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Ben McPoland

Ben is an investment writer who has contributed more than 1,800 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

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Investing Articles

3 FTSE defence stocks to consider buying in 2024

| Ben McPoland

FTSE defence shares have been getting more investor attention in the last couple of years as geopolitical tensions have risen…

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

If I’d put £5,000 into Santander shares 3 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

Santander shares have risen by around 23% this year. But how much would I have today if I’d invested five…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

Down 15%! Should I buy the dip in the National Grid share price?

| Ben McPoland

The National Grid share price has been in the doldrums for the past six months. Could this be an opportunity…

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Young Caucasian woman with pink her studying from her laptop screen
Investing Articles

If I’d put £5,000 in boohoo shares 1 year ago, here’s how much I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

Between 2020 and 2022, boohoo shares lost the vast majority of their value. Surely they must have done better over…

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Investing Articles

The Haleon share price is stuck at £3! Should I invest?

| Ben McPoland

The Haleon share price hasn't moved much since last summer. Could this be a good opportunity for me to invest…

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Investing Articles

I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying these cheap UK shares for 2024

| Ben McPoland

Our writer has identified three FTSE 100 shares that look too cheap for him to ignore. And he reckons all…

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Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

Get ready for a stock market rally

| Ben McPoland

This writer thinks a bull market could be set to develop in 2024 and he's been scouting for opportunities in…

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Investing Articles

£5k in a Stocks and Shares ISA? 2 red-hot shares I’d buy and keep for decades!

| Ben McPoland

Here are two stocks that this writer thinks could grow for a long time to come, and deliver handsome returns…

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Mature black couple enjoying shopping together in UK high street
Investing Articles

How I’d invest £500 a month to aim for passive income of £35,464 a year for life

| Ben McPoland

It’s possible to generate a five-figure passive income sum with consistent monthly payments. The key is to get the ball…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How I’d build £10,500 of annual passive income from scratch with FTSE 100 shares

| Ben McPoland

By taking a long-term approach to investing in the FTSE 100, this writer believes he could realistically aim for a…

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

I’d aim for a million buying only 10 shares in 2024

| Ben McPoland

The stock market isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes years to build wealth. But this investor believes it's realistic for…

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Back view of blue NIO EP9 electric vehicle
Investing Articles

Could buying NIO shares at $7 be like investing in Tesla in 2010?

| Ben McPoland

NIO shares have struggled badly recently. But could this now be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the stock for Tesla-eque…

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Lady taking a bottle of Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise from a supermarket shelf
Investing Articles

Is the Tesco share price in danger?

| Ben McPoland

There is evidence that shoppers are spending less money on groceries due to weight-loss medications. Is this a danger to…

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

3 top UK AI stocks to buy for the artificial intelligence revolution

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland highlights three London-listed stocks to buy to gain exposure to possibly the greatest mega-trend of the next few…

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A beach at sunset where there is an inscription on the sand "Breathe Deeeply".
Investing Articles

The London Stock Exchange is in a “doom loop”! Here’s 1 UK share I’m buying anyway

| Ben McPoland

There's been some alarming talk surrounding the London Stock Exchange this year. Here's one UK stock I'd buy despite the…

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Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce share price correction! Timely chance to buy the dip?

| Ben McPoland

This writer is wondering whether the Rolls-Royce share price stumble is presenting the perfect opportunity to top up his position.

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Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

At 449p, is the Glencore share price a no-brainer for dividends?

| Ben McPoland

The Glencore share price has been under pressure this year. But the miner's latest production numbers look solid. So should…

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Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
Investing Articles

Is Ozempic a danger to the McDonald’s share price?

| Ben McPoland

This Fool is wondering whether a new class of weight-loss treatments presents a real risk to the long-term health of…

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

5 things to watch on the stock market this week

| Ben McPoland

Our writer is watching a handful of things this week, each of which could have an impact on the stock…

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British union jack flag and Parliament house at city of Westminster in the background
Investing Articles

Stock market side hustle! How I’m building passive income in 2024 from cheap UK shares

| Ben McPoland

Our writer explains how dirt-cheap UK shares have opened up an unbelievable opportunity to build a portfolio of dividend stocks.

