Investing, sharing my new portfolio

[Lowbankclaret]

Good on you, Lowbank.
Wish I was half as organised!
Am 46, almost 47.
Been teaching 22 years.
Want to get out soon, do something else for ten years or so, then retire.
Any advice welcome!

To be fair we are all individuals with individual financials. Whilst it has been pointed out I am not a financial advisor , having been advised by many financial advisors they are in to for their profit not yours . If you ask CT for my email we could chat off forum.

[whentheballmoves]

Thanks! Mine is this username @hotmail.com ☺

[Lowbankclaret]

No worries, you can post what you want - as long as it's not about Covid, race or politics. I'm just giving my opinion.

I am really trying to stay away from Covid. And you can express your opinion without criticism from me.

[Lowbankclaret]

Thanks! Mine is this username @hotmail.com ☺

Email sent.

[Lowbankclaret]

Plus if my portfolio has lost 10 grand on the first of Jan 2021, I don’t have anywhere to hide I promised to post it which I will

[whentheballmoves]

Cheers!

[Shadeyclaret]

I don’t normally bother with aim stocks but greatland gold has done very well for me

[levraiclaret]

Good on you, Lowbank.
Wish I was half as organised!
Am 46, almost 47.
Been teaching 22 years.
Want to get out soon, do something else for ten years or so, then retire.
Any advice welcome!

If I may be presumptuous wtbm
there may well be an economic downturn next year
don't undervalue job security,
give it another year before making the change,
unless you have a dream vocation that you really must seize.

[Paul Waine]

There have been lots of threads on here about investing. I shared some AIM investments in the past that made money and some that didn’t.
So now I am retired and have been researching an investment portfolio for my holiday fund. Any money I make each year, the missus and I will spend on holidays. I have spent 6 months doing the research before setting this up . But it’s real money, so people can follow what happens over the coming months and years.
Strategy is to get 10-20% growth, which I will cash in and spend on holidays.

Set up a week ago and the first week was very good, so a good start.

Happy to answer any questions on why this fund or that fund etc.

84183D26-C64A-4D5D-9480-2F4DB838AF94.png

Hi Lowbank, I feel uneasy about you posting your personal investment portfolio in this way on this mb. It runs the risk of misleading some people who don't have your experience and aren't at your stage in life.

I think it's great to encourage people to thing about the future and to consider what they need to do to have sound finances relevant to their personal situation - though it may not always be possible to have sound finances behind you. However, it is also important to have the flexibility to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances, whether directly in their personal life, changes in family situation, changes in employment (new job opportunity or redundancy..) or changes in their health or the health of those near to them and the "macro" changes in the country and the economy, for example, a situation similar to the financial crash of 2008 or the current covid pandemic, or something else equally unforeseen.

As this is a football message board, and the subject has been touched on on another thread in recent days, imagine a young academy or development squad player who is aiming to break through as a young professional, but doesn't make the grade and is released by his club - these youngsters need guidance that is not "look at my investment portfolio..." even while they are seeing other members of the academy progress to their first £X,000/week contract, where money becomes very cheap and "gains or losses on an investment portfolio" are of no consequence. And, we can extend this simple example to people all the way through their life and careers.

So, that's my "big philosophy" picture - let's not mislead the people who can't afford to be misled.

Then, there's some of the details.
1) You say your "strategy is to get 10-20% growth, which I will cash in and spend on holidays." This is ridiculous. No share portfolio can achieve 10-20% growth on an ongoing basis. We are in a period of low returns - and we have been for the past several years, this is not just a pandemic low return investment market - with a lot of volatility from period to period. I doubt anyone who held positions in Jan-2020 will have got any significant gains in Jan-2021 - the market fell enormously when the covid hit in Jan/Feb/Mar - there's been some movement towards recovering some of the losses with the news about vaccines in the past few days - but there's also been a lot of QE pumped into the markets by all the central bankers.
2) You show a portfolio that cost £38k and has risen to £39k. You mention AIM investments you've had previously - yes, avoid AIM unless everything you place there you can afford to lose. None of the funds you list are AIM. The funds are all overseas market funds, America, China, Asia, Europe, S&P 500. They are all valued in GBP - so how much of the gain is a result of holding non-GBP assets translated into GBP on the valuation date? What did GBP do against USD, Euro etc in this period - and what might the next move be in FX? These may be good "long term" holdings, but you are expressing a strategy of 10-20% return each year and indicating that you plan to display your performance every month. Again, there is the risk of people misunderstanding what results you are seeing with your portfolio - and making the mistake of things something similar may be successful for them without understanding the parameters.
3) What are the risk ratings of each of the funds? You don't show that for your portfolio. What are the aims of these funds and the constituent assets? People need to know and understand these things before they start investing.
4) What are you holiday plans? Do you plan to return your portfolio value to £38k every year and realise any gain on the portfolio? What will you do if the portfolio has fallen below £38k? Will you add funds to bring it back to your starting level and not have a holiday that year?

