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Cliff D'Arcy

My first loves were Maths and Physics. After studying Maths, Stats and Computer Science in the late 80s, I worked in the financial sector from 1987 to 2002. I then joined The Motley Fool's writing team in January 2003 and left in November 2005. Since then, I have been a freelance financial writer. My primary goal is to help people manage their money better by making sensible financial decisions!

Recent Articles

Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

Even saving or investing in an ISA can’t stop this 62% tax rate!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Years of fiddling have made the UK's taxes ridiculously complicated. Some British workers pay income tax of 62% -- and…

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Investing Articles

This massive passive income of £88bn is coming in 2026!

| Cliff D'Arcy

As a huge fan of passive income, I'm claiming a hefty share of this £88bn of 'free money' -- and…

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Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway
Dividend Shares

As stock markets tank, this FTSE 100 share looks cheap to me!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The US-Iran war has caused stock markets to crash worldwide. This FTSE 100 stock has been hit hard, but I'd…

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UK financial background: share prices and stock graph overlaid on an image of the Union Jack
Dividend Shares

1 extraordinary chance to buy this FTSE 100 share?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After the US attacked Iran, the FTSE 100 crashed 11.6% from its 2026 high before bouncing back. However, this major…

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Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Powerful passive income from the rising oil price

| Cliff D'Arcy

Since the end of February, the oil price has surged by 43%. With oil, gas, and electricity all set to…

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

Should investors have bought gold or the S&P 500 5 years ago?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Over the past five years, the S&P 500 has returned a tasty 13.6% a year to British investors. But what…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Dividend Shares

Down 23%, are Barclays shares back in the bargain bin?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares have plunged by almost a quarter since their February high. However, higher energy prices could boost profits for…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Dividend Shares

1 FTSE 100 share for potent passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I love earning passive income -- money made outside of work. Right now, I'm working on claiming a bigger share…

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Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Dividend Shares

Down over 7% from its 2026 high, is the FTSE 100 set to crash?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After getting close to 11,000, the FTSE 100 has fallen back towards 10,000. This has exposed potential bargains, such as…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Dividend Shares

Down 24% in 10 months, Greggs shares are baking bad!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a turbulent 2025, Greggs shares continue to bounce around this year. But with the stock trading at levels seen…

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Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Investing Articles

After the FTSE 100’s latest slide, I spy bargain shares!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Since the US launched an attack on Iran, the FTSE 100 has dropped by over 5%. But falling share prices…

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Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

I asked an AI to build the perfect FTSE 100 portfolio. And then the fight began!

| Cliff D'Arcy

When I asked a leading AI to build an ideal FTSE 100 portfolio, what followed was surreal. Even so, we…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Dividend Shares

Down 39%, this FTSE 100 share could rocket to recovery!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 has had a great 12 months, returning 28% to British investors and easily beating the US S&P…

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Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

Superstar shares: the FTSE 100’s biggest winners over 5 years!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Over the past five years, the FTSE 100 has produced a total return of nearly 93%. However, these three super-stocks…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Dividend Shares

3 FTSE 100 shares I own for pumped-up passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Who wouldn't like to grab their share of billions in passive income? I claim mine by owning many dividend dynamos,…

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Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Dividend Shares

Oops, Greggs shares get rolled and battered again!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Greggs shares had a terrible 2025 and have slumped by 22.4% over the past 12 months. Hedge funds are betting…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Dividend Shares

I love FTSE 100 dividend shares, but do I buy this FTSE 250 loser?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Over the past year, the UK's FTSE 100 has thrashed the once-mighty US S&P 500 index. With value investing back…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Dividend Shares

Which looks better value today, the FTSE 100 or S&P 500?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After strong gains for stock markets in 2023, 2024, and 2025, many shares appear overpriced. In particular, US equities look…

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Asian man looking concerned while studying paperwork at his desk in an office
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 super shares I wish I’d bought 5 years ago!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Five years ago, the UK was struggling with Covid-19 face masks and lockdowns. But just imagine if you'd bought these…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Dividend Shares

The Diageo share price leaps after this insider buys big!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Diageo share price has had a foul four years, crashing by almost three-fifths. But a key insider just bought…

