Member Login
  1. Authors
    2. /
  2. Cliff D'Arcy
    3. /

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

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Is ‘SIMAGA’ the secret to avoiding stock market crashes?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Is there any way for investors to avoid stock market crashes? This method worked for centuries, but is now breaking…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

Greggs shares slump again, but could go on a (sausage) roll

| Cliff D'Arcy

After sales growth fell during the heatwave, Greggs shares were battered. But I suspect the bad news is fully baked…

Read more »

Front view of a young couple walking down terraced Street in Whitley Bay in the north-east of England they are heading into the town centre and deciding which shops to go to they are also holding hands and carrying bags over their shoulders.
Investing Articles

What is passive income, anyway? And why do I love it so much?

| Cliff D'Arcy

A Russian proverb states, "Those who take no risks, drink no Champagne". So that's why I use these simple investments…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

3 big issues for buyers of FTSE 100 dividend shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

My idol, US billionaire Warren Buffett, is a legend of value investing. Yet investing in FTSE 100 value shares for…

Read more »

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

Which should I buy, the FTSE 100 or S&P 500?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The S&P 500 has absolutely thrashed the FTSE 100 over the past 15 years or so. But with US stocks…

Read more »

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

2 cheap shares to consider for powerful passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 100 shares pay bumper dividend yields of 8%+ a year to patient investors. I own both stocks…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

What will take the Lloyds share price beyond 80p?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Lloyds share price has leapt by 40% in the last six months. It's also soared by 135% in five…

Read more »

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

Down 25% and 33% in 6 months, are these 2 FTSE 100 fallers bargains?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Though the FTSE 100 is up almost 8% in six months, these two Footsie shares have crashed by 25% and…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

This £12k ISA produces £989 a year in cash passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

The great thing about passive income is I don't work to earn it. For example, investing £12,000 in this share…

Read more »

Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

Why buy UK shares when I can get 4.5% a year in cash?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Why take the risk of investing in UK shares when I can earn over 4.5% a year sitting in cash?…

Read more »

Frustrated woman worried about problem sitting on sofa with laptop
Investing Articles

This court case could hammer the Lloyds share price!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Many years ago, my actions cost British banks and other lenders almost £54bn in compensation. Now another financial scandal could…

Read more »

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

Down 26% to 36% in 6 months, are these 2 FTSE stocks recovery plays?

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 100 shares have both plunged over the last six months. But I see long-term value in backing…

Read more »

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

How much passive income could £10,000 make me?

| Cliff D'Arcy

How much passive income could I hope to earn each year, starting with £10,000? This investment -- one of my…

Read more »

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

Down 30% in 3 months, this FTSE 100 share might be a bargain!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 firm is the index's worst performer over the past three months. However, after a big fall, I…

Read more »

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

Will ‘bond vigilantes’ crash the stock market again?

| Cliff D'Arcy

When governments make decisions that push up inflation or the national debt, some bond investors sell hard. This event can…

Read more »

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

How low can the Diageo share price go?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Though the FTSE 100 has bounced back from April's crash, the Diageo share price keeps finding new lows. After halving…

Read more »

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

Up 44% in 6 months, the Lloyds share price is going great guns!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The first few months of 2025 have been great for the Lloyds share price, which is enjoying strength not seen…

Read more »

Thoughtful man using his phone while riding on a train and looking through the window
Investing Articles

This S&P 500 stock looks crazily cheap and has a 5% dividend yield

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a roller-coaster start to 2025, the S&P 500 is just 5% short of its record high. Meanwhile, this lowly…

Read more »

Close-up of a woman holding modern polymer ten, twenty and fifty pound notes.
Investing Articles

This £10k ISA produces £827 of passive income each year

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three 'boring' FTSE 100 shares produce passive income of up to 9.2% a year. And the dividend income is…

Read more »

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

Down 30% in a year, this FTSE 100 share is due a comeback!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a turbulent start to 2025, the FTSE 100 is down 2.5% from March's record high. However, this Footsie firm…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Dividend Shares

