Chris' Story

Mostly using ideas from publications such as newspapers and magazines.

Completely. I now follow an entirely rules based method of finding stocks and in fact have considered unsubscribing to certain publications as I can now generate my own ideas.

It's certainly improved results for the better as I now can avoid "crowded" trades and find my own opportunities. I'm happier with my investing but finding ideas rather than just following them does still take time. I actually probably spend just as much time now fiddling with screens and look at annual reports as I ever did reading articles. The difference now though is I'm in control - I feel so empowered as an investor now.

If you think you're interested in investing in individual companies then start by reading the many, many guides on Stockopedia. Get a feel for the sort of investor you think you are then use the screening tools to try and identify some stocks that meet your criteria. Very importantly, keep track of your performance - if you're not beating index tracker funds then you might be better finding a cheaper hobby!