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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

Am I crazy for buying Royal Mail shares?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Royal Mail shares have collapsed by almost half in 2022. And with group profits falling and strike action under way,…

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Investing Articles

Is another stock market crash on the way?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The US stock market has already crashed in 2022, losing 25% of its value at its June low. However, UK…

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Investing Articles

I raided the FTSE 100 to buy these 2 cheap shares!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After scouring the FTSE 100 index for cheap shares, I bought these two lowly rated stocks. Both offer above-market dividend…

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Investing Articles

How I’d invest £5k in an ISA the Warren Buffett way

| Cliff D'Arcy

Mega-billionaire Warren Buffett is my hero for many reasons, few of them financial. Here are four Buffett lessons I'd use…

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Investing Articles

2 cheap shares I bought for dividend income

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two cheap shares have both taken a big hit over the past six months. But I boldly bought both…

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Investing Articles

I bought these 3 FTSE 350 shares for high dividends!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Earlier this week, I bought these three FTSE 350 for extra passive income. Their dividend yields of up to 13%…

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Investing Articles

Barclays shares dive 25% since January. Time to buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares have lost around a quarter of their value since their January highs. But after falling so far, are…

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Investing Articles

2 cheap UK shares I bought for extra passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

Last week, I bought these two UK shares after their stock prices dropped. One now offers a dividend yield of…

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

Did I blunder buying Royal Mail shares last month?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Royal Mail shares have almost halved over the past 12 months, losing over 44% of their value. I bought some…

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Investing Articles

2 dirt-cheap FTSE 250 shares for big dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

The prices of these two FTSE 250 shares have crashed over the past year. Following recent falls, I bought both…

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Investing Articles

After diving 10% last week, are BT shares a steal?

| Cliff D'Arcy

BT shares have dropped roughly 10% over one week and 20% in a fortnight. But after reporting improved quarterly results,…

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Investing Articles

I put £20k into a Stocks and Shares ISA to target passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

British over-18s can invest up to £20,000 in a Stocks and Shares ISA for 2022-23. Here's how my wife and…

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Investing Articles

Will Lloyds shares keep falling in August?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have lost a lot of ground since peaking at 56p in late January. But recent quarterly results look…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy this FTSE 100 share now for a 2023/24 recovery

| Cliff D'Arcy

This super-heavyweight FTSE 100 share has dived by almost 20% since early June. But I recently bought this cheap stock…

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Investing Articles

Guess which cheap dividend share I bought for passive income?

| Cliff D'Arcy

I've been on a buying spree this month, snapping up dividend shares at low prices. But I also bought into…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’m buying FTSE shares like crazy this month!

| Cliff D'Arcy

After sitting on my hands for six months, I've started boldly buying FTSE 350 shares. And I'm doing this despite…

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Investing Articles

6 income shares I just bought for high dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

As stock prices dipped in June and July, I bought these six income shares for their high dividend yields. These…

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Investing Articles

The BT share price goes nowhere for a year. What next?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The BT share price is down 5% over six months and 42% over five years. This FTSE 100 stock looks…

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Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares lose 25% in 2022. Time for a climb?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Rolls-Royce shares have lost almost a quarter of their value in 2022. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 index is down 1%…

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Investing Articles

I’ve bought these 2 FTSE 250 shares for fat dividends!

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two FTSE 250 shares have taken a knock in 2022, after hitting highs earlier this year. But I'd happily…

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Investing Articles

Lloyds shares or Barclays stock: which would I buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After falling in 2022, Barclays and Lloyds shares both look cheap to me. But which bargain bank share would I…

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Investing Articles

Are my Lloyds shares a bargain buy or value trap?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After I bought Lloyds shares last month, they kept falling for a fortnight. Do they still stack up as a…

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Investing Articles

I bought Royal Mail shares. They went up. Do I buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

I bought Royal Mail shares in late June. They immediately dived another 6%. However, they have since rebounded, so would…

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Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE stocks pay 12% to 13% in dividends!

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two high-yielding stocks offer some of the highest dividend yields in the FTSE 350. That's why I would gladly…

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Investing Articles

I’ve bought these 6 cheap stocks for big dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

After recent price falls, I bought these six cheap UK stocks for their bumper dividend yields. But which of these…

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Investing Articles

Scottish Mortgage shares are 120p above their low. Time to buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Scottish Mortgage shares have soared by 18% since hitting a record low a month ago. After this steep rise, am…

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

Here’s why Direct Line shares slumped 13% today

| Cliff D'Arcy

Direct Line shares dived to 197p on Monday, following a profit warning caused by rapidly rising inflation. But with a…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why Knights Group Holdings shares soared 28% last week

| Cliff D'Arcy

Knights Group Holdings shares soared by 28% last week in a relief rally sparked by results in line with forecasts.…

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Investing Articles

I’m buying this cheap FTSE 250 share for big dividends!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This 144-year-old FTSE 250 firm's shares look cheap to me. This solid business with varied income streams pays over 6%…

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Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

I bought Lloyds shares. They fell. Should I buy more?

| Cliff D'Arcy

For the first time in 14 years, I bought Lloyds shares last month. They promptly fell even further. Did I…

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Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

2 dirt-cheap FTSE 100 shares I bought for dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

After I bought these two cheap FTSE 100 shares last week they continued to fall in value. But that just…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

I bought these 4 cheap shares for a market recovery

| Cliff D'Arcy

After months of sitting on my hands, I've finally taken the plunge by buying four cheap shares. Of course, their…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

After steep falls, are Royal Mail shares a steal?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Royal Mail shares have more than halved since peaking a year ago. After months of steep falls, this popular stock…

Read more »

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

Lloyds shares are down 10% in 2022. What next?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have dropped by almost a tenth so far in 2022. But the bank is in good shape to…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Lunch with Warren Buffett cost $19m. This advice is free!

| Cliff D'Arcy

One wealthy person has paid $19m to enjoy lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett. We mere mortals can't afford this,…

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Investing Articles

Where am I sheltering from this stock market crash?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Six months into 2022 and the stock market crash has slashed US share prices by almost a quarter. But I've…

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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

3 income shares I’d buy for extra dividends

| Cliff D'Arcy

While searching for the best income shares, I found these three FTSE 100 stocks that offer dividend yields of 9%…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

3 cheap shares to buy after this week’s slump

| Cliff D'Arcy

Looking for cheap shares to buy, I found three beaten-down FTSE 100 stocks that look like bargains to me. One…

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Investing Articles

Manchester United shares hit a record low. Time to buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Earlier this week, Manchester United shares plunged to an all-time low. After 2022's falls, would I buy stock in the…

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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 see a bargain as Royal Mail shares crash 46% in 2022

| Cliff D'Arcy

Royal Mail shares have crashed by over 46% in 2022 so far. But after such steep price declines, is this…

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