Corporate bonds are a classic element of most simple investment portfolios. They tend to provide a superior return to savings accounts and government bonds, whilst containing less risk than investing …
What is a Bond Coupon Rate?
When researching bonds, you will notice that each bond will state its coupon rate. Beware the coupon rate Below, I’ll explain exactly what a coupon rate is. But I’ll also …
Definition of Bond (Investor Perspective)
The definition of a bond as an investment is as follows: What is a bond? A bond is an agreement between a borrower and a lender. From an investing perspective, …
The Ultimate Guide to Investing in Corporate Bonds
Corporate bonds are perhaps not the most exciting investment opportunity available (see: how to invest in land or investing in commodities). This guide to investing in corporate bonds will explain …
Psychology of Investing: 2. The Income Mindset
About the psychology of investing series This blog post forms part of a supplementary guide designed to be read alongside our comprehensive investing guides which explain from start to finish …
Do All Companies Pay Dividends?
This is a companion article to how to invest in shares which forms part of the free investing courses available on Financial Expert. If you follow dividend growth investing, or …
When do Companies Pay Dividends?
Dividends are how companies distribute their profits to shareholders. For investors who desire an income from their investments (such as dividend growth investors), this is the most important part of …
Is Your Share Portfolio Out of Date?
Legendary investors such as Warren Buffet follow the same principle as responsible dog owners; buying shares is for life. This mindset encourages us to think of buying shares as the …
How to ‘Re-balance’ Your Investment Portfolio of Shares
If you’ve researched about how to buy shares online, you may have come across the concept of ‘re-balancing’. This isn’t a new Yoga pose, nor is it as difficult as …
When Should Investors Buy Shares?
Many savers understand that shares are a good investment, but still hesitate before making their first purchase. The stock market can move upwards and downwards at a frightening pace – …
Why are Shares a Good Investment?
In my ultimate guide to investing in shares & the stock market and our explainer ‘what are shares?’, I briefly address why shares are good investments: High expected returns Tax …
What is an Exchange Traded Fund?
Exchange-Traded Funds (or ‘ETFs’ for short), are a popular method for investing in a wide range of asset classes. In the US alone, $4 trillion of assets are now held …
10 Shocking Common Mistakes most New Investors Make
They say that experience is the best teacher. However, when money is at stake, it is wise to learn from the mistakes of others rather than your own! Don’t you …
When is the Right Time to Sell Stocks & Shares?
If we want to follow the advice of “Buy low and sell high”, we need to understand when is the right time to sell shares. But when is the right …
How NOT to Pick Stocks & Shares
I receive quite a high volume of emails about stock picking, i.e. choosing the right company shares to invest in. This article will point out some bad practises that I …
Are Shares a Risky Investment?
The stock market is often compared to a casino. The newspapers often refer to investment banking as ‘casino banking’ which adds further weight to this idea. But are shares actually …
Definition of Stocks and Shares – is there a Difference?
The Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-free investment account available to UK investors. The name implies that stocks and shares are similar but somehow different. This leads many people …
Is Now a Good Time to Invest in the Stock Market?
“Is now a good time to invest in the stock market?” as well as “Should I save or invest?” are probably the most common question I am asked by readers, …
How to Research Share Prices and Company Information
Two hundred years ago, shares were traded between an elite group of wealthy individuals through social groups which often met in coffee houses. How to research share prices back then …
Passive Funds versus Active Funds
An argument which has long raged in the halls of asset managers is the debate between investing styles. In particular; passive versus active investing. Financial Expert encourages one of these …
How to Spot Investment Scams
Knowing how to spot investment scams is an essential skill for a modern investor. Collectively, investors represent a gold mine for organised criminals. Think about it: Is there an easier …
How to Build an Investment Portfolio
I’m Simon, founder of Financial Expert. This beginners guide covers the essential things you need to know when building an investment portfolio. It’s the most popular guide on Financial Expert. …
The Science of Diversification
This article will explain how to diversify your investments using the science of diversification. To get there, we will walk through logical steps which build to the conclusion. Therefore you …
Investing Risk Appetite Questionnaire
Take our investing risk appetite questionnaire to discover how your attitude towards risk should influence your investing approach. Imagine for a moment: it is 2 am and you cannot get …
What are Shares and Why do People Invest in Shares?
If you’ve ever wondered ‘What are shares’ or ‘why are shares so popular?’ – this ultimate guide to shares is the right place to begin! What are shares? You gain …
How to Buy Shares and Invest in the Stock Market
Buying shares is a proven way to grow your savings over the long term. Shares have produced an average return of between 5% – 8% annually. For this reason, many …
What is an Investment Time Horizon and how does it Impact a Portfolio?
When designing an investment portfolio, one of the factors you must consider is your investment time horizon. The consequence of overlooking your time horizon is discovering that your investments have …
Should I Save or Invest? Why you Deserve Better than a Savings Account
Welcome to Financial Expert. If you’re at the crossroads of choosing between a savings account or investments, you’re in the right place. In fact, this article might just change your …
What is a Stock Market Index and Why are Stock Market Indices Important?
This is a companion article to how to invest in shares which forms part of the free investing courses available on Financial Expert. If you’ve ever picked upon a copy …