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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

Down 23% in a year, are Vodafone shares a busted flush?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Vodafone shares have lost almost a quarter of their value in 12 months, while more than halving over five years.…

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Investing Articles

For me, this FTSE 100 share is a no-brainer buy!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 firm has a remarkable record of growing its revenues, earnings and dividends. So why are its shares…

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Investing Articles

Which is the better buy today, Lloyds or Barclays shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Both Lloyds and Barclays shares have been disappointing over the past five years. But which would I buy right now…

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Investing Articles

5 reasons why I keep on buying stocks and shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

With the FTSE 100 up just 2.3% over the past five years, why on earth do I keep on buying…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

2 cheap shares to consider for big passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my search for ever-larger passive income, I own shares in these two FTSE 100 firms. They offer market-beating dividend…

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Investing Articles

Was selling our GSK shares a big mistake?

| Cliff D'Arcy

GSK shares have had a good 12 months, easily beating the FTSE 100 index with an 18% gain. So was…

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Investing Articles

Now IDS shares have recovered, do I dump Royal Mail?

| Cliff D'Arcy

IDS shares have been a roller-coaster ride, crashing hard due to strike action. But with Royal Mail back on track,…

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Investing Articles

Unless I’m crazy, these FTSE 100 shares are a steal!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two FTSE 100 stocks for their market-beating dividend yields. But I also see both shares are strong…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares that pump out crazy cash!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought these two FTSE 100 stocks for their ability to return floods of cash to investors. One firm has…

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Investing Articles

5 reasons I just bought BP shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

BP shares have soared since the lows of October 2020. But with the oil price racing upwards again, I couldn't…

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Investing Articles

2 shares I’ve bought for powerful passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

During a recent buying spree, I bought 10 new UK shares -- and these two new shareholdings offer some of…

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Investing Articles

This is the most exciting FTSE 100 share I own!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This little-known FTSE 100 stock is up 160% over five years, making it a star performer. Incredibly, it still trades…

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Investing Articles

3 reasons I just bought BP shares

| Cliff D'Arcy

With the oil price leaping to $90, BP shares are on the rise once again. But we bought them in…

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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

If I’d bought £5k of Glencore shares 5 years ago, here’s what I’d have

| Cliff D'Arcy

Glencore shares have been under pressure since they peaked in January. Yet they've been one of the FTSE 100's star…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares I bought for huge cash rewards

| Cliff D'Arcy

With bumper dividend yields of 8% and 10% a year, I just had to buy these two FTSE 100 shares.…

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Investing Articles

These 4 shares just got dumped from the FTSE 100!

| Cliff D'Arcy

From 18 September, these FTSE 100 shares will be demoted to the FTSE 250 index. They include two financial firms,…

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

I wish I’d never bought this FTSE 100 share!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought this FTSE 100 share last July after it plunged in 2022. Unfortunately, the share price kept on falling,…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

5 investing lessons from Warren Buffett as he turns 93

| Cliff D'Arcy

Investing guru Warren Buffett turned 93 this week. Here are five investing lessons from a man who has $120bn, even…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares I hope to keep until I die

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought one of these FTSE 100 shares last July and added the second this month. But I regard both…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

I hold this FTSE 100 share for fat cash dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share has lost 20% of its value since its March highs. But I will hold this stock…

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Investing Articles

I just bought into this hedge fund on the cheap!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Usually, hedge funds are only available to the super-rich. But I bought the cheap shares of this leading asset manager…

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Investing Articles

2 cheap shares I just had to buy

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two cheap shares have fallen well below their 2023 highs. I just bought into these great businesses for their…

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Investing Articles

After crashing 33%, this FTSE 250 candidate looks a steal

| Cliff D'Arcy

After collapsing by a third in five weeks, this FTSE 100 share is now deep into value territory. Alas, it…

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Investing Articles

3 FTSE 250 shares I bought for a 7.1% yearly income

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 250 firms pay cash yields of between 6% and 8% a year. I'll gladly collect this passive…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

I own these cheap UK shares for a 9.5% passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my ongoing search for passive income, I bought several new cheap shares. These six stocks now provide me with…

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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.
Dividend Shares

I keep buying FTSE 100 shares. Am I crazy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Overall, FTSE 100 shares have been a disappointment in the past five years. But here's why I think this losing…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

3 quality dividend shares paying over 10% a year

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 100 dividend shares offer among the highest cash yields in the London market. And their prices are…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 shares for delicious dividend income

| Cliff D'Arcy

These three FTSE 100 stocks have all tumbled in 2023 so far. However, I just bought all three for their…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Dividend Shares

2 shares I just bought for a hefty second income

| Cliff D'Arcy

As prices dropped in August, I bought these two cheap dividend stocks. Together, they offer a second income worth a…

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

3 ‘boring’ shares I was excited to buy!

| Cliff D'Arcy

On my list of shares to buy, these three stocks are perhaps the least thrilling. But I have high hopes…

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Investing Articles

I just bought these FTSE 100 shares for juicy income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

These FTSE 100 shares have all tumbled in the market downturn since 31 July. I've happily snapped them up for…

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Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Value stocks are dead, right? No way, not for me!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Since 2009, value stocks have steeply underperformed growth shares. But all winning streaks must end -- and I see incredible…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

7.8% a year in passive income from 2 FTSE 100 stocks!

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two cheap FTSE 100 shares offer an average passive income of 7.8% a year. While one dividend is risky…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

I just bought this FTSE 100 share for bumper income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Although this FTSE 100 share has lost value over a year, I expect a much better performance to come. While…

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

5 reasons why Legal & General shares are too cheap

| Cliff D'Arcy

Legal & General shares have been declining all year. Cliff D'Arcy explains why he thinks they are still a bargain.

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Investing Articles

3 choices for a new £20,000 Stocks and Shares ISA

| Cliff D'Arcy

How would I invest £20,000 into a new Stocks and Shares ISA at the moment? I'm not exactly sure, but…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Here’s what I’d buy with Warren Buffett’s $147bn in cash!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway group has amassed a cash pile of $147bn. Here's how I'd invest this colossal sum today…

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

2 FTSE 100 shares I aim to buy next week

| Cliff D'Arcy

I've been waiting ages to buy these two undervalued FTSE 100 shares. I hope to make superior returns via both…

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

A once-in-a-decade shot to back the FTSE 100!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 has underperformed other major stock indexes for many years. But I'm sure these dark days will come…

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A young woman sitting on a couch looking at a book in a quiet library space.
Investing Articles

2 dirt-cheap UK shares to buy for passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

Seeking powerful passive income, I have tracked down two dividend darlings. One pays 10.2% a year in cash, while the…

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