Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust (SLS) AGM Report 2014

• Macro view of the economy
• A stock specific pitch by a member followed by Q&A
• Presentation on a topic related to financial markets

Meeting content is determined by the group in advance of meetings and the agenda will typically include discussions on stock ideas and other investment themes.

Meetings include presentations by group members on specific topics, and on recent decisions made with the input of technical analysis.

Meetings start at 7 pm, and end between 8.30 and 9 pm.

Meetings will typically include a number of presentations on specific stock ideas and on investing styles and themes. Meetings will also review the performance of our “portfolio” of up to ten stocks chosen by the members in a share picking competition competing against other SIGnet groups across the UK.

Additionally, members will be encouraged to identify a share from their portfolios and talk about it for 3 minutes (short ideas welcome).

Swing Trading, Stop Losses and Position Sizing, Chart Patterns – Cup and Handle, Breakouts, Springs, Flags etc, Support & Resistance, Indicators, Price Targets, Positive Expectancy, Trade Management, Trading Systems, Trade Ideas and Evaluation, Trade Planning, Leading and Lagging Sectors, Leading and Lagging Participants within Sectors, Trade Journals, and the ‘Tools of the Trade’.

The majority of the group have both longer term investments and carry out shorter term trades, too. They would term themselves both ‘investors’ with a longer term outlook and ‘traders’ with a shorter term outlook. The group members have broad experience in the markets – including across all asset classes and vehicles (shares – companies, trusts, ETFs, funds; spread-bets, CFDs, Options, Crypto). However, most of the group are predominantly interested in equities within the context of a portfolio.

Although some members are highly experienced traders that is not true of all and experience level should not be seen as an impediment to joining. So, if you don’t know who Richard Wyckoff was, or why Fibonacci is even more relevant today than in the 11^th Century – don’t worry! Every day is a ‘school day’ for us all – Mr Market makes sure of that!

Meetings consider topical investment issues, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and are intended to provide a forum for the enjoyable sharing of areas of expertise.

We will look at a wide range of investments, including for example, investment trusts, OEICs and ETFs as well as companies of any size. However we do not look at the more exotic areas of investment such as options, other financial instruments or hedge funds. Our discussions range widely over the myriad of factors that may influence investments and include macroeconomics, investment psychology and political trends and from time to time a member will present a book review relevant to investing. Typically the agenda will include an update on members’ investment activity since the last meeting and a presentation on an interesting potential investment by one or more members.

We are all existing or former professionals and undoubtedly it is the combined experience which always makes the meetings both interesting and challenging.

The majority of the group are what you could called ‘investors’ with a longer term outlook rather than ‘traders’, but several have broad experience in the markets. Most of the group are predominantly interested in equities within the context of a portfolio. Some members have interests across asset classes and are interested in portfolio construction and portfolio management. Although some members are highly experienced investors that is not true of all and experience level should not be seen as an impediment to joining. The group is open to new members.

– Online meetings once per month in the evenings to suit those members who are working
– Face to Face meetings during week days to suit those members who are retired
– Face to Face meetings during week day evenings to suit those members who are working
– Meetings of opportunity: taking advantage of local investment seminars and events to meet up within the context of investment

The group discusses a range of investment related topics.

Some members lean towards a buy and hold approach whilst others trade more frequently, some use technical analysis methods, others use fundamentals or a combination.

Discussions cover companies predominantly listed on the London Stock Exchange, including small AIM stocks, but investments in other countries are sometimes included. Investment trusts, exchange traded funds, bonds and some other financial instruments are included.

Economic issues as they relate to investing are discussed for those who adopt a top down approach.

Additionally, experience of different investing software and information sources provides good insights into what members find works well for them.

If an investment related subject is of interest to the majority of the group then it is included, such as government budget announcements, pensions and inheritance tax etc.

At present there is an interest within the group in AIM shares with a view to inheritance tax planning but this is not in preclusion to other interests, REITs, Investment Trusts, Property etc.

At each meeting the members outline their recent activity and its relevance to their overall investment goals. Current fiscal events and economic conditions are discussed.

The meetings commence at 10:30 am and continue until around 1:00 to 1:30 pm.

We enjoy wide ranging discussions sharing views and knowledge on all investing types.  We discuss relevant world events, sectors of interest, unit and investment trusts and individual equities.  The group has been running for many years and members are all active investors.  New members welcome.