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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

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

Here’s why Fresnillo could be an overlooked FTSE 100 value stock right now

| Alan Oscroft

Value stocks can often be hidden from view by short-term ups and downs. And this candidate looks expensive in the…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

This fallen FTSE 100 darling could be one of the best shares to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

Which are the best shares to buy as we approach the end of 2023 and a new year? I put…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Can FTSE 250 stocks trounce the FTSE 100 in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

Which is the better buy for 2024, the FTSE 100 or the FTSE 250? Volatility and safety are important, but…

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

5 expert tips for earning passive income from dividend stocks

| Alan Oscroft

There are many different ways to seek passive income. But for stocks and shares, the experts seem to have the…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

Stock market beginner? Here’s how I’d start a Stocks and Shares ISA today

| Alan Oscroft

Does the idea of starting a Stocks and Shares ISA sound like a challenging task and one only for experts?…

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

£10k in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn it into a second income of £500 a month

| Alan Oscroft

Would I prefer to spend a lump sum now, or invest it to try to secure a long-term second income?…

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Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Scottish Mortgage shares 2 years ago, I’d have this much now

| Alan Oscroft

I don't buy growth stocks very often. But right now, I think Scottish Mortgage shares might be just too cheap…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

3 top value FTSE 100 shares to consider buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

I reckon FTSE 100 shares could be among the best stock market buys anywhere. And risky times are good times…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Darktrace shares at the start of 2023, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

It's been one of the boom-and-bust stocks of the past few years. But could Darktrace shares be set for a…

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

Are we headed for a new stock market crash? Here’s what the experts say

| Alan Oscroft

Has anyone noticed that the experts are always predicting a new stock market crash, but mostly miss them when they…

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

Why is the FTSE 100 down this week?

| Alan Oscroft

Why is the FTSE 100 up this week? Why is the FTSE 100 down this week? It gets asked all…

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Investing Articles

As the Hargreaves Lansdown share price falls, here’s why it’s on my buy list

| Alan Oscroft

The Hargreaves Lansdown share price has been dipping in 2023. How much lower could it go before I can't resist…

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Tesco employee helping female customer
Investing Articles

If I’d put £10k into Tesco shares at the start of 2023, here’s how much I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco shares are one of 2023's FTSE 100 winners so far. But after a few ups and downs in recent…

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Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Test Rig at Loughborough University
Investing Articles

Can lowering costs get Rolls-Royce shares growing again in 2024?

| Alan Oscroft

The latest management update is making me think we could be moving into the next recovery phase for Rolls-Royce shares.

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

Which are better to buy now, Lloyds shares or Barclays shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I like Lloyds shares, but then I also like Barclays. In fact, I like lots of FTSE 100 shares. Oh,…

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

3 hot FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying for 2024

| Alan Oscroft

There's a lot of news from FTSE 250 companies right now. Will we see a mid-cap stock surge, when the…

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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

As the THG share price climbs 6%, is it a best-buy growth stock?

| Alan Oscroft

Could shareholders be set to profit from a new bull run for the THG share price? Here's a look at…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how I use high-yield FTSE 100 shares to build a second income

| Alan Oscroft

There are some great Footsie dividends for earning a second income right now. But not all big yields are equally…

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Happy male couple looking at a laptop screen together
Investing Articles

Forget a Cash ISA, here’s why I’d use a Stocks and shares ISA to aim for a million

| Alan Oscroft

A maxed-out Cash ISA could be worth a quarter of a million pounds now. Here's how a Stocks and Shares…

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happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

Learn the secrets of the UK’s SIPP millionaires

| Alan Oscroft

Don't think it's possible to accumulate a million pounds in a SIPP? Thousands of UK investors have already done exactly…

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Senior couple crossing the road on a city street. They are walking with shopping bags while Christmas shopping.
Investing Articles

Here’s how £10k a year in high-yield financial stocks could get me a £2,800 a month income

| Alan Oscroft

Investing in high-yield stocks has always been a popular strategy for securing long-term income. Is this the perfect time for…

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Investing Articles

As the easyJet share price falls, is it a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price has been volatile, affected by so many things. Even a good trading update has just sent…

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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

The Darktrace share price falls 5%! Is it time to buy the dip?

| Alan Oscroft

The Darktrace share price is recovering well from its big crash, as annual revenues are growing nicely. But the rise…

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

Should I buy Rolls-Royce shares at £2 today?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have stormed ahead in 2023, and there are profit rises on the cards for the next few years.…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d buy FTSE 100 financial stocks right now, to target long-term income

| Alan Oscroft

Among FTSE 100 financial stocks, banks and insurers have taken a hammering. But that can often be the best time…

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Young Caucasian woman with pink her studying from her laptop screen
Investing Articles

I’d buy 9,300 shares of this FTSE 100 financial stock to aim for £1,000 a month second income

| Alan Oscroft

With stocks down, some Footsie dividend yields look unmissable right now. Sounds like a perfect time to invest for a…

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

Should I buy more Lloyds shares to target an 8% dividend yield?

| Alan Oscroft

The dividend yield from Lloyds shares could reach as high as 8% in the next few years. That sounds great,…

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Young Black man sat in front of laptop while wearing headphones
Investing Articles

A FTSE 100 dividend stock I’d steer clear of right now

| Alan Oscroft

I like a good high-yield dividend stock. But not all high yields are equal, and some long-term outlooks are riskier…

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Mature couple at the beach
Investing Articles

3 top investment trusts to consider for a SIPP right now

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for SIPP investments to buy now and then sit back and forget for decades? These three could be worth…

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

Here’s why I rate National Grid shares as a top buy for my SIPP

| Alan Oscroft

National Grid shares just keep on delivering cash to shareholders year after year. And the forecast dividend yields are growing.

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

As the Metro Bank share price crashes, is it a penny stock to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Metro Bank share price has dropped 70% so far this year. Eek! Now the headlines say there's a financial…

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Girl buying groceries in the supermarket with her father.
Investing Articles

Will it soon be too late to buy Tesco shares cheaply?

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco shares have had a good year so far in 2023, and they got an extra boost from rising first-half…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d get my Stocks and Shares ISA ready for a stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Stocks and Shares ISA took a pounding in 2020? I'm thinking about how to prepare in case UK share prices…

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Cheerful young businesspeople with laptop working in office
Investing Articles

I rate the Persimmon share price as dirt cheap, but for how long?

| Alan Oscroft

The Persimmon share price has fallen by more than half over five years now. But forecasts show earnings and dividends…

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Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully
Investing Articles

I’d buy 17,000 shares of this FTSE 100 dividend stock to aim for £602 a month passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Share prices are low, and forecasts say dividends could hit a new record high in 2024. I'd invest for passive…

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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 how I’d invest for the great 2024 stock market rally

| Alan Oscroft

Is a stock market rally coming, or a new crash? Some top investors are betting on share prices falling. But…

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

Here’s how I’d use the Warren Buffett method to target lifetime passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett follows the age-old value investing approach. And I say it's still the best way for long-term investors to…

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

5 dirt cheap shares to buy before the stock market recovers?

| Alan Oscroft

2023 has been tough in many ways. But this might be one of the best times for buying cheap shares…

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

If I’d put £10k in Rolls-Royce shares 10 years ago, I’d have this much now

| Alan Oscroft

Long-term investing is all about probabilities, not certainties. Let's see what it would have done for Rolls-Royce shares.

Read more »

Young Caucasian woman with pink her studying from her laptop screen
Investing Articles

£20k in a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here’s how I’d aim to turn it into £200k

| Alan Oscroft

There's no better way I know to try to get rich than to put as much as I can in…

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