Robert's Story

I used my common sense, a number of free websites and scrutiny of a company's results. I've been investing since 1987, but really only heavily since 1999. At one time I partly used Financial advisors, but several years ago took everything back into my own hands. I don't invest in funds, only shares and investment trusts. In the old days I used to order company reports but now everything is online. I also played around with my own discounted cash flow calculations so I could understand them. I have five investment accounts, three with Hargreaves Lansdown and two with Charles Stanley Direct.

Somewhat. It has helped me identify good small cap shares with high potential, in which I try and have a small percentage of my portfolio invested (the major part of my portfolio is invested in long term buy and hold blue chip type shares). Since purchasing the US and European packages it has also helped me with a few non-UK investments. It has also made it easier to check on the valuation of the shares in my portfolios.

Yes. Stockopedia has helped to identify several small cap and foreign shares which have benefited the performance of my portfolios.

Don't try and time the market or get despondent when the market goes down and you appear to be losing money. To acquire a significant dividend stream is a major aim of any serious investor. Don't take profits from your winners too soon, hang on to them. Sell your losers as soon as it is obvious they are losers and don't take much notice of analysts advice.