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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

Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Aston Martin shares at the start of 2025 is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

Our writer has been rooting for Aston Martin shares for years without investing. Is 2026 the year when he takes…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 100 stocks taking market share

| Ben McPoland

These three FTSE 100 firms have been strengthening their competitive positions in recent years. So which of them do I…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

5 energy shares to consider buying, according to this billionaire investor

| Ben McPoland

Searching for cheap shares to buy that pay dividends? A master investor reckons the following energy stocks are worth a…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

My ISA and SIPP stocks are off to a flyer in 2026!

| Ben McPoland

This writer's portfolio's had a great start to the year but which FTSE 100 stock in his SIPP portfolio is…

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

£20,000 in an ISA? Here’s how that could become £12,300 a year in passive income

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland sees this 6.9%-yielding FTSE 250 stock as an excellent candidate for inclusion in a passive income ISA portfolio.

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

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

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce shares demolished the FTSE 100 index in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Is the iconic engine maker on course to…

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Investing Articles

Down 15%, this S&P 500 stock looks like a buying opportunity to me

| Ben McPoland

Robotaxi disruption fears are keeping a lid on this top S&P 500 stock, presenting a long-term buying opportunity to consider…

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Investing Articles

Here’s the number-1 stock in my ISA and SIPP

| Ben McPoland

After some rejigging, this growth stock's now the largest holding across our writer's ISA and SIPP portfolios. What's so special…

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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

Should I add Manchester United to my Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Ben McPoland

Manchester United is once again searching for a new manager. Could this create a buying opportunity for my Stocks and…

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Investing Articles

Should I invest in the S&P 500 or FTSE 100 index?

| Ben McPoland

The FTSE 100 index just enjoyed its best year since 2009, while the S&P 500 also rose by double digits.…

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

How much passive income could 1,909 Legal & General shares generate in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

I'm happy with the high-yield dividends that I get from Legal & General shares, but I also want more share…

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Light trails from traffic moving down The Mound in central Edinburgh, Scotland during December
Investing Articles

£15,000 invested in Scottish Mortgage shares 12 months ago is now worth…

| Ben McPoland

Scottish Mortgage shares have quietly reached a four-year high. But can they continue heading higher in the FTSE 100 in…

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Investing Articles

This near-monopoly FTSE 100 growth stock has crashed 37%! Time to buy?

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland looks at a UK growth stock that has collapsed since November. Is this now a potential FTSE 100…

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

£5,000 invested in Greggs shares at the start of 2023 is worth this now…

| Ben McPoland

Greggs shares slumped in 2025, losing more than a third of their value despite rising company sales. What's going on…

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Rear view image depicting a senior man in his 70s sitting on a bench leading down to the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs on the coastline of East Sussex, UK. The man is wearing casual clothing - blue denim jeans, a red checked shirt, navy blue gilet. The man is having a rest from hiking and his hiking pole is leaning up against the bench.
Investing Articles

2 ideas for a SIPP or ISA in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Looking for stocks for an ISA or SIPP portfolio? Our writer thinks a FTSE 100 defence giant and fallen pharma…

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

Could buying this stock at $13 be like investing in Tesla in 2011?

| Ben McPoland

Tesla stock went on to make early investors a literal fortune. Our writer sees some interesting similarities with this eVTOL…

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Investing Articles

2 top-notch growth shares I want in my Stocks and Shares ISA in 2026

| Ben McPoland

What do a world-famous tech giant and a fast-growing rocket maker have in common? This writer wants them both in…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

1 top investment trust to consider from the FTSE 250 

| Ben McPoland

This niche FTSE 250 investment trust offers exposure to one of Asia's fastest growing economies, potentially setting it up for…

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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

Apple CEO Tim Cook just put $3m into this S&P 500 stock! Time to buy?

| Ben McPoland

One household-name S&P 500 stock has crashed 65% inside five years. Yet Apple's billionaire CEO sees value and has been…

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Light trails from traffic moving down The Mound in central Edinburgh, Scotland during December
Investing Articles

£5,000 put into Nvidia stock could be worth this much by next Christmas…

| Ben McPoland

Nvidia stock is set to rise significantly for the sixth calendar year in seven. But does Wall Street see Nvidia…

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Investing Articles

Gold has just smashed record highs and these 3 FTSE stocks are riding the wave

| Ben McPoland

After surging an astonishing 400% in 2025, is this high-flying mining stock still worth checking out in 2026 and beyond?

