Investing Basics
Unit trusts, OEICs and investment trusts: the practical differences a UK investor needs to know
Unit trusts, OEICs and investment trusts look similar on a UK platform but behave very differently. A plain English guide…
Large-cap shares: the trade-offs of buying the obvious names
The FTSE 100 is the obvious place to start. But the comfort of owning a household name comes with trade-offs…
Top-slicing: how to take some profit without selling everything
Top-slicing means trimming a position that has run hard rather than selling it all. The technique that lets you bank…
Stop-losses: the one order that forces you to act when your emotions won’t let you
A stop-loss sells your shares automatically if the price falls too far. Here is how to set one, why it…
Bid and offer: what the spread actually costs you and why it matters more on smaller stocks
The bid-offer spread is a hidden cost most investors never check. Here is what it is, why it hits small-cap…
How to spot investment scams
Investment fraud costs UK investors hundreds of millions each year. Here is how to recognise clone firms, boiler rooms, social…
A balanced portfolio: putting it all together
After learning the building blocks of investing, here is how to combine them into a balanced portfolio you can build,…
Taking profits: when to sell and how to decide
Selling is one of the hardest decisions in investing. A plain English guide to when to take profits on shares,…
Stop losses: how to use them and when
A stop loss automatically sells your shares when the price falls to a set level. Here is what they are,…
Tax on shares and investments: what every UK investor needs to know
CGT, dividend tax, stamp duty and ISA protection explained in plain English. Know what you owe before HMRC comes knocking.