5) Not directly your portfolio, but illustrates my concern of people being misled: md posted "I've grown it from around £25k to just shy of £300k." Sounds fantastic - expect it's not accurate. He goes on to say that he's added "some hefty payments" to the fund - who knows he might have added as much as £275k to bring his fund up to £300k.

I think you've done great with your personal pension arrangements. I'm sure you were also a great engineer with RR. I'm with one or two others who've posted on this thread, I feel uneasy about the subject matter where it can be misunderstood and lead to regrettable outcomes for others.

I'm equally not a financial advisor. I do have some experience of finance. I do have my own pension portfolio - but, I'm not going to share it with others who post ideas about what people might and might not consider doing with their own funds/money. My personal opinion is that it can create a lot more harm than debating covid and politics and anything else that has been called "off limits."

That's all. I'm finished.

[Bertiebeehead]

There have been lots of threads on here about investing. I shared some AIM investments in the past that made money and some that didn’t.
So now I am retired and have been researching an investment portfolio for my holiday fund. Any money I make each year, the missus and I will spend on holidays. I have spent 6 months doing the research before setting this up . But it’s real money, so people can follow what happens over the coming months and years.
Strategy is to get 10-20% growth, which I will cash in and spend on holidays.

Set up a week ago and the first week was very good, so a good start.

Happy to answer any questions on why this fund or that fund etc.

84183D26-C64A-4D5D-9480-2F4DB838AF94.png

Look at me, I’m rich!!

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Something kids of today do not even think about it, I was doing it at 16.

I’ll happily follow your progress and wish you every success but take umbrage at that sentence. As far as pensions go we’ve been the golden generation. Most kids today are having to rely on the bank of Mum & Dad just to get a mortgage and that, IMO, should be their priority. Those I know, on decent salaries, are savvy enough to be putting away what they can to a pension, with no guarantee of what the future holds in this fast changing world.

[Lowbankclaret]

Look at me, I’m rich!!

To be fair , rich is another debate. Many people earn in a couple of years what took me a lifetime to save.
Footballers earn it in a few weeks.

But I respect your entitlement to your opinion.

[2 Bee Holed]

What is?

Whilst volunteering at the food bank on Friday a pensioner came in with a cheque.
It was inside a card addressed to me.
The card contained a note saying she was donating her 'Winter Fuel Allowance' to us.
Inside was a cheque for £100.

Now I don't know if you give to charity or not. It's your money do as you please with it.
If you've got £38,000 you can gamble with good for you.
However, I do think its obscene to tell us you are gambling it on trying to pay for next year's holiday.
There are scores of charities that would love just part of your £38k.

But to come on here and flaunt your wealth during such devastating times, is in my opinion, obscenely tactless.

https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/09/1 ... d-bank-use

sorry about the size of image

100 card 2.jpg (129.78 KiB) Viewed 3195 times

[CaptJohn]

I think that one or two people have got the "wrong end of the stick" from the OP. I think he genuinely is trying to encourage people to save for the future and is giving them some pretty solid advice as to how to go about it, in a cost managed manner. Anyone thinking that the state pension will see them right in the future is deluding themselves. A few bob put away now into some decent funds as LBC suggest will see considerable growth over time and give you a nice nest egg to retire on. Using tax efficient vehicles such as SIPPS and ISAs will make it even better.

[whentheballmoves]

If I may be presumptuous wtbm
there may well be an economic downturn next year
don't undervalue job security,
give it another year before making the change,
unless you have a dream vocation that you really must seize.

Merci, levraiclaret

Yes, I know what you mean about the conimice downturn, pot covid and post Brexit.

I will certainly look before I leap...though I believe that the Japanese word for "recession" is the same as the word for "opportunity", so you never know! Especially if I have some £££ coming from the few shares I hold in BFC...might offer me a bit more security. We'll see...

