The Investment Cuddle

This month the Cuddle looks at its income portfolio, paying homage to the Helen Pridham portfolio, and we talk through its performance over the first 6 months of 2026.

For further details see episode 60 the Investment Cuddle Portfolio

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

Premier Milton UK mid cap fund (link)

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 looks at Investment platform total costs, with a focus on how this works for retail investors. We also delve into the world of lifecycle costs with what investment platform vehicles cost over the longer term.

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

Platform_lifecycle_Costs

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