Hamish's Story

Before using Stockopedia I relied on 'hot tips' in magazines and occasional tips from friends.

Stockopedia has allowed me to approach investing from an informed basis. Data that I would not have been aware of or understood is easily interpreted through your charts and StockRanks. I can also use your numerous screens to adopt particular strategies and style of investing and to find companies in special sectors.

As a consequence my returns are much better and my investments safer. In short, I now have a method!

My advice, based on my methods, is to play safe mostly - but allow a bit of money for more adventurous bids. Be prepared to lose all of it, but it adds a bit of fun and sometimes pays off.

I also use a home-made spreadsheet to do 'value averaging'. This can be done just by investing a set amount at regular intervals, or by topping up your investment to a given value each time. Provided the value of your shares fluctuates, this method will, given time, reduce the average cost per share bought and increase the number of shares owned - thereby increasing dividends.