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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

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Investing Articles

Down 24% in 3 months, Hargreaves Lansdown shares look a steal to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

Hargreaves Lansdown shares have plunged by almost a quarter since hitting 927p in July. But their cash yield of nearly…

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Investing Articles

These 2 UK shares produce powerful passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

While many FTSE 100 companies pay generous passive income to their shareholders, these two stocks offer huge dividend yields.

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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

The FTSE 100 is falling, but will it crash?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After dropping over the past six weeks, the FTSE 100 is down 1% in 2023. But for it to crash,…

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Investing Articles

Down 19% in 6 months, this FTSE 100 share pays 9.5% a year!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 stock has lagged behind the London market over six months, one year, and five years. But I…

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Investing Articles

Which is the better buy, the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Over the past one, 5, and 10 years, the US S&P 500 index has thrashed the UK's FTSE 100. So…

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Investing Articles

Down 15% in a month, this FTSE 100 share pays 11.6% a year!

| Cliff D'Arcy

While the FTSE 100 is down under 4% in a month, this Footsie stock has dived by 15%. This has…

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Investing Articles

Up less than 8% in 5 years, is the FTSE 100 a busted flush?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 is up a mere 7.7% over five years. This has left the London market looking far too…

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Investing Articles

As Shell shares hit a record high, am I too late to buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Shell shares have surged to an all-time peak, driven upwards by a rising oil price. And with war raging in…

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Investing Articles

2 UK shares I own for huge cash payouts

| Cliff D'Arcy

Among UK shares, five of the 10 highest-yielding FTSE 100 stocks are in the financial sector. But these two dividend…

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Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

How I’d aim to make millions the Warren Buffett way

| Cliff D'Arcy

Warren Buffett has built a $115bn fortune from investing, while giving away $55bn. Here are five lessons that I finally…

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Investing Articles

Down 28% in 8 months, I think Phoenix Group shares should rise from the ashes

| Cliff D'Arcy

Phoenix Group shares have fallen steeply since their highs of early February. But with an 11% cash yield, I don't…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares for a second income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my search for ever-more second income, I now own 20 different FTSE 350 stocks. Here are two that I…

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A young black man makes the symbol of a peace sign with two fingers
Investing Articles

2 US stocks I think have fallen too far

| Cliff D'Arcy

While mega-tech firms have driven the S&P 500 higher, these two US stocks have lagged far behind. But I'd happily…

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

Why are Lloyds and Barclays shares doing so badly?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds and Barclays shares have both underperformed the UK stock market for years. So why should I hang onto my…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 share has crashed in 2022/23, but I’m still happy to hold it!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This ailing FTSE 100 share has lost 28% in one year and almost 53% over five years. But recent changes…

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Investing Articles

2 cheap shares I’d buy as the FTSE 100 falls

| Cliff D'Arcy

After the FTSE 100's recent falls, the entire index looks too cheap to me. That's why I see these two…

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Investing Articles

2 UK shares I’d gladly buy in October

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two UK shares have both lost value over the last five years. However, I'd happily buy more for their…

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A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.
Investing Articles

This new ETF wins as day traders lose!

| Cliff D'Arcy

ETFs -- exchange-traded funds -- are booming, with over $10trn invested today. But this newly launched ETF is unlike any…

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Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
Investing Articles

Down 23% in a year, are Vodafone shares a busted flush?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Vodafone shares have lost almost a quarter of their value in 12 months, while more than halving over five years.…

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

For me, this FTSE 100 share is a no-brainer buy!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 firm has a remarkable record of growing its revenues, earnings and dividends. So why are its shares…

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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Investing Articles

Which is the better buy today, Lloyds or Barclays shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Both Lloyds and Barclays shares have been disappointing over the past five years. But which would I buy right now…

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Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

5 reasons why I keep on buying stocks and shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

With the FTSE 100 up just 2.3% over the past five years, why on earth do I keep on buying…

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Investing Articles

2 cheap shares to consider for big passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my search for ever-larger passive income, I own shares in these two FTSE 100 firms. They offer market-beating dividend…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Investing Articles

Was selling our GSK shares a big mistake?

| Cliff D'Arcy

GSK shares have had a good 12 months, easily beating the FTSE 100 index with an 18% gain. So was…

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Photo of a man going through financial problems
Investing Articles

Now IDS shares have recovered, do I dump Royal Mail?

| Cliff D'Arcy

IDS shares have been a roller-coaster ride, crashing hard due to strike action. But with Royal Mail back on track,…

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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

Unless I’m crazy, these FTSE 100 shares are a steal!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two FTSE 100 stocks for their market-beating dividend yields. But I also see both shares are strong…

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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares that pump out crazy cash!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two FTSE 100 stocks for their ability to return floods of cash to investors. One firm has…

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Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

5 reasons I just bought BP shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

BP shares have soared since the lows of October 2020. But with the oil price racing upwards again, I couldn't…

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Investing Articles

2 shares I’ve bought for powerful passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

During a recent buying spree, I bought 10 new UK shares -- and these two new shareholdings offer some of…

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Investing Articles

This is the most exciting FTSE 100 share I own!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This little-known FTSE 100 stock is up 160% over five years, making it a star performer. Incredibly, it still trades…

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Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

3 reasons I just bought BP shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

With the oil price leaping to $90, BP shares are on the rise once again. But we bought them in…

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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

If I’d bought £5k of Glencore shares 5 years ago, here’s what I’d have

| Cliff D'Arcy

Glencore shares have been under pressure since they peaked in January. Yet they've been one of the FTSE 100's star…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares I bought for huge cash rewards

| Cliff D'Arcy

With bumper dividend yields of 8% and 10% a year, I just had to buy these two FTSE 100 shares.…

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Investing Articles

These 4 shares just got dumped from the FTSE 100!

| Cliff D'Arcy

From 18 September, these FTSE 100 shares will be demoted to the FTSE 250 index. They include two financial firms,…

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

I wish I’d never bought this FTSE 100 share!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought this FTSE 100 share last July after it plunged in 2022. Unfortunately, the share price kept on falling,…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

5 investing lessons from Warren Buffett as he turns 93

| Cliff D'Arcy

Investing guru Warren Buffett turned 93 this week. Here are five investing lessons from a man who has $120bn, even…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares I hope to keep until I die

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought one of these FTSE 100 shares last July and added the second this month. But I regard both…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

I hold this FTSE 100 share for fat cash dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share has lost 20% of its value since its March highs. But I will hold this stock…

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Playful senior couple in aprons dancing and smiling while preparing healthy dinner at home
Investing Articles

I just bought into this hedge fund on the cheap!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Usually, hedge funds are only available to the super-rich. But I bought the cheap shares of this leading asset manager…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

2 cheap shares I just had to buy

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two cheap shares have fallen well below their 2023 highs. I just bought into these great businesses for their…

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