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Ben McPoland

Ben is an investment writer who has contributed more than 2,000 articles for The Motley Fool UK. He has been managing his own ISA and SIPP portfolios for over a decade, focusing on high-quality companies benefitting from powerful growth trends. His favourite investing quote comes from Peter Lynch: “The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.”

Recent Articles

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Will the Iran war trigger a stock market crash?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer highlights an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that's surging amid the current geopolitical instability and a jittery stock market.

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

Here’s why I’m betting big on these 2 FTSE 100 stocks in the age of AI

| Ben McPoland

This pair of FTSE 100 stocks couldn't be more different. So why are they big positions in my Stocks and…

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Two male friends are out in Tynemouth, North East UK. They are walking on a sidewalk and pushing their baby sons in strollers. They are wearing warm clothing.
Investing Articles

Here’s what £150 a month in a Junior ISA could be worth by 2045…

| Ben McPoland

You might be surprised to learn by how large a Junior ISA portfolio could become inside 20 years from modest…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

3 top passive income stocks with yields above 5% to consider for a SIPP

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights a trio of excellent UK dividend shares that he thinks look set to pay passive income inside…

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Portrait of a boy with the map of the world painted on his face.
Investing Articles

1 high-flying investment trust to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland thinks this lesser-known trust is worth exploring for investors wanting geographic diversification inside a Stocks and Shares ISA.

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Smiling family of four enjoying breakfast at sunrise while camping
Investing Articles

£1,000 buys 110 shares in this UK beverage stock that’s smashing Diageo 

| Ben McPoland

Shares of Tanqueray-maker Diageo are languishing at multi-year lows. So why is the stock behind this tonic water brand on…

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

Why is the FTSE 100 suddenly beating the S&P 500?

| Ben McPoland

The UK's blue-chip index has been on fire over the past couple of years, helping it catch up to the…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Up 79% in a year, this FTSE 250 stock still gets a resounding Strong Buy from analysts

| Ben McPoland

This under-the-radar growth stock in the FTSE 250 has been on fire over the past 12 months. Why are City…

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A tram in Manchester's city centre
Investing Articles

Here are 5 things Greggs shareholders just learned

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland takes a look at some key bits from Greggs' 2025 report. But with consumer spending still under the…

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Investing Articles

2 growth stocks to consider buying for an ISA in March

| Ben McPoland

Here are two growth stocks I think are worth considering buying. Both have stumbled recently, even though the underlying businesses…

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Family in protective face masks in airport
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Diageo and Rolls-Royce shares just 1 week ago is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

Diageo and Rolls-Royce shares headed in totally different directions last week. Which FTSE 100 stock looks worth considering today?

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A front-view shot of a multi-ethnic family with two children walking down a city street on a cold December night.
Investing Articles

£5,000 in this FTSE 250 leisure stock could generate £260 in passive income

| Ben McPoland

Down 26%, this well-known company from the FTSE 250 index is offering attractive passive income, with a dividend yield above…

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

How much do you need in an ISA to generate a second income of £2,700 a month in 2050?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights a 6%-yielding stock from the FTSE 100 index that could contribute towards an attractive second income.

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photo of Union Jack flags bunting in local street party
Investing Articles

2 top stocks to consider from the FTSE 250 in March

| Ben McPoland

These FTSE 250 stocks are already leaders in their markets, but Ben McPoland thinks they still have years of growth…

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

Prediction: these 2 growth stocks in my ISA will be AI winners

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights two quality growth stocks in his ISA that are benefitting from AI. But which one looks the…

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Young female hand showing five fingers.
Investing Articles

Diageo: 5 reasons why a FTSE 100 turnaround is still possible

| Ben McPoland

Diageo gave investors an all-too-familiar fright this week. So, why does this writer think things could improve in future for…

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Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

After making a fortune on Tesla, Scottish Mortgage manager Baillie Gifford is piling into this ‘mini-SpaceX’ growth stock

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland was intrigued to learn this well-known institutional investor has been loading up on a little-known growth stock recently.

