Member Login
  1. Authors
    2. /
  2. Cliff D'Arcy
    3. /

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

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

Why are my Barclays shares having a rotten year?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After a strong start to 2023, Barclays shares have been in a downturn since March. Yet the bank is boosting…

Read more »

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

Will the US stock market crash before 2024?

| Cliff D'Arcy

As US stocks continue to soar, I'm worried about the next stock market crash. Even so, I intend to keep…

Read more »

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

Are NatWest shares too risky after its CEO quits?

| Cliff D'Arcy

NatWest shares took a battering this week, following damaging allegations against the bank by Nigel Farage. But I plan to…

Read more »

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

2 FTSE 100 shares I’d buy for big passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

For me, few things beat lounging around while collecting passive income, even as I sleep. And these two UK shares…

Read more »

Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares I’d buy in a heartbeat!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 has leapt 6% since 7 July, yet many of its stocks look incredibly cheap. Here are two…

Read more »

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

At last, is this the turning point for the Vodafone share price?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Vodafone share price has plunged by over 40% in the last 12 months. But a positive trading update has…

Read more »

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

FTSE 100 or US stocks: which should I buy now?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Bucking 2023's strong trend, the FTSE 100 index has easily beaten the S&P 500 over the past two weeks. But…

Read more »

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

3 shares I’d buy as the FTSE 100 soars

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 leapt on Wednesday, after UK inflation unexpectedly cooled. Despite this rise, I see these three Footsie stocks…

Read more »

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

At last, this popular FTSE share is getting exciting!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Soon after I bought this FTSE 250 share, it turned into an utter dog. However, it has soared by over…

Read more »

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

Why the FTSE 100 has been a flop in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 has been the world's worst-performing major market index over six months, one year, and five years. What's…

Read more »

Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Growth Shares

I was spookily right about the Ocado share price!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Ocado share price crashed to its 2023 low on 6 June. Within days, the stock soared to over 630p.…

Read more »

Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

10.4% dividend yield! I can’t wait to buy this FTSE 100 share

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share looks like a crazy bargain to me. As well as a double-digit dividend yield, I suspect…

Read more »

artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

Will this be a big drag on the Rolls-Royce share price?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The Rolls-Royce share price has been the FTSE 100's best performer over the last 12 months. But I see one…

Read more »

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

5 investing lessons from my very own Warren Buffett!

| Cliff D'Arcy

With a personal fortune of $112bn, Warren Buffett is widely regarded as the world's greatest investor. But I know one…

Read more »

Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Dividend Shares

This FTSE 100 share could be my bargain of the decade

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share offers a juicy dividend yield of 5% a year, covered 4.5 times by earnings. If this…

Read more »

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

Will soaring interest rates crash the FTSE 100?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Though the FTSE 100 has returned 10% over the past 12 months, it's having a tough summer. Also, could rapidly…

Read more »

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

This penny share is an ex-FTSE 100 stock. Do I buy it now?

| Cliff D'Arcy

This penny share has collapsed in 2022/23, plunging to a record low on Monday. But if this former FTSE 100…

Read more »

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

How I’m multiplying my passive income in 2023/24

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my never-ending search for passive income, I've come up with five ideas to boost my cash flow. Once in…

Read more »

Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

I’m eager to buy more of this FTSE 100 share!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought shares in this FTSE 100 giant a year ago and they've since lost almost 2%. Even so, I…

Read more »

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

I’m frustrated with my Lloyds shares. Should I sell now?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Although Lloyds shares are up 1% over 12 months, they are down nearly 30% over five years. Are they doomed…

Read more »

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

I’d buy Barclays shares for this £10bn payout to shareholders

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares have zigzagged in 2023, while going nowhere in the past 12 months. But news of a potential £10bn…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

I think Warren Buffett should buy this FTSE 250 firm

| Cliff D'Arcy

Warren Buffett is putting Berkshire Hathaway's $130bn cash pile to work, buying more Japanese stocks. I think he'd do well…

Read more »

Young woman holding up three fingers
Investing Articles

These 3 top US growth stocks are my big winners in 2023!

| Cliff D'Arcy

During the tech crash of 2022, I patiently waited, before seizing my moment to buy these three US growth stocks.…

Read more »

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

I bought this top FTSE 100 share. It plunged. Do I sell and take the hit?

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought this FTSE 100 stock in December, hoping for bumper returns. Regrettably, the share price has dived. But do…

Read more »

Hand flipping wooden cubes for change wording" Panic " to " Calm".
Investing Articles

Could these 7 stocks trigger a US market crash in 2023?

| Cliff D'Arcy

What might bring about the next US stock market crash? For me, the most likely cause is these seven key…

Read more »

Asian man looking concerned while studying paperwork at his desk in an office
Investing Articles

2 lessons from FTSE shares I wish I’d never bought!

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought two FTSE shares hoping they'd be stars, but they turned out to be dogs. Fortunately, these bad buys…

Read more »

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

After diving 20% in 15 weeks, the ITV share price is too low

| Cliff D'Arcy

The ITV share price has dived by more than a fifth since peaking in early February. But a transformational deal…

Read more »

Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE 100 shares have bombed in 2022/23, but I’d buy one now!

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 100 shares have fallen on hard times, losing over 37% and 41% respectively over 12 months. But…

Read more »

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

Here’s what I’d have now by investing £1,000 in AstraZeneca shares 5 years ago

| Cliff D'Arcy

AstraZeneca shares have soared over five years, making them one of the FTSE 100's biggest successes. But what if I'd…

Read more »

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’m mad keen on this FTSE 100 bargain after it plummeted 25% in a year!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share has dropped by a quarter in 12 months, but has leapt by 52% over five years.…

Read more »

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

After diving 19% in a month, Vodafone shares bounce back!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Vodafone shares have dropped nearly 20% in one month, hitting new lows on Tuesday. But some long-awaited good news could…

Read more »

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

Why do investors hate the FTSE 100 so much?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The US S&P 500 has absolutely trounced the UK's FTSE 100 over the past five years. But there are several…

Read more »

Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

7.5% dividend yield! Is this FTSE 250 share a brilliant bargain?

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 250 share appears to be a delicious deal. It trades on a low earnings multiple and offers a…

Read more »

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

A pair of great FTSE 100 shares for passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my ongoing search for higher passive income, I found these two FTSE 100 stocks. One offers a dividend yield…

Read more »

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

What might light a fire under Lloyds shares in 2023?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have gone nowhere in 2023 and have lost 27% over five years. So what might turn the tanker…

Read more »

Photo of a man going through financial problems
Investing Articles

Barclays shares are going nowhere. What might revive them?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares were riding high in February, but then came the US banking crisis. Down 22% over five years, what…

Read more »

Young mixed-race woman looking out of the window with a look of consternation on her face
Investing Articles

Is this a new bull market or just a bear-market rally?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The US S&P 500 index has leapt over 23% from its mid-October low. But after rising so far, so fast,…

Read more »

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

At under 345p, are Ocado shares London’s biggest bargain?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Ocado shares have had a wretched few years, plunging by 62% in 12 months and collapsing by 84% over three…

Read more »

Investing Articles

If I’d invested £1,000 in Barclays shares five years ago, here’s what I’d have now

| Cliff D'Arcy

After peaking in early March, Barclays shares took a beating as the US banking crisis shook stocks. But how has…

Read more »

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

Why don’t I own shares in these 2 FTSE 100 giants?

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 100 giants are global leaders in their fields, yet their shares have weakened recently. So why don't…

Read more »