Before investing, it is useful to follow the following steps to ensure success:

1. Identify your goal for investing

This could be meeting future education expenses, retirement, payment of a deposit for a house or a savings plans

2. Establish a time-frame for your investment

Be realistic about the time commitment for your investment. It is recommended that investments in unit trusts be medium to long-term investments.

3. Identify the level of risk

It is important to understand the level of risk associated with different types of investments

4. Select a unit trust fund which best meets your requirements above.

MoneyMarketFund:
The fund aims to obtain a high level of current income while protecting investor’s capital. The Fund will invest in money market securities with a maturity of less than 12 months which are usually available to the wholesale or institutional investors. Potential investments include: interest-bearing securities such as bank deposits, bank acceptances and other short-term money market instruments including short- dated treasury bills and commercial paper.

The Fund is designed for investors who require a low risk investment which offers a high income yield, capital stability and immediate liquidity.The Fund is a good parking place or safe haven for investors who wish to switch from a higher risk portfolio to a low risk, high interest portfolio, especially during times of high stock market volatility.

It is also ideal for investors who wish to make a lump sum investment and wish to reduce timing risk by regularly transferring amounts to other more aggressive portfolios.This is a low risk fund with zero initial charge.

Income Fund:
The objective of the Income Fund is to achieve a reasonable level of current income and maximum stability for the capital invested.The fund will invest in interest-bearing securities including financially sound preference shares, treasury bills, treasury bonds, corporate bonds, loan stock, debenture stock, debenture bonds, approved securities, notes and liquid assets and any other securities which are consistent with the portfolio’s investment policy.

The Fund is suitable for investors are seeking a regular income from their investment, including those who intend to secure a safe haven for their investments in times of stock market instability.

The Fund can be used a means of drip-feeding investments into the Equity Fund over a long period of time.

BalancedFund:
The investment objective of the Balanced Fund is to offer investors a reasonable level of current income and long term capital growth. This would be achieved by investing in a diversified spread of equities and fixed income securities.The Fund is suited to investors who seek to invest in a balanced portfolio offering exposure to all sectors of the market.

It is also suitable for Individual Pensions Plans, Occupational pension schemes, treasury portfolios of institutional clients, co-operatives and high-net worth individuals amongst others.The Fund is a medium risk fund and has a lower risk profile than pure Equity Funds.

Equity Fund:
The fund aims to offer superior returns over the medium to longer term by maximizing long term capital growth.To achieve this, the fund will invest primarily in listed companies on the Stock Exchanges of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, which shows above average prospects for future growth.

The Fund will also take advantage of initial public offerings (IPOs) of companies currently owned or controlled by private investors and/or the Governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania the neighbouring countries. The Fund aims to achieve its performance objectives through well-researched and superior share selection. The fund will have some exposure to offshore listed companies, denominated in Euro, Sterling or Dollar.

This fund is designed for investors seeking medium to long term capital growth in their portfolio and who want to gain exposure to equity investments.The fund is suited to investors who want to invest their money over a period of at least 5 years.The Fund is a medium to high risk fund. Risk will be reduced through holding a diversified portfolio of shares across most sectors.