Member Info for SadAct

I'm retired and receiving only the OAP, I have no other pension so I am reliant on investment income. I used to have a big spread of premium bonds (max amount), TESSA,ISAs, BS bonds, property and shares, probably equal proportions, I was acheiving about a 3.5% return. Now over the last 3 years, I have changed to almost entirely actively managed shares and property and I am getting a much better return. Even as I write this, the words "eggs and one basket" come to mind although my shareholdings are in about 18 companies covering different sectors

I'm sort of with you Fleccy, my strategy seems to have evolved into watching for companies whose share price is distressed (hopefully temporarily!), then I look for the reason and make a judgement. I also look at mkt cap and divi to colour my view. So if a FTSE 100 company has a biggish fall, say 5% or more in one day or a gradual larger decline over a period with good divi support then I will usually buy.... and here I am in VOD. It is a crued strategy but seems to be working for me.

Thanks Jackdaw, Although I have held shares for years, I think making a good profit on Amstrad got me hooked but I have the feeling that everyone was making money back then and I didn't have any particular skill. 4 years ago I found myself with more time on my hands and fancied trying my hand at day trading. On balance I did rather well (more luck I think than judgement)but then I made a massive loss on CLLN and that changed me into a short term profit seeker, I have since made back perhaps half my losses but the lesson was well learnt and I am more hesitant theses days. I take less risks. This means I make less but haven't had any big losses since CLLN......of course if I was to sell my BT holding today for example, then I would see a medium loss.
I love this game really, it's like a betting on a horse and letting it go around again if it isn't winning this time.

ta Jackdaw, it was the promise of high divi that tipped me into buying. Thing is, and excuse me for saying, I am a very short term investor and if I see a few hundred pounds profit then I sell and move on. It doesn't always work and I find it very hard to sell at a loss, so then I have to hold and tend to become a medium to long term investor with high hopes for a rosy future.

I agree with your comments on TD, now ii. I have been using TD for a long time then 2 years ago started a stocks and shares ISA with IG. I really like their dealing interface. Also they always seem to give me slightly better prices than the quoted BUY and SELL prices (which always align with TDs prices). It's much easier to view live prices during the 15sec offer period so it's easier to get a better price. Downside to IG is the day or two delay in divis arriving in account, the displayed "book cost" of shares doesn't include stamp duty or fees and finally their statements make hard reading.
I'm a new invester in VOD, bought last week at 144 when I thought they were a bargain, then again at 137 when they became a bigger bargain. No, I am not going to buy down anymore.