Either that, or I need a job from someone who thinks a 47 year old teacher has plenty of skills they could use in their organisation...happy to listen to offers! Email details further up the thread!

[TVC15]

I think that one or two people have got the "wrong end of the stick" from the OP. I think he genuinely is trying to encourage people to save for the future and is giving them some pretty solid advice as to how to go about it, in a cost managed manner. Anyone thinking that the state pension will see them right in the future is deluding themselves. A few bob put away now into some decent funds as LBC suggest will see considerable growth over time and give you a nice nest egg to retire on. Using tax efficient vehicles such as SIPPS and ISAs will make it even better.

Think you are probably are probably correct but at best it’s misguided - and at worst I can see the argument that some would say it’s obscene to be quoting the amounts at times like this (just to be clear I’m more in the it’s just a bit crass camp but definitely misguided).

It’s not good advice either for people who have little spare money - whatever age they are - to be effectively gambling that in high risk funds. I’m not saying it as bad as putting it on red or black at the Casino but it’s the same kind of principle in terms of so many factors being out of your control and the lack of certainty about whether you win or lose.

I’d encourage everyone to save for the future - whatever your financial position is. Go check out your local credit union - ours in this local one in Burnley is fantastic. Nearly 10,000 members many of which are struggling financially. A big percentage of these members save money as well as borrow.

And if young people want to save up for their future to be able to buy their first house then the life time ISA is the route you would tell them - 25% guarantee growth a year (maximum £4K invested). How can what is being proposed in the OP be a better option than this in terms of “saving for your future”

Telling people not to use a financial advisor because they are only doing it for their own benefit is also daft and again misguided and ill informed. I’m not saying it’s for everyone or necessary in every situation.

[Paul Waine]

Now I don't know if you give to charity or not. It's your money do as you please with it.
If you've got £38,000 you can gamble with good for you.
However, I do think its obscene to tell us you are gambling it on trying to pay for next year's holiday.
There are scores of charities that would love just part of your £38k.

Hi 2BH, see my post above about misleading and being misunderstood.... also, my comments about people at different stages in their lives and different personal situations.

That being said, the OP is not saying "I've got £38,000 to gamble with....." He's saying I've got £38k of savings and I'm happy to invest with the aim of achieving 10-20% return every year. There is a big difference between "gambling" and "investing" and it's important people understand that difference before they consider looking at stocks and shares as a place for some of their money (if they have some money). 10-20% per annum is unrealistic. It may be achieved or it may not be achieved in one year or even 2 years out of every 5. It's also possible that one of those 5 will be down 10-20%... Stocks and shares are for long term investing. They will almost certainly beat cash savings over the long term, but you need to understand what you are doing and how to get out as well as get in.

[taio]

The best way of saving for some people would be paying off their mortgage, loan and/or credit card quicker than they would do otherwise. Plus saving to buy things upfront rather than purchasing under a finance plan that commits them for say 2-3 years. Stocks and shares are a great medium to long term flexible investment for many other people though particularly through an ISA which is what I do.

[Dy1geo]

Hi 2BH, see my post above about misleading and being misunderstood.... also, my comments about people at different stages in their lives and different personal situations.

That being said, the OP is not saying "I've got £38,000 to gamble with....." He's saying I've got £38k of savings and I'm happy to invest with the aim of achieving 10-20% return every year. There is a big difference between "gambling" and "investing" and it's important people understand that difference before they consider looking at stocks and shares as a place for some of their money (if they have some money). 10-20% per annum is unrealistic. It may be achieved or it may not be achieved in one year or even 2 years out of every 5. It's also possible that one of those 5 will be down 10-20%... Stocks and shares are for long term investing. They will almost certainly beat cash savings over the long term, but you need to understand what you are doing and how to get out as well as get in.

Agree with all your posts, there is a reason why Martin Lewis doesn’t provide any in investment advice is that he is not authorised to do so. The OP and this message board should be very careful about posting anything that can be seen as advice without providing a long caveat at the very least.

We are in a 12 year bull market driven largely through QE but bull markets naturally end and I wouldn’t like the thought that someone has switched more out of cash than they can lose just because Deposits are attracting low returns only to invest at the top of the market and not be in a position to see out the recovery. Buying funds on Past Performance has its own risks, I have just looked at the BG American fund fact sheet and will agree that the returns have been impressive driven largely by the funds exposure to Tech but people have to think will these Tech Valuations continue to rise as the fund manager must think so or will there be a pull back from these stocks and if so you could see a drop in value.

