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.