Education

Year End Portfolio Review of 2022 – Roger Lawson

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. As I have published in previous years, here is a review of my own stock market portfolio performance in the calendar year 2022. I’ll repeat what I said last year to warn readers that I write this for the education of those new to investing because I have no doubt that some experienced investors will have done a lot better than me, while some may ...

Portfolio Review 2022 – Cliff Weight

This is a personal blog by ShareSoc Director Cliff Weight. The views expressed are my own and do not purport to represent ShareSoc. Neither ShareSoc nor I are authorized to give financial advice, and nothing in this blog should be considered advice. Do your own research!  Performance Overview for 2022 My portfolio numbers for 2022 were: Everything – all equities, ISAs, SIPPs, OEICS, property, etc -6% Cliff’s portfolio F - the ones I actively manage. These are mainly small cap and AIM, i.e. growth shares -29% My benchmark = FTSE ...

Vanguard Platform/Funds and Customers’ Performance

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. ShareSoc’s role is not to recommend one platform over another, but we do try to bring to members’ attention relevant information about platforms. Robin Powell in the Telegraph has written about the performance of investors in Vanguard funds and highlights that in general they have been patient investors and not bought at the top, nor sold at the bottom, nor over-traded. Data on Vanguard A Vanguard ISA has ...

The Outlook for Stock Markets and Bank Runs

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Market Outlook It’s that time of year when financial commentators like to pontificate on the future for the stock market in the coming year and tip sheets give their hot share tips for the New Year. As regards economic forecasts and how the stock market will perform I can do no better than quote John Littlewood in his book “The Stock Market”: “The sequence of bull and bear ...

Review of the Year – But It Could Have Been Worse

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Not many stock market investors will have come out ahead this year. At the time of writing, the FTSE-250 is down 17.5% over the past year, the FTSE-AIM index is down 30% and the FTSE-100 scraped in a small rise of 1.8%. The last one was driven by rises in commodity prices which benefited oil/gas companies and big miners which dominate the index. With war in ...

Share Power Book Review

Book Review by ShareSoc Director Cliff Weight Brilliant, insightful, fun and easy to read short book on how ordinary people can change the way that capitalism works. Merryn Somerset Webb’s Share Power is a page turner. I recommend all ShareSoc members buy a copy and read its 145 pages. Should companies care about climate change? Should they be vanquishing the gender pay gap? Should they be advancing human rights in their supply chains? With 11 million people owning shares directly or indirectly, it’s ...

Portfolio Review 2021 – Mark Bentley

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Introduction Following on from my review in 2020, I have now conducted a similar exercise for 2021. See last year's article for an explanation of my investment objectives, strategy, "asset types" and investment accounts. 2021 was "a year of two halves" with my holdings roaring ahead in the first half and then a bit of a rollercoaster ride since September. These market gyrations are difficult psychologically but having lived through ...

What’s the best way to teach children about financial literacy?

The following article represents the personal views of Cliff Weight and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. I saw this interesting article in the FT: We need people to know the ABC of finance: facing up to the financial literacy crisis. The article showed data on Responses to financial literacy questions around the world. An example: If you had $100 in a savings account and the annual interest rate was 2%, how much would be in the account after 5 years, more than $102, ...

The FCA awakes?

This is a personal blog by ShareSoc director Cliff Weight and does not necessarily reflect the views of ShareSoc. There is an excellent article in the Mail on Sunday today by Jeff Prestridge who is our key note speaker at the ShareSoc Woodford Webinar on 30 September - What happens next. click here to register  In today's article Jeff highlights that "the City regulator – the Financial Conduct Authority – has finally woken up from its lockdown slumber and decided to go all ...

SPECIAL OFFER TO FULL MEMBERS – FREE COPY OF THE 3RD EDITION OF “THE DIY INVESTOR” BY ANDY BELL

Andy Bell - founder of AJBell Youinvest - has generously offered ShareSoc a large number of copies of the latest edition of his classic book "The DIY Investor" issued in May this year.  We are offering these e-books FREE (worth over £12) to all full members of ShareSoc on a first come first served basis until supplies are exhausted.  If you want to download a copy* then please login to the ShareSoc website and go to the "Member Offers" page here - https://www.sharesoc.org/members-area/member-special-offers/special-offer-details/- to click ...

The Times , 23 August 2021, Ludicrous rules prevent TV educating viewers about stock markets, says Lord Lee

ShareSoc Patron Lord Lee is quoted in the The Times, 23 August 2021, in an article about the ludicrous rules that prevent TV from educating viewers about stock markets. Lord Lee is urging the government to look at financial and broadcasting regulations that effectively restrict mainstream television from producing valuable educational and informative programmes about investment. Lord Lee has tabled a parliamentary question.  “To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will meet (1) representatives of the major television channels, (2) the Financial Conduct Authority, and ...

Mail, 14 March 2021, Extensive ShareSoc press coverage in Mail newspapers

Mark Northway, ShareSoc Chair, is quoted extensively in this article for new investors. The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail is doing a good job at informing its huge readership about investing in shares and funds. Recent coverage includes https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/share-investing/article-9343095/What-rights-shareholders-companies-own.html https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/share-investing/article-9346497/How-invest-shares.html  https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-9358297/YOU-power-make-firms-kinder-Heres-how.html The good news about Mail On Sunday and the Daily Mail is there is no paywall, IT'S FREE, so everyone can read their very informative articles, unlike the FT, Telegraph and Times. Also, the articles include links to the ShareSoc website so this may attract ...