If you take your own Investment decisions you are on your own, even though you have the ludicrous position of Investors seeking to sue HL because they had Woodford on their favoured list.

[whentheballmoves]

The best way of saving for some people would be paying off their mortgage, loan and/or credit card quicker than they would do otherwise. Plus saving to buy things upfront rather than purchasing under a finance plan that commits them for say 2-3 years. Stocks and shares are a great medium to long term flexible investment for many other people though particularly through an ISA which is what I do.

To be honest, that's what MrsWTBM and I have been doing, and will probably continue to do so. She's more risk averse than me, which is fine...stops me doing most silly things LOL.

Anyone got any experience setting up a micropub and/or bottle shop? Thinking of that, pretty near to SWFC's ground, so would welcome experienced people and / or investors!

[clarethomer]

If you are a 18 year old football fan on here reading this, please don't be discouraged by the figures you are seeing.

You could easily have more money than what has been posted on here after 40 + years of working if you take intentional steps today.

Unfortunately, times are hard for some and the world is in a pretty rubbish place at the moment but if you understand how small amounts today can make those larger amounts in the future then taking some small steps today will mean your future self will thank you.

People talking about 750k as being an obscene amount of money. If you are 18 and you invest £20 per week with a 1% increase amount to this each year by investing in a low cost tracker fund, you are likely to get to similar amounts ahead of your retirement. This doesn't assume you put more money in as your get pay rises, nor does it take into account having to do any fancy stock picking. Just choose a passive fund which tracks something like the S&P or FTSE (or a spread of indices) then it should be pretty much set and forget.

I get colleagues telling me how they have earned 30-50% returns on certain funds by actively managing their portfolios but I just take a long term view that if I can average 7-10% growth per year ON AVERAGE (so some years will be less and some will be more) then my financial future is taken care of.

Picking individual stocks is high risk in my view and my approach seems pretty boring and vanilla - long term I am confident that this is the right approach.

I do have the qualifications to talk about these things but what works for me may not be right for others and everyones circumstances are different.

The purpose of making this post is that whilst there are accusations of insensitivities in talking about money in a time like this. For me this is absolutely the best time to be talking about money.

I know there are people feeling the strain more than others around money. Some may have been more resilient that others but my hope is that this experience will help people want to better financially plan for the future and that these posts serve as some form of education in trying to get people to move away from short term thinking to doing their future selves a favour.

[Bertiebeehead]

474C8FA7-1D9C-437A-BB75-AD815C9540AE.jpeg (143.67 KiB) Viewed 3072 times

[Lowbankclaret]

Hi Lowbank, I feel uneasy about you posting your personal investment portfolio in this way on this mb. It runs the risk of misleading some people who don't have your experience and aren't at your stage in life.

I think it's great to encourage people to thing about the future and to consider what they need to do to have sound finances relevant to their personal situation - though it may not always be possible to have sound finances behind you. However, it is also important to have the flexibility to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances, whether directly in their personal life, changes in family situation, changes in employment (new job opportunity or redundancy..) or changes in their health or the health of those near to them and the "macro" changes in the country and the economy, for example, a situation similar to the financial crash of 2008 or the current covid pandemic, or something else equally unforeseen.

As this is a football message board, and the subject has been touched on on another thread in recent days, imagine a young academy or development squad player who is aiming to break through as a young professional, but doesn't make the grade and is released by his club - these youngsters need guidance that is not "look at my investment portfolio..." even while they are seeing other members of the academy progress to their first £X,000/week contract, where money becomes very cheap and "gains or losses on an investment portfolio" are of no consequence. And, we can extend this simple example to people all the way through their life and careers.

So, that's my "big philosophy" picture - let's not mislead the people who can't afford to be misled.

