most powerful ways to grow your money over the long term.
In its simplest form, a growth investor will favour companies that reinvest profits into the business. An income investor will choose to invest in companies that pay out a portion of their profits to shareholders in the form of a dividend.
British businesses have a long history of paying generous dividends to shareholders and the UK offers one of the highest levels of income in the world. However, companies in international markets are increasingly paying dividends, giving UK investors wider choice, and the ability to diversify their portfolio globally.”
Title screen: Income investing
“Let’s take a look at how ‘income’ investing can be used at different stages of your life.”
The animation continues, introducing Andy.
"This is Andy. He’s young, and saves a portion of his monthly pay check into his company’s pension, and will do so for the next 30 years.
Each year, he uses the income he receives to buy more investments, which in turn pay him an income, which he can use to buy more investments – and so on and so on. This is called ‘compounding’.
If the companies continue to pay him an income, Andy can worry less about the fluctuations in value, although the income they pay isn't guaranteed. All investments rise and fall in value over time and lower share prices means he can buy more investments with the income he receives.
Although when you invest, you could get back less than you put in.”
Lorrie replaces Andy on screen.
“Andy’s colleague, Lorrie, is older than him and plans to retire in a few years’ time.
Like Andy, she has also been investing for income, but she hasn’t had the time or inclination to research individual companies. So she invests in a number of funds, where a fund manager chooses the dividend-paying companies on her behalf.
When buying a fund, the manager will often give the option of ‘accumulation units’ or ‘income units’. She has been buying accumulation units, which means the manager automatically uses the income generated to buy more investments.
As she now wants more control, she plans to sell these units and purchase income units instead. The underlying investments are exactly the same, but the manager pays the income into her account. She can then choose when to reinvest the income, and when to keep it.”
Lorrie’s husband is now the focus of the animation.
“Lorrie’s husband is a few years older and retired last year. He also holds income units and has his investment account set up to pay the income to his bank account each month.
Thirty years of reinvesting his income means he has built a sizeable retirement pot, and the income paid on these investments, along with the state pension, covers his living expenses.
By only spending the income, he doesn’t touch the investments themselves, which he intends to leave to his children when he dies.
So, you see, income investing is not just for people who need an income today.”
This video isn't personal advice. If you’re not sure what to do, we can put you in touch with a financial adviser. Investments rise and fall in value and you could get back less than you invest. Income isn't guaranteed and will vary. Once held in a pension you can't usually access your money until 55 (57 from 2028).
