DIY Income Investor

Good Portfolio Result for 2021!

2022-01-27T15:07:00.001+00:00

Despite the dislocations of Covid, 2021 has been a good year for the DIY Income Investor portfolio, which has registered a 16% increase in total value (i.e. market value + retained income).

I hope your own efforts were well rewarded.

This past year has been one of isolation and inaction - maybe not much fun, but perhaps ideal for the DIY Income Investor:after all, there was more time for that all-important essential research.

AJ Bell Youinvest Dividend Monitor (Portfolio Buy)

2021-07-15T10:42:00.003+01:00

If only there were a quarterly review of the highest-yielding FTSE 100 shares...

Cue the nice people from AJ Bell Youinvest

Manchester BS Comes Good!

2021-06-21T13:40:00.003+01:00

In the DIY Income Investor approach I try to put a brake on the most obvious behavioural biases that often hamper investors. For example, I have buying and selling 'rules' that curb the instinct to buy too quickly ("Ooh, it's shiny") - and sell too quickly ("Ooh, look how much money I've made").

However, my latest dilemma is not so easily resolved...

Here Comes The Sun (Portfolio Buy)

2021-06-04T11:28:00.003+01:00

In the UK, at least, summer has started - taking us all a bit by surprise after months of rain. The sun is an effectively free source of energy that we, as a planet, will need to harness more effectively in order to survive sustainably.

So, can solar energy be a good investment too?

RDI REIT Goes Wrong (Portfolio Change)

2021-05-20T11:10:00.000+01:00

In a recent article I looked at the potential of real estate - particularly Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to generate income for the DIY Income Investor. However, in the article I did highlight the poor performance of my own holding in RDI REIT.

Egyptian Gold (Portfolio Buy)

2021-05-17T11:06:00.003+01:00

I wrote a little article recently on how to get some gold into the DIY Income Investor portfolio.

The conclusion was that the choice seemed to be between low-yield (or no-yield) ETFs or high-yield risky direct investments in miners. I've chosen the latter. Hopefully not fools' gold.

Find the Best Deal for an ISA Platform

2021-05-13T18:12:00.002+01:00

The Individual Savings Account or ISA is a 'must-have' for UK DIY Income Investors. It shields you from taxes, including income tax, dividend tax and capital gains tax. (Something similar may be available in other tax administrations - if you are lucky.)

I have two different ISA accounts (and manage family SIPPs) and I am careful not to exceed my annual investment allowance. But am I getting the best deal that I could?

FTSE 100's Best Dividend Yielders (Portfolio Buy)

2021-05-11T16:51:00.004+01:00

The perennial problem of the DIY Income Investor portfolio - what to do with cash?

Most of the portfolio is tucked up in geographically-spread Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), diversified between dividend shares and fixed-income. But I do like a bit of excitement from owning individual securities.

How To Double Your Money

2021-05-10T09:08:00.001+01:00

I'm guessing that most people would like to double their money. It's a pretty simple goal, yet it seems so unlikely.

But once you start thinking about it - it's just about numbers, and time. There is no real magic about it apart from consistent (but not necessarily spectacular) performance from your investments.

My Biggest Holding - How Good Is It?

2021-05-08T11:24:00.001+01:00

My DIY Income Investor portfolio is quite diversified and includes 28 securities, all (well, nearly all) producing income, either from dividends or from fixed-income instruments.

However my biggest holding accounts for 8.6% of the portfolio and is one of the few managed funds - as opposed to passive Exchange Traded Funds - that I own. Is this too big a holding? And has it been a good investment?

Review: Can You Trust VCTs?

2021-05-07T11:27:00.006+01:00

My investment instincts are pretty simple, using yield as a signal for out-of-favour securities. However yield has led me to dabble in an area that I would not normally have expected to be involved in Venture Capital Trusts.

But I have invested in one - what has my experience been?

My Favourite Dividend Share (Portfolio Buy)

2021-05-04T18:29:00.001+01:00

The DIY Income Investor portfolio is hitting all-time highs at the moment. I am currently shifting a lot of cash from peer-to-peer lending to the stock market.

This purchase is a share that I have bought and sold more than any other - and it is quite an odd one.

Why Income Investing?

