I’m using the stock market crash to buy cheap FTSE 100 stocks and retire early

If you want to get rich and retire early, I’d suggest using the stock market crash to buy cheap FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) stocks today.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

After the stock market crash, there are cheap FTSE 100 stocks everywhere you look. Some major companies have been mothballed. Many have cut their dividends until further notice. Others have pulled their profit forecasts, as worthless. I’ve never known anything like it. Nobody has.

These are unnerving times, as millions lose their jobs and see their financial plans shattered. However, the share price crash could also be an opportunity for investors to scour the FTSE 100 for bargain stocks. Buying today could help you get rich and retire early.

You have to be brave to buy cheap FTSE 100 stocks, even at today’s low prices. However, history shows that, in the longer run, you’ll be rewarded for showing courage today.

Cheap FTSE 100 stocks galore

I’m old enough to remember Black Monday in 1987, the dot.com bust in 2000, and financial crisis in 2008. I remember how desperate investors felt at the time, as they watched the value of their portfolios plunge in the stock market crash.

The opportunity to buy cheap FTSE 100 stocks didn’t last long. On every occasion, the market recovered, often with surprising speed. After the bear market, a lucrative bull run generally followed.

Those who bought at the bottom of the stock market crash, when most investors were feeling too nervous to invest, got in ahead of the recovery. They were the ones who made serious money, by picking up cheap FTSE 100 stocks, before they started to become a lot more expensive. While the recovery may be slow and uneven, I believe we have a similar buying opportunity today.

Stock market crash is an opportunity

If you want to build a big enough investment portfolio to help you retire early, then you don’t want to miss this chance. You have a brand-new Stocks and Shares ISA allowance, and can invest anything up to £20k in the months ahead.

By loading it up with cheap FTSE 100 stocks at today’s bargain prices, then simply leaving them for the long term, you could accelerate your plans to retire early. That’s what I’m doing, whenever I have money to spare.

You could simply buy a FTSE 100 tracker, as I have, or go searching for FTSE 100 bargains. Oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell could tempt at today’s super-low valuations. If you want solid dividends, tobacco manufacturers British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands are potential picks.

Get rich and retire early

Cheap FTSE 100 stocks, such as spirits maker Diageo, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, and household goods specialist Unilever all look tempting at today’s bargain prices too.

These are just a few suggestions. After the stock market crash, the index is jammed full of cheap FTSE 100 stocks. If you start investing in them from today, you could build a big enough portfolio to retire early.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Harvey Jones has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Diageo and Imperial Brands. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

1 penny stock with the potential to change the way the world works forever!

Sumayya Mansoor breaks down this potentially exciting penny stock and explains how it could impact food consumption.

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying for powerful passive income

Our writer explains why investors should be looking at these two FTSE 250 picks for juicy dividends and growth.

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Growth Shares

This forgotten FTSE 100 stock is up 25% in a year

Jon Smith outlines one FTSE 100 stock that doubled in value back in 2020 but that has since fallen out…

Read more »

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

2 dividend shares I wouldn’t touch with a bargepole in today’s stock market

The stock market is full of fantastic dividend shares that can deliver rising passive income over time. But I don't…

Read more »

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

Use £20K to earn a £2K annual second income within 2 years? Here’s how!

Christopher Ruane outlines how he'd target a second income of several thousand pounds annually by investing in a Stocks and…

Read more »

The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

Here’s what a FTSE 100 exit could mean for the Shell share price

As the oil major suggests quitting London for New York, Charlie Carman considers what impact such a move could have…

Read more »

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

Shell hints at UK exit: will the BP share price take a hit?

I’m checking the pulse of the BP share price after UK markets reeled recently at the mere thought of FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why I’m confident Tesco shares can provide a reliable income for investors

This FTSE 100 stalwart generated £2bn of surplus cash last year. Roland Head thinks Tesco shares look like a solid…

Read more »