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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

Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

What I learnt about the FTSE 100 in 2023

| Cliff D'Arcy

After outperforming global markets in 2022, the FTSE 100 has had a weak 2023. But I can see several reasons…

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Investing Articles

A bargain FTSE 100 share I’d buy without hesitation!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share produces huge cash flows, earnings and well-covered dividends. Yet it's down 8% in five years. I…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 share is soaring, but still looks cheap to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 share has leapt over 13% since its recent October low. And following a positive trading update, it…

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Investing Articles

These cheap shares are a great source of passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my search for £50,000+ a year in passive income, I have been busily buying cheap UK shares. And these…

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Investing Articles

These new shares double the return of Tesla stock!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Tesla stock has made multi-millionaires out of many investors. But what if I could double my return from these popular…

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

Will the stock market crash before 2024?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After the S&P 500 dived over 10% from 31 July to 27 October, pundits warned of a coming stock-market crash.…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

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

| Cliff D'Arcy

While the FTSE 100 looks great value right now, these two Footsie stocks appear even better buys. They pay cash…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy 9,906 of these cheap shares for £1,972 a year in passive income

| Cliff D'Arcy

The shares of this great little FTSE 100 firm pay passive income of almost 10% a year. I'd buy a…

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

Down 17% in October, I’d buy this cheap FTSE 100 share now!

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 fell nearly 4% in October, dragging it into loss for this calendar year. But this popular stock…

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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

After falling to 2023 lows, Lloyds shares seem a steal!

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds shares have lost nearly 10% in a month and almost 17% in six months. After these falls, the dividend…

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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

Down 33% since March, Barclays shares look a screaming buy to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

Barclays shares have lost a third of their value since their 2023 peak. But Cliff D'Arcy thinks they're a steal…

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

Down 24% in 3 months, Hargreaves Lansdown shares look a steal to me

| Cliff D'Arcy

Hargreaves Lansdown shares have plunged by almost a quarter since hitting 927p in July. But their cash yield of nearly…

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Investing Articles

These 2 UK shares produce powerful passive income!

| Cliff D'Arcy

While many FTSE 100 companies pay generous passive income to their shareholders, these two stocks offer huge dividend yields.

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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

The FTSE 100 is falling, but will it crash?

| Cliff D'Arcy

After dropping over the past six weeks, the FTSE 100 is down 1% in 2023. But for it to crash,…

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Investing Articles

Down 19% in 6 months, this FTSE 100 share pays 9.5% a year!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This FTSE 100 stock has lagged behind the London market over six months, one year, and five years. But I…

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

Which is the better buy, the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Over the past one, 5, and 10 years, the US S&P 500 index has thrashed the UK's FTSE 100. So…

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

Down 15% in a month, this FTSE 100 share pays 11.6% a year!

| Cliff D'Arcy

While the FTSE 100 is down under 4% in a month, this Footsie stock has dived by 15%. This has…

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

Up less than 8% in 5 years, is the FTSE 100 a busted flush?

| Cliff D'Arcy

The FTSE 100 is up a mere 7.7% over five years. This has left the London market looking far too…

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Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

As Shell shares hit a record high, am I too late to buy?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Shell shares have surged to an all-time peak, driven upwards by a rising oil price. And with war raging in…

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Investing Articles

2 UK shares I own for huge cash payouts

| Cliff D'Arcy

Among UK shares, five of the 10 highest-yielding FTSE 100 stocks are in the financial sector. But these two dividend…

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Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

How I’d aim to make millions the Warren Buffett way

| Cliff D'Arcy

Warren Buffett has built a $115bn fortune from investing, while giving away $55bn. Here are five lessons that I finally…

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Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

Down 28% in 8 months, I think Phoenix Group shares should rise from the ashes

| Cliff D'Arcy

Phoenix Group shares have fallen steeply since their highs of early February. But with an 11% cash yield, I don't…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 shares for a second income

| Cliff D'Arcy

In my search for ever-more second income, I now own 20 different FTSE 350 stocks. Here are two that I…

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A young black man makes the symbol of a peace sign with two fingers
Investing Articles

2 US stocks I think have fallen too far

| Cliff D'Arcy

While mega-tech firms have driven the S&P 500 higher, these two US stocks have lagged far behind. But I'd happily…

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

Why are Lloyds and Barclays shares doing so badly?

| Cliff D'Arcy

Lloyds and Barclays shares have both underperformed the UK stock market for years. So why should I hang onto my…

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

This FTSE 100 share has crashed in 2022/23, but I’m still happy to hold it!

| Cliff D'Arcy

This ailing FTSE 100 share has lost 28% in one year and almost 53% over five years. But recent changes…

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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

2 cheap shares I’d buy as the FTSE 100 falls

| Cliff D'Arcy

After the FTSE 100's recent falls, the entire index looks too cheap to me. That's why I see these two…

Read more »

Young Asian man drinking coffee at home and looking at his phone
Investing Articles

2 UK shares I’d gladly buy in October

| Cliff D'Arcy

These two UK shares have both lost value over the last five years. However, I'd happily buy more for their…

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

This new ETF wins as day traders lose!

| Cliff D'Arcy

ETFs -- exchange-traded funds -- are booming, with over $10trn invested today. But this newly launched ETF is unlike any…

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Frustrated young white male looking disconsolate while sat on his sofa holding a beer
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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Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
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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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
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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Young female hand showing five fingers.
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…

Read more »

Young Caucasian man making doubtful face at camera
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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Photo of a man going through financial problems
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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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
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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Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
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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Young female hand showing five fingers.
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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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
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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