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

The biggest stinker in my SIPP crashed (again) this week — what should I do?

| Ben McPoland

This growth stock in my Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) has just had yet another howler. Should I pull the plug…

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British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

Meet the ‘Nvidia of the FTSE 100’

| Ben McPoland

Nvidia stock has skyrocketed since ChatGPT was released into the wild back in November 2022. Yet this remarkable FTSE stock…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

An insider just splashed £168k on this 6p penny share

| Ben McPoland

A company's chair has been loading up on this under-the-radar penny share recently. Ben McPoland takes a closer look at…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why Rolls-Royce is demolishing the stock market

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce has absolutely trounced the UK stock market over the past five years, and it's not difficult to see why…

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Percy Pig Ocado van outside distribution centre
Investing Articles

As the Ocado share price drops 9% on FY25 results, should I buy this FTSE 250 stock?

| Ben McPoland

The Ocado share price fell sharply today, taking the five-year loss to 90%. But with revenues still growing, is there…

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Group of friends meet up in a pub
Investing Articles

Should I buy Diageo shares after the 25 February update?

| Ben McPoland

After a bright start to 2026, Diageo shares came crashing down to earth yesterday. But is this the dip our…

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Investing Articles

Buy and hold a single FTSE 100 stock for 25 years? Mine would be this…

| Ben McPoland

Our writer runs a thought experiment to ascertain which solitary FTSE 100 stock he'd own over the very long term,…

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Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in the FTSE 100 index a decade ago is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

The FTSE 100 index has gone into overdrive over the past two years. What's going on? And is the blue-chip…

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

Be ready for a savage stock market crash

| Ben McPoland

An AI thought experiment has sent shockwaves through the stock market. How worried should we all be by this doomsday…

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A multiracial family of four, a mother, father and their two little boys on a staycation in the city of Newcastle on a sunny winters day
Investing Articles

How much passive income does the FTSE 250 offer?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland shows how much passive income potential there is in the FTSE 250 index, as well as highlighting an…

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Investing Articles

Up 77% in 3 weeks, is Raspberry Pi stock the next Nvidia?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland asks whether fascinating Raspberry Pi (LSE:RPI) stock – which has skyrocketed in 2026 – has any similarities with…

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Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce lines up a mammoth £1.5bn share buyback!

| Ben McPoland

What should Rolls-Royce shareholders be expecting from the full-year 2025 results this week? Here's what I'm looking out for.

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

Did I make a big mistake selling Lloyds shares?

| Ben McPoland

This writer offloaded his Lloyds shares in 2024 after netting a tasty gain. But does he now regret selling this…

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Snowing on Jubilee Gardens in London at dusk
Investing Articles

This ETF could turn £175 a month into a £557 annual passive income

| Ben McPoland

Want to earn passive income from UK property? This exchange-traded fund yielding 5.3% is worth considering for a Stocks and…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

How much do I need in an ISA to earn a £75 daily second income?

| Ben McPoland

To aim for a second income in excess of £27,000 is an ambitious target. But with the right strategy and…

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

£1,000 buys 8,403 shares of this red-hot penny stock that’s smashing the FTSE 100

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights an under-the-radar penny stock that's being driven higher by strong sales momentum and a first-ever profit.

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

2 excellent UK shares to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA in March

| Ben McPoland

Find out why this writer thinks these two profitable UK growth stocks down as much as 44% are worth a…

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piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

My ISA is ready for a violent market crash

| Ben McPoland

The stock market has been bobbing along nicely in recent times. But is there danger ahead for this writer's Stocks…

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CEO Mark Zuckerberg at F8 2019 event
Investing Articles

Bill Ackman just loaded up on this S&P 500 stock in his FTSE 100-listed fund

| Ben McPoland

Billionaire stock picker Bill Ackman recently made this S&P 500 share an 11% position in his FTSE 100-listed investment trust.…

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ISA coins
Investing Articles

An ISA with 500 Greggs shares could pay out £346 a year in passive income

| Ben McPoland

Down 50% in less than two years, Greggs shares now look pretty cheap and may be offering a potentially tasty…

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Young Caucasian woman at the street withdrawing money at the ATM
Investing Articles

£15,000 invested in Santander shares 12 months ago would now be worth…

| Ben McPoland

Santander shares have been on fire in recent shares. But is this Spanish bank stock still worth considering at more…

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Three generation family are playing football together in a field. There are two boys, their father and their grandfather.
Investing Articles

How much do I need in a SIPP to earn a £3,000 monthly passive income?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer sees this out-of-favour powerhouse as a solid stock to consider when aiming to build wealth inside a SIPP…

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Investing Articles

£7,500 invested in Tesco shares just 1 month ago is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

Tesco shares have gone into overdrive recently, making shareholders wealthier. What on earth is going on with this FTSE 100…

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