394: Dividend strategy: avoiding traps and tapping income potential

How important are dividends as a component of overall equity returns? Which countries offer the best prospects? And how can investors seek to avoid dividend traps?
 
Elisa Piscopiello, Senior Index and ETF Analyst, shares her answers to these questions and more as we delve into the details of dividend income strategy.
 
This podcast was recorded on 21 January 2026 and is hosted by Luka Lukic.
 
All data is sourced from LSEG as at 21 January 2026 unless otherwise stated. Dividend standard deviation versus MSCI World statement via Bloomberg data as at October 2025.

For professional investors only. Capital at risk. It should be noted that diversification is no guarantee against a loss in a declining market. Securities mentioned for illustrative purposes only. Reference to a particular security is on a historic basis and does not mean that the security is currently held or will be held within an L&G portfolio. The above information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Risk management cannot fully eliminate the risk of investment loss. Dividend yield is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up, and the investor’s returns may vary year-on-year.  Past yields are not a guide to future issuances.