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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

Was I dumb to sell my GSK shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After having a big holding of GSK shares, we sold out big-time in April 2021. Nearly two years later, should…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy cheap shares for a £10,000 second income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Here's how I'd invest a lump sum in order to generate a second income of an extra £10,000 a year…

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Investing Articles

My Barclays shares are up 21%. Do I buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares have been volatile in 2022-23 and hit a one-year low in October. They have since bounced back strongly,…

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Investing Articles

I wish I’d never bought these 2 FTSE 250 shares!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two FTSE 250 shares for their juicy dividend yields. But earnings are being battered at both companies,…

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Investing Articles

At last, my Lloyds shares are up. But will it last?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have jumped by almost 40% from their October lows. But after such a strong surge in their price,…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap shares I bought for high passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

My favourite form of passive income is share dividends. But while not all UK companies pay cash dividends, these three…

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Investing Articles

2 UK stocks I own for big dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

When looking for new stocks to buy, I'm often drawn to shares paying high dividends. These two big UK businesses…

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Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 is at a record high. So will I keep buying?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 hit a record high on Friday, beating the previous peak of May 2018. The index looks cheap,…

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Investing Articles

When cheap shares go badly wrong!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two cheap shares for their high dividend yields and recovery potential. Sadly, both share prices slumped, leaving…

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Investing Articles

These were the FTSE 100’s biggest flops in January!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 index had a good January, rising by 4.3%. While the shares of 86 Footsie firms rose last…

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Investing Articles

Lloyds shares are on a roll. Is this a trap?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares are up 12% in January and have jumped 17% in six months. After this recent strength, could the…

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Investing Articles

My Rio Tinto shares are soaring, but are still cheap!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Rio Tinto shares have soared by more than 40% since hitting their 2022 low on 31 October. But even after…

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Investing Articles

I love these 5 forms of passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

Passive income is a fantastic thing, because this money rolls in without work or effort. Here are my top forms…

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Investing Articles

These 3 bombed-out FTSE 100 shares look grim

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 100 shares are the index's worst performers over the past 12 months. I already own one of…

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Investing Articles

The Darktrace share price dives another 16%. What’s up?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Darktrace share price has lost another 16% today, leaving it almost 80% below its peak. With the shares below…

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Investing Articles

Tesla stock is blowing another bubble. But so what?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Tesla stock has soared by 75% in just three weeks, after the group posted upbeat Q4 figures. But I see…

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Investing Articles

888 Holdings shares crash 25% on legal probe

| Cliff D'Arcy

888 Holdings shares crashed by a quarter on Monday morning, following two shock announcements. After falling 70% in a year,…

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Investing Articles

I deeply regret buying this FTSE 250 share!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Most of the shares I bought in 2022 have done well, but not this well-known FTSE 250 stock. It tumbled…

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Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares look toppy to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

Rolls-Royce shares have soared more than 70% since plunging below 65p in late September. But after surging so strongly, have…

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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

3 cheap shares I bought for high yields

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three cheap shares offer some of the top dividend yields in the London market. Also, all three firms are…

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

Here’s how I built a second income (and a third) for life!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After decades of working, I'm looking forward to banking this new second income without effort. I'm also working on building…

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Investing Articles

What could cause a stock market crash in 2023?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a turbulent and volatile stock market in 2022, what might set off a nasty crash in 2023? I reveal…

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Investing Articles

2 UK shares I’d like to buy for market-beating cash yields!

| Cliff D'Arcy

When looking for shares to buy, I use a value, dividend and income approach. For example, here are two cheap…

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Investing Articles

This is one of my favourite FTSE 100 value stocks right now

| Cliff D'Arcy

This cheap value share is one of my top FTSE 100 stocks right now. It offers exposure to a global…

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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

I bought these 3 FTSE shares. They crashed. What now?

| Cliff D'Arcy

We bought these FTSE 350 shares expecting big dividends in 2022-23. Unfortunately, these popular stocks have fallen by up to…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’m pumped for passive income in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

Asset prices took a tumble in 2022, while interest rates surged upwards. This is great news for lovers of passive…

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Investing Articles

As the Lloyds share price flirts with 50p, do I buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Lloyds share price is close to 50p, but it hit a high of 56p a year ago. With it…

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Investing Articles

Which would I buy today: Sainsbury’s or Tesco shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Tesco shares and Sainsbury's stock have rebounded strongly since crashing to their 2022 lows in October. But which supermarket's shares…

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Investing Articles

I bought these 4 US growth stocks for big gains!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After the worst year for US stocks since 2008, I'm betting on America to bounce back. So I recently bought…

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Investing Articles

Lloyds shares are up 6% in 2023. Do I buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have had a positive start to 2023, gaining 5.6% in the first week of the year. But would…

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Investing Articles

5 FTSE 100 shares I own for big dividends in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 is the best-performing major stock index over the past 12 months. But it still looks cheap to…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Here’s why 2023 will be a huge year for passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

2022 was a decent year for passive income, but I think 2023 will be a whole lot better. Here's why,…

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

After the SSE share price’s 20% jump, am I too late to buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The SSE share price has surged by a fifth since its 2022 low in early October. But would I buy…

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

Will AMC Entertainment rescue the Cineworld share price?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Cineworld share price jumped on Tuesday after the group decided to sell its entire estate. Could US rival AMC…

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Investing Articles

3 FTSE 250 shares I bought for big dividends in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 250 has crashed by almost 20% in 2022 -- its worst year since 2008. But as stocks plunged,…

Read more »

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

Lloyds shares fell 3% in 2022. Time to sell or buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have dipped by 3% in 2022, leaving them at the same level they were 10 years ago. With…

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Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

Lloyds shares have gone nowhere for a year. Why buy now?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have been flat over 12 months and have dived 30% in the past five years. So why did…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

3 cheap shares I’d buy now for passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 100 shares offer dividend yields of 9.3% to 9.8% a year. Because I love my passive income,…

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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

3 FTSE 100 shares delivering fat dividend yields in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 100 shares offer dividend yields of between 6.7% and 9.5% a year. But which stock would I…

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

Buying this UK share was my biggest mistake in 2022!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Despite big price drops and high volatility elsewhere, UK shares have had a decent 2022. However, I made a terrible…

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