Barry's Story

Initially, I started out by subscribing to investing magazines to familiarise myself with shares. I always wanted to find a way to select them myself rather than rely on any fund manager doing it for me. When I did my MBA I was interested in companies and M&A and enjoyed company analysis. I started following Simon Thompson specifically as he focused on small cap stocks, which I found interesting. I then bought Simon's books and read through what he did. I wanted to broaden my knowledge and decided to attend a 'Naked Trader' seminar which a friend recommended. I also read his books and joined Stockopedia which he recommended in his book.

The key difference since I subscribed to Stockopedia is that I can easily find stocks using the Guru screens, have attended a number of webinars and have a more balanced portfolio. I tend to hold between 20 and 30 stocks with a mix between growth and momentum - and always one or two high risk speculative stocks which have served me well by multi-bagging. Stockopedia has also made it easier for me to analyse companies, as a lot of the hard graft is available without me crunching lots of numbers. I've also tried to pre-empt Simon's bargain shares by creating similar screens within Stockopedia which have served me well.

All of my shares investments are in my self-select ISA as all dividends and profits are tax free. I have put in the maximum amount each year since 2011 and am happy with my returns and investments.

In the last 3 years I have consistently outperformed the FTSE and my portfolio is at an all-time high. I really enjoy investing and set myself goals on how long I want to continue and what I expect to use the funds for later in life. I have also encouraged friends to join Stockopedia which they have also found useful.

My advice would be to start investing as early in life as possible, always use a self-select ISA if choosing your own. Do as much research as possible by reading a broad range of books. Hold your nerve, don't be persuaded by bulletin boards. Set goals, don't be afraid to run your winners or top slice. Use a reputable trading platform (IG, HL or AJ Bell). Don't be put off paying for knowledge on Stockopedia to help improve your selection of stocks.