Meet the FTSE 250 share that’s gone up 44% a year since Covid-19

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 250 super-stock has turned £1,000 into £6,151 in just five years. But that's not all, as it has…

Read more »

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

The FTSE 100 is on a 15-day winning streak

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 has risen 15 days in a row, rebounding hard from early April's lows. And while share prices…

Read more »

4 Teslas in a parking lot at a charger station
US Stock

Investors buying Tesla stock today face these risks

| Cliff D'Arcy

Tesla stock has crashed by almost half since its record high last December. But with more trouble on the horizon,…

Read more »

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

How £5k of savings could turn into £5k a year in passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

There's no magic money-making tree guaranteed to make you rich. But for me, this is the best way to turn…

Read more »

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

Yet another FTSE 250 takeover rumour, but who is it this time?

| Cliff D'Arcy

2025 looks like another lively year for shareholders of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, as rumours of another mid-cap…

Read more »

Tabletop model of a bear sat on desk in front of monitors showing stock charts
Investing Articles

7 tips to survive bear markets and stock-market crashes

| Cliff D'Arcy

Global investors were shocked when the US S&P 500 collapsed by over 21% in mere weeks. Though we may have…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
US Stock

Here’s billionaire Warren Buffett’s advice on surviving market meltdowns

| Cliff D'Arcy

After investing for over 80 years, Warren Buffett is worth $162bn, even after giving away $60bn. Thus, when he speaks,…

Read more »

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

This S&P 500 stock looks crazily mispriced to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

After hitting a record high on 4 February, this S&P 500 stock crashed hard during the 'Trump slump'. But even…

Read more »

Front view of a young couple walking down terraced Street in Whitley Bay in the north-east of England they are heading into the town centre and deciding which shops to go to they are also holding hands and carrying bags over their shoulders.
Investing Articles

Meet the FTSE 100 share I’m happy to own, even during the next recession

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 giant was founded in 1929, just before the Great Depression devastated the global economy. Today, it is…

Read more »

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

How just £5k of savings could produce £4k a year in passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

Building wealth isn't easy -- it takes time and effort. However, this simple investment process could turn £5k into £4k…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Can these FTSE 250 dividend yields of 8% to 13% really last?

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 250 stocks have dividend yields of 7.8% to 13.1% a year. However, with company earnings under stress,…

Read more »

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

Why hasn’t the Lloyds share price hit £1 yet?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After nearing 75p in early March, the Lloyds share price slumped before bouncing back. What's keeping it from hitting the…

Read more »

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

5 lessons from the latest stock-market crash

| Cliff D'Arcy

In a sudden, sharp shock, the US stock market lost over 21% in mere weeks. Though it has rebounded, here…

Read more »

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

Is it wrong for me to buy these FTSE 100 tobacco stocks?

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 100 tobacco stocks have thrashed the wider UK market over one and five years. But would it…

Read more »

Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Dividend Shares

Were we right to ditch our GSK shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

In spring 2021, my family sold a big lump of GSK shares. Four years later, we have no regrets. Indeed,…

Read more »

British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Dividend Shares

This £20k ISA delivers £1,961 of cash passive income a year

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three well-known FTSE 100 shares deliver passive income of 9% to 10.8% a year. Bonus: this dividend income is…

Read more »

US Tariffs street sign
Investing Articles

These 4 FTSE shares have crashed hard. Which do I like today?

| Cliff D'Arcy

These four FTSE 100 stocks have plunged in value over the last month. But after this latest market meltdown, which…

Read more »

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

Blimey, what’s happened to the Barclays share price?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After hitting a 15-year high at the end of February, the Barclays share price has plunged in the past two…

Read more »

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

On 8.6 times earnings and a cash yield of 9%, this FTSE 250 share seems too cheap

| Cliff D'Arcy

It's been a rough week or so for UK shareholders, with the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 both plunging. Yet…

Read more »

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

The Trump slump has smashed these FTSE 100 shares!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a rough week for US and UK shares, investors have been shaken. But now these FTSE 100 stocks have…

Read more »