2021-04-29T14:01:00.000+01:00

If you are new to this blog, you may be wondering 'Why should I be interested in Income Investing'

Here's my rationale - plus a nice video (not mine) setting out the main points.

Annual Review of Income ETFs

2021-04-28T18:53:00.009+01:00

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) come in all shapes and sizes. Those that are income-oriented now form the core of the DIY Income Investor portfolio. They can provide cost-effective diversification (and thus a measure of safety), simplify the running of your portfolio plus give easy access to income-oriented securities from around the world, in various currencies.

For this post I have reviewed my previous reporting on both dividend and fixed-income ETFs.

Weathering the Pandemic Storm

2021-04-27T09:25:00.001+01:00

The Covid 19 pandemic has created a huge financial and economic dislocation in the UK and around the world. Investors will have seen big changes in the markets. Many sectors of the economy have been hard hit. What has been the impact on DIY Income Investor portfolio? And what lessons can we learn from this experience?

Property The REIT Way

2021-02-24T13:51:00.005+00:00

In search of asset diversification, property has its attractions. Without the risks and hassle of owning property directly (surely one home is enough trouble?).

But how has COVID and BREXIT affected the UK commercial property market? And what are the options for using the property asset class to derive income in your portfolio?

Gold - and income?

2021-02-22T23:02:00.002+00:00

There is some logic in having gold in your portfolio. It’s smart to own assets that are uncorrelated—in other words, that move up and down in different, or even opposite, ways as the market fluctuates. And gold behaves differently to both equities and bonds.

However, finding the right options in the London market requires a little work.

London's High Yield Shares

2021-02-22T11:33:00.001+00:00

Although I currently recommend diversified ETFs there may still be room in your portfolio for a bit of a gamble on an individual high-yield share. Here we have a look at a current review of likely candidates quoted on the LSE

London's Equity Income ETFs

2021-02-17T12:11:00.004+00:00

Source

The London market includes thousands of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But finding the right ETF for your portfolio is not straightforward. Here are some ideas for equity income ETFs - paying an income from dividends.

London's High Yield Fixed-Income ETFs

2021-02-16T15:53:00.002+00:00

There are over 150 fixed income ETFs trading on London Stock Exchange markets, reaching far afield, offering exposure to emerging markets as well as sovereign debt in Europe, the US and established Asian Pacific regions, corporates and money markets. But how to find one that suits your needs?

Choosing ETFs - UK Dividend Share ETFs

2021-02-16T11:16:00.000+00:00

If you are going DIY - I recommend Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for most of your portfolio. With ETFs, the individual business risks are reduced - because the ETF consists, usually, of many different securities. All you need to worry about is the general 'positioning' of the ETF: dividends or fixed-income and country or geographical region of interest.

Dealing With Down Markets (Portfolio Buy)

2018-02-21T11:27:00.003+00:00

"Prices can go down as well as up" - the standard disclaimer for investors in securities. It's all fun while prices are rising...but sobering when markets are heading southwards.

After a pleasing Santa Rally in December, January and February have been horror stories, with a worldwide pull-back in share prices. The DIY Income Investor portfolio is back to the value it was a year ago.

How to deal with this kind of knock-back?

Read more »

High Yields in London

2018-01-15T15:02:00.004+00:00

For DIY Income Investors able to access it, Shares magazine has an interesting article on investing for income: 'Give yourself an income boost with stocks and funds yielding more than 5%'

Of course, yield is not everything and the article goes on to discuss some of the pitfalls and problems associated with high yield investing.
Read more »

In Search Of Utility (Portfolio Buy)

2018-01-10T11:39:00.005+00:00

Economists use the term 'utility' to explain behaviour - essentially it relates to the benefit you gain from buying or selling something. People are simply expected to 'maximise their utility' - in other words, do things that make them feel better off.

That basic principle works pretty well - but when it comes to investing, the new discipline of behavioural economics has found that it is all a lot more complicated.

Read more »

Goodbye 2017

2018-01-09T13:17:00.001+00:00

Source

Happy New Year to all DIY investors!

The DIY Income Investor portfolio has done OK during 2017 - but a number of poor investment choices held back the overall total return.

So - how to make better choices in the New Year?

Read more »