Then, there's some of the details.
1) You say your "strategy is to get 10-20% growth, which I will cash in and spend on holidays." This is ridiculous. No share portfolio can achieve 10-20% growth on an ongoing basis. We are in a period of low returns - and we have been for the past several years, this is not just a pandemic low return investment market - with a lot of volatility from period to period. I doubt anyone who held positions in Jan-2020 will have got any significant gains in Jan-2021 - the market fell enormously when the covid hit in Jan/Feb/Mar - there's been some movement towards recovering some of the losses with the news about vaccines in the past few days - but there's also been a lot of QE pumped into the markets by all the central bankers.
2) You show a portfolio that cost £38k and has risen to £39k. You mention AIM investments you've had previously - yes, avoid AIM unless everything you place there you can afford to lose. None of the funds you list are AIM. The funds are all overseas market funds, America, China, Asia, Europe, S&P 500. They are all valued in GBP - so how much of the gain is a result of holding non-GBP assets translated into GBP on the valuation date? What did GBP do against USD, Euro etc in this period - and what might the next move be in FX? These may be good "long term" holdings, but you are expressing a strategy of 10-20% return each year and indicating that you plan to display your performance every month. Again, there is the risk of people misunderstanding what results you are seeing with your portfolio - and making the mistake of things something similar may be successful for them without understanding the parameters.
3) What are the risk ratings of each of the funds? You don't show that for your portfolio. What are the aims of these funds and the constituent assets? People need to know and understand these things before they start investing.
4) What are you holiday plans? Do you plan to return your portfolio value to £38k every year and realise any gain on the portfolio? What will you do if the portfolio has fallen below £38k? Will you add funds to bring it back to your starting level and not have a holiday that year?

5) Not directly your portfolio, but illustrates my concern of people being misled: md posted "I've grown it from around £25k to just shy of £300k." Sounds fantastic - expect it's not accurate. He goes on to say that he's added "some hefty payments" to the fund - who knows he might have added as much as £275k to bring his fund up to £300k.

I think you've done great with your personal pension arrangements. I'm sure you were also a great engineer with RR. I'm with one or two others who've posted on this thread, I feel uneasy about the subject matter where it can be misunderstood and lead to regrettable outcomes for others.

I'm equally not a financial advisor. I do have some experience of finance. I do have my own pension portfolio - but, I'm not going to share it with others who post ideas about what people might and might not consider doing with their own funds/money. My personal opinion is that it can create a lot more harm than debating covid and politics and anything else that has been called "off limits."

That's all. I'm finished.

I am not suggesting people do as I do.
1/. I have had investment portfolios that have achieved 10-20% year on year, but I agree there can be years where you investments don’t make anything.
2/. I hope no one misunderstands the risks and if they do start to do investments they do some research. There are loads of places to get good info. Utube has pensioncraft which gives people lots of info. Mr Farage has just started a new website called fortune and freedom. When I started investing you had to go into the bank and ask them to buy shares for you and you got a certificate weeks later. Research and more research is always the key and people today have unlimited sources to learn from.
3/. All the funds I have bought are high risk except for the S&P500 index tracker. The info on each fund is easily available on several platforms.
4/. The missus and I would like to spend some time in Italy up and down the coast and our yearly trip to Tenerife. If it falls below 38k I will not be adding more funds. And yes your right we will not be going on holiday. Future plans are fluid, should it make 20%, we will withdraw some money to go on a holiday. But not take it below 38k. If it builds higher we will just have some more holidays.

5/. I was certainly not trying to mislead anyone and I agree the statement £25k to £300k can be misleading. Sharing my Aim share results was my way of showing it can go horribly wrong and trying to provide some balance that investing has risks.


However, I hope some people follow the thread and they might watch how it goes and maybe try to invest some money for their futures.
I still remember being 16 and having a presentation as a snotty apprentice giving us advice on saving for retirement and paying extra in. It seemed so far away then but those extra payments throughout my career have led to me being able to retire. I also think the people of today will have less state pension going forward. If this gets them to save some money , that’s good I think.

Like I did say I was happy to answer any question and have had some email traffic today.

Some people may be uncomfortable with the subject matter, but I will share the monthly results good or bad. It’s a real portfolio and people can judge on the basis of factual results. They will not altered in anyway.

[Lowbankclaret]

If you are a 18 year old football fan on here reading this, please don't be discouraged by the figures you are seeing.

You could easily have more money than what has been posted on here after 40 + years of working if you take intentional steps today.

Unfortunately, times are hard for some and the world is in a pretty rubbish place at the moment but if you understand how small amounts today can make those larger amounts in the future then taking some small steps today will mean your future self will thank you.

