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Alan Oscroft

Alan is a freelance writer who began writing for The Motley Fool in the late 1990s. He has been a private investor for more 30 years, and has explored a number of strategies, settling on high-yielding blue-chip shares.

Recent Articles

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Investing Articles

(Nearly) 5 reasons NOT to get a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

I think a Stocks and Shares ISA is a great thing, and everyone should get one. Oh, hang on, maybe…

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Investing Articles

3 penny stocks I think could turn into pounds in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

A lot of penny stocks have fallen further than the bigger ones in 2023. I'm wondering which of them might…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

How will the FTSE 100 perform in 2024? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Fancy having a guess at where the FTSE 100 might end 2024? I often get it wrong so I wonder…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE shares to consider buying in January

| Alan Oscroft

Are we prepared for updates coming from all our favourite FTSE shares after Christmas? Here are three big names I'm…

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

Which are the best FTSE 100 shares to buy in 2024? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Yes, it's that time of year when we look back on how 2023 went, and start to think about the…

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Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k in Scottish Mortgage shares 5 years ago, I’d have this much now

| Alan Oscroft

Growth stocks up, growth stocks down, and then back up again... How much are Scottish Mortgage shares worth after all…

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Investing Articles

Where will the Rolls-Royce share price go in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

After seeing the Rolls-Royce share price soar 200% in 2023, I can't be the only one scratching my head and…

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Investing Articles

5 reasons I think stocks and shares are truly the best for passive income

| Alan Oscroft

There are several things I want from a passive income-focused investment. And stocks and shares really do tick every single…

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Investing Articles

Can these big dividend forecasts send the Vodafone share price climbing in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

High dividend forecasts, but a big slump in the share price? It sure looks like folks aren't too confident of…

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

Which are the best value stocks to buy for 2024? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Many FTSE share prices are down in the dumps right now. But separating the best value stocks from the merely…

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Storytelling image of a multiethnic senior couple in love - Elderly married couple dating outdoors, love emotions and feelings
Investing Articles

I’d put £500 a month into a Stocks and Shares ISA to target a £33,000 second income

| Alan Oscroft

Not got a pile of cash? Here's how regular investments in the UK stock market could build up over time,…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Can these things help the Lloyds share price double in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

Will I be forever wrong about the Lloyds share price? I don't care really, not if I can keep buying…

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Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

What’s happening with the boohoo share price?

| Alan Oscroft

I still like a good growth stock story, even if the boohoo share price collapse lost me some money. Are…

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

If I started a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA in 2024, here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go back and start our Stocks and Shares ISA all over again?…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Why is the UK stock market so cheap, and what should we do about it?

| Alan Oscroft

Compared to the US stock market, a lot of UK shares look seriously undervalued to me. I think that's good…

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Female analyst sat at desk looking at pie charts on paper
Investing Articles

Here are 3 of my top FTSE 250 dividend forecasts for 2024

| Alan Oscroft

Which is the best index to find income stocks? I wouldn't rule out any, and today I'm looking for some…

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Young black colleagues high-fiving each other at work
Investing Articles

These are my top 10 FTSE 100 shares for dividends in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

I reckon 2023 has been a cracking year for dividends from FTSE 100 shares. And I don't see that ending…

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Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 is rising: will we see 8,000 points by new year?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 has been on the rise. Whatever next? I'm seeing signs that we really might be in for…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

These are my 3 top FTSE 100 dividend forecasts for 2024

| Alan Oscroft

FTSE dividend forecasts have slowed a bit, but we could still be heading for an all-time record next year. So…

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Investing Articles

Here are 3 reasons why investors should consider selling Rolls-Royce shares

| Alan Oscroft

Knowing when to sell a stock has always been one of the hardest decisions for me. So what would I…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

£5,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to build it into an £8,500 second income

| Alan Oscroft

To generate a second income, do we need a big sum in savings? Even with a modest start, it can…

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

How quickly could we build a £10k passive income from a Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

Doesn't it take a lifetime to build a decent passive income by buying shares on the UK stock market? Potential…

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Young black woman in a wheelchair working online from home
Investing Articles

If I put £5k in boohoo shares today, what might I have in a year?

| Alan Oscroft

Should I buy more boohoo shares after already losing a packet? I can't help wondering if the next 12 months…

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Businessman use electronic pen writing rising colorful graph from 2023 to 2024 year of business planning and stock investment growth concept.
Investing Articles

Here’s why I think the dividend forecast could send the Aviva share price climbing

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price has had a few good months, but we still see some big dividend yields. Could they…

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Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
Investing Articles

Here’s why I think the dividend forecast could send Lloyds shares climbing

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares have started picking up towards the end of 2023. But they're still a long way down in five…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Here’s why I think FTSE 250 stocks could be set to race ahead again

| Alan Oscroft

As we head towards the end of 2023, could FTSE 250 shares be set for a winning run again? I…

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Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

Should we buy more FTSE 100 shares in December? The stats seem to say yes

| Alan Oscroft

The different months of the year should have no effect on where the FTSE 100 goes, should they? The evidence…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Are these top-traded FTSE 100 shares the best to buy for 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

The market has disagreed with me pretty much all year on the best buys among FTSE 100 shares. But, are…

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

After a strong first half, this is one of my top FTSE 100 stocks to buy for 2024

| Alan Oscroft

I'm looking for FTSE stocks to buy as we get close to 2024. This one, with a healthy outlook for…

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Trader on video call from his home office
Investing Articles

What should I buy in my 2024 Stocks and Shares ISA? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

I've been looking for ideas of what to buy for my Stocks and Shares ISA in 2024, and at what…

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Young Black woman using a debit card at an ATM to withdraw money
Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d buy UK stocks to earn passive income in 2024 and beyond

| Alan Oscroft

We're near the New Year, and people all over the country will be thinking about how to build up some…

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

This FTSE 100 share price just jumped 15%. Is it one of the best buys for 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

We're all thinking about the best FTSE shares to buy for 2024, right? I know I am, and this one…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’ll search for the best passive income stocks to buy in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

I look for cash from UK stocks and shares to try to set up some long-term passive income. But there…

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Investing Articles

If I put £10k in Rolls-Royce shares today, how much could I have in 5 years time?

| Alan Oscroft

Where might Rolls-Royce shares go in the next few years? Here's my wild guess... Well, hopefully it's an informed guess,…

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

What’s the best way to turn an empty Stocks and Shares ISA into a million?

| Alan Oscroft

How much difference can time have on our chances of making a Stocks and Shares ISA million? Hang on tight,…

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

If I put £10k in Lloyds shares today, how much could I have in 5 years time?

| Alan Oscroft

So, what should I buy with my next chunk of investment cash? Should I go for something new, or snap…

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Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Is the easyJet share price set to soar in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price is lower today than in the 2020 stock market crash. Can that be right? Might it…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Here’s my #1 Warren Buffett quote to help me build wealth in 2024

| Alan Oscroft

What should we do when the economy is dark, and the financial headlines are all gloomy? I have an idea…

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estate agent welcoming a couple to house viewing
Investing Articles

Up 5%, does the Rightmove share price make it one of the best stocks to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Results and trading updates can help us find the best stocks to buy. And Rightmove shares have just gained after…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why the National Grid share price looks super cheap to me

| Alan Oscroft

I keep looking at the National Grid share price and thinking I should buy some. So why have I never…

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