Investing

Historical UK house prices

January 5, 2012
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A good way to get depressed is to never buy your own home and then to take a peek at a graph of house price appreciation. Let’s see what we could have won!

27 comments

The Slow and Steady passive portfolio update: Q4 2011

January 2, 2012
Slow and steady

Monevator’s passive investing model portfolio is one-year old. See how our picks have fared in a tumultuous year.

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How compound interest can save our pensions

December 27, 2011
Slow and steady

Use time, the correct asset allocation and tax breaks to maximise the power of compound interest to see you alright in your old age.

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Are UK house prices too high?

December 22, 2011
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Are UK house prices going to stay elevated compared to their old incomes or rent measures, and why does it matter?

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Why I wish they’d taught me about compound interest at school

December 20, 2011
Slow and steady

Compound interest increase your fortune spectacularly if you give it enough time. So start. Start saving and investing right now.

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Six small cap property companies

December 16, 2011
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I think all these companies have some attractive qualities and good potential, but obviously also risks.

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UK commercial property trading at a discount

December 15, 2011
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Commercial property is an attractive asset class to own, and I think now looks a good time to buy – not as cheap as in 2009, but unless you expect a European blow-up not as risky, either.

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Is it worth sticking with Hargreaves Lansdown to get Vanguard funds?

December 13, 2011
Passive investing

Vanguard funds have popped up on Hargreaves Lansdown. But are you better off switching to a cheaper platform?

49 comments

Hargreaves Lansdown bags Vanguard funds

December 6, 2011
Passive investing

Vanguard funds – Britain’s cheapest index trackers – have arrived on Hargreaves Lansdown amid much uproar about the broker’s platform fees.

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Gruel Britannia, but what about her investors?

November 30, 2011
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Britain looks set for more years of slog, but our corporate sector should do much better, and besides, shares look cheap.

12 comments

Are BlackRock index trackers cheap?

November 29, 2011
Passive investing

BlackRock index trackers have been identified as a cheap way of buying passive funds on Hargreaves Lansdown but things soon get messy.

8 comments

Buy shares in house builders, not new build houses

November 25, 2011
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I’ve a hunch that listed house builders will do a lot better than an investment in housing in the next few years. Here’s why.

7 comments

Hargreaves Lansdown switching fees

November 21, 2011
Passive investing

Hargreaves Lansdown may charge a switching fee if you want to transfer your funds. Here’s our latest information on what it will cost you.

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Hargreaves Lansdown slaps new fees on index funds

November 20, 2011
Passive investing

Hargreaves Lansdown are sticking passive investors with a new charge on index funds. Find out what it means and how you can take evasive action.

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Dividend reinvestment and rebalancing is easier and cheaper with index funds

November 18, 2011
Passive investing

We reach the end of our mini-series with another win for index funds as the superior vehicle for passive investors. Read on and make your own mind up!

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You can trade ETFs more easily than index funds

November 16, 2011
Passive investing

Our battle of the trackers reaches its fifth installment, as ETFs and index funds go head-to-head in a fight for control!

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There’s more choice with ETFs than index funds

November 10, 2011
Passive investing

There’s a far greater choice when it comes to ETFs, compared to their positively lookalike-y index fund brothers. But choice isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be…

8 comments

The 2012 ISA allowance

November 9, 2011
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The high level of inflation in September 2011 has one silver lining – it means that the 2011/2012 ISA allowance has been increased by a fair amount over the prior year.

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Should tracking error sway the choice between ETFs and index funds?

November 7, 2011
Passive investing

Our series on choosing between index funds and ETFs turns to tracking error. Is either vehicle a champ at hugging the index?

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Index funds are cheaper than ETFs

November 4, 2011
Passive investing

In part two of our series comparing index funds and ETFs, we explain why index funds trump ETFs when it comes to costs.

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Index funds are simpler than ETFs

October 31, 2011
Passive investing

Should a passive investor plump for ETFs or index funds? The first factor to consider is which is the simplest option.

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How to lifestyle Vanguard LifeStrategy funds

October 25, 2011
Passive investing

A quick ‘n’ easy technique that lifestyles Vanguard’s LifeStrategy funds so you are not exposed to excess risk on the glide path to retirement.

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Vanguard LifeStrategy funds turn passive investing catatonic

October 18, 2011
Passive investing

Vanguard’s LifeStrategy funds enable passive investors to buy a bumper pack of index funds that offers a globally diversified portfolio but requires less maintenance than an Easter Island statue.

29 comments

How small investors can drip-feed into Vanguard index funds

October 7, 2011
Passive investing

Vanguard index funds are now within reach of drip-feeding small investors thanks to new investing platform options.

15 comments

The Slow and Steady passive portfolio update: Q3 2011

October 4, 2011
Passive investing

Our model passive portfolio gets caught up in the global equities blood-letting – there’s no hiding place.

10 comments

Back into bank preference shares?

September 29, 2011
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Bank preference shares have fallen with bank shares on summer’s worries – to the extent that they’re tempting me back for a second look again.

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Accumulation units – the income tax loophole that never was

September 15, 2011
Slow and steady

Many investors think that they don’t have to pay tax on their dividends squirrelled away in accumulation units. It’s a myth. Discover the truth within.

2 comments

How to invest in an IPO

September 13, 2011
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Want to invest in that bright young thing that’s about to come to the stock market? You probably shouldn’t, but here’s how you go about it.

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Income units versus accumulation units – what difference does it make?

September 6, 2011
Slow and steady

A quick confusion-buster on the difference between income units and accumulation units and which you should use.

11 comments

How did Warren Buffett get rich?

September 1, 2011
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Buffett is a great stock picker and an investing genius. But few people know that Buffett’s original investing partnerships are the real secret to his wealth.

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