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Investing Articles

I’d buy 13,700 shares of this £1 renewable energy stock for £1k a year in passive income

| Ben McPoland

This green energy stock looks great value to me after its recent share price fall. Its high yield could provide…

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BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.
Investing Articles

2 top FTSE 250 stocks I’ve been buying in my Stocks and Shares ISA

| Ben McPoland

Here are two very different investments listed on the mid-cap index that this writer has recently added to his Stocks…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

Here’s my golden rule when investing in penny stocks and 1 risky pick I like now

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland outlines his thinking on investing in penny stocks and picks out one he likes despite it dropping nearly…

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2024 year number handwritten on a sandy beach at sunrise
Investing Articles

Should I buy Oxford Nanopore shares for 2024?

| Ben McPoland

Oxford Nanopore shares have lost around 66% of their value since going public two years ago. Does this make them…

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Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

I’d buy 4,700 shares of this high-yield FTSE 100 stock for a £1k yearly second income

| Ben McPoland

I'm always looking to buy more shares to provide me with a growing second income. But this 9%-yielding Footsie dividend…

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Bags of copper-molybdenum at Anglo-American's Quellaveco project in Peru
Investing Articles

One high-yield dividend share I’d buy at £5 for lifelong passive income!

| Ben McPoland

There is an abundance of UK shares carrying high yields right now. However, this investor likes one FTSE 250 stock…

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Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
Investing Articles

Down 14%! Is Softcat stock a buy-the-dip bargain on the FTSE 250?

| Ben McPoland

This FTSE 250 growth stock plunged 14% in the market today after posting its annual results. What caused this massive…

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Investing Articles

The stock market is ready to crash, warns this expert

| Ben McPoland

One specialist in stock market bubbles reckons the S&P 500 could crash 63%. That would be one of the worst…

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

10 years from now, I might regret not buying more of this FTSE 100 stock

| Ben McPoland

Our writer thinks one FTSE 100 stock looks too cheap right now. But there are a few things stopping him…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

No passive income at 30? I’d use these Warren Buffett tips to build wealth

| Ben McPoland

If I were entering my thirties with no second income, I'd use the wise words of Warren Buffett to picks…

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

1 FTSE small-cap stock I’m buying before the next bull market!

| Ben McPoland

This writer has identified a FTSE share to add to his ISA after the firm has been cleared to start…

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2024 year number handwritten on a sandy beach at sunrise
Investing Articles

2 high-yield second income ideas for 2024

| Ben McPoland

Our writer has two dividend stocks on his shopping list right now. He thinks both can provide a nice second…

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Mature people enjoying time together during road trip
Investing Articles

3 easy steps to aim for £50k+ a year of passive income in a SIPP

| Ben McPoland

Who wouldn't want a second income in the tens of thousands of pounds? I know I would. Here are three…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

I’m buying this 9p penny stock till I’m blue in the face!

| Ben McPoland

Our writer thinks penny stock, Agronomics (LSE:ANIC), could be set for explosive growth over the next few years. And he's…

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Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

If I’d invested £10k in Tesla shares in 2017, here’s what I’d have now

| Ben McPoland

How much would this investor have now from a ten grand investment made in Tesla shares when the firm released…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How many Imperial Brands shares would I need for £1k a year in passive income?

| Ben McPoland

This Fool wonders whether the generous passive income on offer from Imperial Brands shares right now is really worth the…

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A graph made of neon tubes in a room
Investing Articles

£5k in an ISA? Here are 3 top FTSE 100 stocks I’d snap up today

| Ben McPoland

Now is a great time to have five grand parked in an investing account waiting to be deployed. Here are…

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

What on earth is going on with the Ocado share price in 2023?

| Ben McPoland

The Ocado share price has displayed extreme volatility lately. Our writer looks at the reasons why and considers whether he…

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2024 year number handwritten on a sandy beach at sunrise
Investing Articles

11% yield! Should I buy more of this FTSE stock for passive income in 2024?

| Ben McPoland

Some FTSE stocks are carrying huge dividend yields today. This one is in double digits. But does that make it…

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

Buy this FTSE 100 artificial intelligence (AI) stock, says Goldman Sachs

| Ben McPoland

Goldman Sachs is bullish on this FTSE 100 share and expects generative AI to strengthen its competitive advantage. But should…

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