Thursday 15 July 2021

AJ Bell Youinvest Dividend Monitor (Portfolio Buy)


If only there were a quarterly review of the highest-yielding FTSE 100 shares...
Cue the nice people from AJ Bell Youinvest 

Monday 21 June 2021

Manchester BS Comes Good!

In the DIY Income Investor approach I try to put a brake on the most obvious behavioural biases that often hamper investors. For example, I have buying and selling 'rules' that curb the instinct to buy too quickly ("Ooh, it's shiny") - and sell too quickly ("Ooh, look how much money I've made").

However, my latest dilemma is not so easily resolved...

Friday 4 June 2021

Here Comes The Sun (Portfolio Buy)

In the UK, at least, summer has started - taking us all a bit by surprise after months of rain. The sun is an effectively free source of energy that we, as a planet, will need to harness more effectively in order to survive sustainably. 

So, can solar energy be a good investment too?

Thursday 20 May 2021

RDI REIT Goes Wrong (Portfolio Change)

In a recent article I looked at the potential of real estate - particularly Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to generate income for the DIY Income Investor. However, in the article I did highlight the poor performance of my own holding in RDI REIT.

Monday 17 May 2021

Egyptian Gold (Portfolio Buy)


I wrote a little article recently on how to get some gold into the DIY Income Investor portfolio.

The conclusion was that the choice seemed to be between low-yield (or no-yield) ETFs or high-yield risky direct investments in miners. I've chosen the latter. Hopefully not fools' gold.

Thursday 13 May 2021

Find the Best Deal for an ISA Platform

The Individual Savings Account or ISA is a 'must-have' for UK DIY Income Investors. It shields you from taxes, including income tax, dividend tax and capital gains tax. (Something similar may be available in other tax administrations - if you are lucky.)

I have two different ISA accounts (and manage family SIPPs) and I am careful not to exceed my annual investment allowance. But am I getting the best deal that I could?

Tuesday 11 May 2021

FTSE 100's Best Dividend Yielders (Portfolio Buy)

The perennial problem of the DIY Income Investor portfolio - what to do with cash?

Most of the portfolio is tucked up in geographically-spread Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), diversified between dividend shares and fixed-income. But I do like a bit of excitement from owning individual securities.

Monday 10 May 2021

How To Double Your Money

I'm guessing that most people would like to double their money. It's a pretty simple goal, yet it seems so unlikely.

But once you start thinking about it - it's just about numbers, and time. There is no real magic about it apart from consistent (but not necessarily spectacular) performance from your investments.

Saturday 8 May 2021

My Biggest Holding - How Good Is It?

My DIY Income Investor portfolio is quite diversified and includes 28 securities, all (well, nearly all) producing income, either from dividends or from fixed-income instruments.

However my biggest holding accounts for 8.6% of the portfolio and is one of the few managed funds - as opposed to passive Exchange Traded Funds - that I own. Is this too big a holding? And has it been a good investment?

Friday 7 May 2021

Review: Can You Trust VCTs?

My investment instincts are pretty simple, using yield as a signal for out-of-favour securities. However yield has led me to dabble in an area that I would not normally have expected to be involved in Venture Capital Trusts

But I have invested in one - what has my experience been?

Tuesday 4 May 2021

My Favourite Dividend Share (Portfolio Buy)

The DIY Income Investor portfolio is hitting all-time highs at the moment. I am currently shifting a lot of cash from peer-to-peer lending to the stock market.

This purchase is a share that I have bought and sold more than any other - and it is quite an odd one.

Thursday 29 April 2021

Why Income Investing?

If you are new to this blog, you may be wondering 'Why should I be interested in Income Investing'

Here's my rationale - plus a nice video (not mine) setting out the main points.

Wednesday 28 April 2021

Annual Review of Income ETFs

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) come in all shapes and sizes. Those that are income-oriented now form the core of the DIY Income Investor portfolio. They can provide cost-effective diversification (and thus a measure of safety), simplify the running of your portfolio plus give easy access to income-oriented securities from around the world, in various currencies.

For this post I have reviewed my previous reporting on both dividend and fixed-income ETFs.

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Weathering the Pandemic Storm

The Covid 19 pandemic has created a huge financial and economic dislocation in the UK and around the world. Investors will have seen big changes in the markets. Many sectors of the economy have been hard hit. What has been the impact on DIY Income Investor portfolio? And what lessons can we learn from this experience?

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Property The REIT Way

In search of asset diversification, property has its attractions. Without the risks and hassle of owning property directly (surely one home is enough trouble?). 

But how has COVID and BREXIT affected the UK commercial property market? And what are the options for using the property asset class to derive income in your portfolio?

Monday 22 February 2021

Gold - and income?

There is some logic in having gold in your portfolio. It’s smart to own assets that are uncorrelated—in other words, that move up and down in different, or even opposite, ways as the market fluctuates. And gold behaves differently to both equities and bonds. 

However, finding the right options in the London market requires a little work.

London's High Yield Shares

Although I currently recommend diversified ETFs there may still be room in your portfolio for a bit of a gamble on an individual high-yield share. Here we have a look at a current review of likely candidates quoted on the LSE

Wednesday 17 February 2021

London's Equity Income ETFs

Source
The London market includes thousands of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But finding the right ETF for your portfolio is not straightforward. Here are some ideas for equity income ETFs - paying an income from dividends.

Tuesday 16 February 2021

London's High Yield Fixed-Income ETFs


There are over 150 fixed income ETFs trading on London Stock Exchange markets,  reaching far afield, offering exposure to emerging markets as well as sovereign debt in Europe, the US and established Asian Pacific regions, corporates and money markets. But how to find one that suits your needs?

Choosing ETFs - UK Dividend Share ETFs


If you are going DIY - I recommend Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for most of your portfolio. With ETFs, the individual business risks are reduced - because the ETF consists, usually, of many different securities. All you need to worry about is the general 'positioning' of the ETF: dividends or fixed-income and country or geographical region of interest.