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Happy woman commuting on a train and checking her mobile phone while using headphones
Dividend Shares

Anyone can claim a share of this £86bn of passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This £86bn stream of passive income is open to anyone with spare cash to invest. Of course, it comes with…

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Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Dividend Shares

The Lloyds share price is now over 100p. So are the shares still cheap?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Lloyds share price has shot up 90% in 12 months. It's also soared 181% in the last five years.…

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Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Dividend Shares

So the Lloyds share price made it past £1. Big deal. What next?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Believe it or not, the Lloyds share price is now almost double the lows it hit a year ago. But…

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Asian man looking concerned while studying paperwork at his desk in an office
Dividend Shares

Will the Greggs share price jump or slump on 8 January?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Greggs share price had a rotten 2025, plunging until November and then rebounding. I expect the shares to have…

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Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Dividend Shares

Forecast: the Vodafone share price will pass £1 very soon!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a tough few years, the Vodafone share price has soared over the past nine months. It's closing on the…

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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Dividend Shares

Prediction: 2026 will be the FTSE 100’s worst year since 2020

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 had a brilliant 2026, easily beating the US S&P 500 index. But after four years of good…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Dividend Shares

Prediction: the Lloyds share price could hit £1.25 in 2026

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Lloyds share price has had a splendid 2025 and is inching closer to the elusive £1 mark. But what…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Dividend Shares

Will the Diageo share price crash again in 2026?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Diageo share price has crashed 35.6% over one year, making it one of the FTSE 100's worst performers in…

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Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Dividend Shares

Building powerful passive income from just £20 a week!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Starting off with just a few quid a week, one can build potent passive income over time. I've already done…

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Fireworks display in the shape of willow at Newcastle, Co. Down , Northern Ireland at Halloween.
Dividend Shares

Look what happened to Greggs shares after I said they were a bargain!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a truly terrible year, Greggs shares collapsed to their 2025 low on 25 November. That very day, I said…

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Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Dividend Shares

Will the Lloyds share price breach £1 in 2026?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a terrific 2025, the Lloyds share price is trading at levels not seen since the global financial collapse in…

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Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Dividend Shares

A 9.2% dividend yield from a FTSE 250 property share? What’s the catch?

| Cliff D'Arcy

This former FTSE 100 stock -- now in the FTSE 250 -- offers a cash yield nearing 10% a year.…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Investing Articles

Does ChatGPT suggest selling this S&P 500 stock, down 30% in 2025?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The share price of this S&P 500 stalwart has crashed by over 30% in the last 12 months. Yes, I'm…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

How to build passive income starting with just £3 a day

| Cliff D'Arcy

Starting with only £3 a day, it's possible to build a pot worth £200,000 over decades. But which investments does…

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UK coloured flags waving above large crowd on a stadium sport match.
Dividend Shares

Shock news: over 1 year, the FTSE 100 is beating the S&P 500!

| Cliff D'Arcy

For most of the last 15 years, the US S&P 500 index has thrashed the UK's FTSE 100. However, this…

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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Dividend Shares

Check out this powerful passive income share for 2026

| Cliff D'Arcy

The great thing about passive income is that I don't have to work to earn it. Making money while I…

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Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Dividend Shares

December is the best month for the FTSE 100 and UK shares!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Since the FTSE 100 was founded in 1984, December has been by far the best month to own UK shares.…

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Photo of a man going through financial problems
Investing Articles

Down 94%, could the Ocado share price go to zero?

| Cliff D'Arcy

In autumn 2020, the Ocado share price leapt above £29. Now it's below £2 after plunging this year. Is there…

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Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Dividend Shares

5 potential problems with building passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

Passive income is my favourite form of earnings, as it doesn't require working for a living. But making extra money…

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Portrait of elderly man wearing white denim shirt and glasses looking up with hand on chin. Thoughtful senior entrepreneur, studio shot against grey background.
Dividend Shares

Down 49% in 2025, when will the Greggs share price stop plunging?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Greggs share price has almost halved in 2025, with no signs of braking this fall. However, I expect this…

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