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Sunrise over Earth
Investing Articles

Meet the ex-penny share up 109% that has topped Rolls-Royce and Nvidia in 2025

| Ben McPoland

The share price of this investment trust has gone from pennies to above £1 over the past couple of years.…

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ISA coins
Investing Articles

3 reasons I’m skipping a Cash ISA in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Putting money into a Cash ISA can feel safe. But in 2026 and beyond, that comfort could come at a…

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Investing Articles

Greggs: is this FTSE 250 stock about to crash again in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

After this FTSE 250 stock crashed in 2025, our writer wonders if it will do the same in 2026. Or…

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Hand is turning a dice and changes the direction of an arrow symbolizing that the value of an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is going up (or vice versa)
Investing Articles

2 top ETFs to consider for an ISA in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Here are two very different ETFs -- one set to ride the global robotics boom, the other offering a juicy…

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Investing Articles

Down 35% in 2 months! Should I buy NIO stock at $5?

| Ben McPoland

NIO stock has plunged in recent weeks, losing a third of its market value despite surging sales. Is this EV…

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

Should I sell my Scottish Mortgage shares in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

After a strong run for Scottish Mortgage shares, our writer wonders if he should offload them to bank profits in…

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The Mall in Westminster, leading to Buckingham Palace
Investing Articles

2 investment trusts from the London Stock Exchange to consider in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Investment trusts have the potential to drive lucrative returns for UK investors. Here are two our writer is bullish on…

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Pink 3D image of the numbers '2025' growing in size
Investing Articles

Meet the 6p penny stock that has smashed Nvidia in 2025

| Ben McPoland

This UK penny stock has surged around 70% in 2025, outperforming most other companies. But why is it such a…

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Investing Articles

I’m thrilled I bought Rolls-Royce shares in 2023. Will I buy more in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

Rolls-Royce has become a superior company, with rising profits, buybacks, and shares now paying a dividend. So is the FTSE…

Read more »

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

I asked ChatGPT for the perfect passive income ISA and it said…

| Ben McPoland

Which 10 passive income stocks did the world's most popular artificial intelligence chatbot pick for a Stocks and Shares ISA?

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Investing Articles

Should I sell my HSBC shares in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

HSBC shares have produced market-thumping returns in 2025. So what should I do with this FTSE 100 bank stock in…

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British coins and bank notes scattered on a surface
Investing Articles

Should I buy Diageo stock for the 4.7% dividend yield?

| Ben McPoland

With the Diageo dividend yield now more than the FTSE 100's, our writer is wondering if he should buy the…

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Investing Articles

My top 10 ISA and SIPP stocks in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Find out why a FTSE 100 investment trust is now this writer's top holding across his Stocks and Shares ISA…

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Dominos delivery man on skateboard holding pizza boxes
Investing Articles

2 passive income stocks offering dividend yields above 6%

| Ben McPoland

While these UK dividend stocks have headed in very different directions this year, they're both now offering attractive yields.

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

Is the FTSE 250 set for a rip-roaring comeback in 2026?

| Ben McPoland

With the FTSE 250 index trading very cheaply, Ben McPoland reckons this market-leading tech stock's worthy of attention in 2026.

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Portrait of pensive bearded senior looking on screen of laptop sitting at table with coffee cup.
Investing Articles

Did ChatGPT give me the best FTSE stocks to buy 1 year ago?

| Ben McPoland

ChatGPT can do lots of great stuff, but is it actually any good at identifying winning stocks from the FTSE…

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Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to target £8,333 a month of passive income?

| Ben McPoland

Our writer explores a potential route to earning double what is today considered a comfortable retirement and all tax-free inside…

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Investing Articles

Here’s what I think investors in Nvidia stock can look forward to in 2026

| Ben McPoland

Nvidia stock has delivered solid returns for investors in 2025. But it could head even higher in 2026, driven by…

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

My 3 FTSE 100 predictions for 2026

| Ben McPoland

Ben McPoland sees another positive year for the FTSE 100 index, including a return to form for one very disappointing…

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