People talking about 750k as being an obscene amount of money. If you are 18 and you invest £20 per week with a 1% increase amount to this each year by investing in a low cost tracker fund, you are likely to get to similar amounts ahead of your retirement. This doesn't assume you put more money in as your get pay rises, nor does it take into account having to do any fancy stock picking. Just choose a passive fund which tracks something like the S&P or FTSE (or a spread of indices) then it should be pretty much set and forget.

I get colleagues telling me how they have earned 30-50% returns on certain funds by actively managing their portfolios but I just take a long term view that if I can average 7-10% growth per year ON AVERAGE (so some years will be less and some will be more) then my financial future is taken care of.

Picking individual stocks is high risk in my view and my approach seems pretty boring and vanilla - long term I am confident that this is the right approach.

I do have the qualifications to talk about these things but what works for me may not be right for others and everyones circumstances are different.

The purpose of making this post is that whilst there are accusations of insensitivities in talking about money in a time like this. For me this is absolutely the best time to be talking about money.

I know there are people feeling the strain more than others around money. Some may have been more resilient that others but my hope is that this experience will help people want to better financially plan for the future and that these posts serve as some form of education in trying to get people to move away from short term thinking to doing their future selves a favour.

Thank you for that and I agree.

The earlier you start saving the better, I started putting in extra at 16. It’s paid off luckily.

Times are hard, lots of my friends and colleagues have lost our jobs and many more are about to. If I had not been doing what I did from 16, I would currently be unemployed trying to find a new job. Possibly lose my house etc.

[Lowbankclaret]

Whilst volunteering at the food bank on Friday a pensioner came in with a cheque.
It was inside a card addressed to me.
The card contained a note saying she was donating her 'Winter Fuel Allowance' to us.
Inside was a cheque for £100.

Now I don't know if you give to charity or not. It's your money do as you please with it.
If you've got £38,000 you can gamble with good for you.
However, I do think its obscene to tell us you are gambling it on trying to pay for next year's holiday.
There are scores of charities that would love just part of your £38k.

But to come on here and flaunt your wealth during such devastating times, is in my opinion, obscenely tactless.

https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/09/1 ... d-bank-use

100 card 2.jpg

I respect your post and your work.

Email CT and I am sure he will give you my email address.
I will then try and help.

[ClaretCraig]

Just looks like a bragging exercise to me.

[Lowbankclaret]

Just looks like a bragging exercise to me.

Ido apologise if that’s how it has come across, I am hoping it’s more about some people saving for their futures and seeing you can grow investments for your future.
Having done investing for 30 years I have made some monumental mistakes. Mainly because the information was not out there as it is today.
If you think losing £3k is bragging then I disagree. Post my divorce that was all the money I had left and looked at high risk Aim shares to make some quick returns. As you can see I lost it all. For ten years I have had no money to invest, I was just paying bills and maintenance.

After 30 years I think I have learnt how best to invest and have shared it. If it all goes tits up you can all have good laugh at my expense.

If it’s successful people might want to have a go at saving and investing for their futures.

No one can predict how it’s going to go, but for sure I will not manipulate the results.

[Rileybobs]

Ido apologise if that’s how it has come across, I am hoping it’s more about some people saving for their futures and seeing you can grow investments for your future.
Having done investing for 30 years I have made some monumental mistakes. Mainly because the information was not out there as it is today.
If you think losing £3k is bragging then I disagree. Post my divorce that was all the money I had left and looked at high risk Aim shares to make some quick returns. As you can see I lost it all. For ten years I have had no money to invest, I was just paying bills and maintenance.

After 30 years I think I have learnt how best to invest and have shared it. If it all goes tits up you can all have good laugh at my expense.

If it’s successful people might want to have a go at saving and investing for their futures.

No one can predict how it’s going to go, but for sure I will not manipulate the results.

Nobody is claiming that you will manipulate the results. And you don't need to keep telling everyone how good you've been at saving for the future. Some people just think that you gambling a very large amount of cash to determine the quality of holiday you can afford and posting it on here for entertainment purposes is crass. If you don't agree then that's fine, but that's clearly how it's been interpreted by some people.

[DCWat]

I’m not suggesting that you’re doing anything untoward, Lowbank, and I do agree that planning for the future is something to be encouraged.

However, I agree with other posters, that this is not the right forum. If topics covering religion, politics or other potentially contentious issues are currently taboo, a post discussing investments, that could ultimately lose money as well as they could make money, isn’t right on here.

Someone could easily read your posts and ‘take a chance’. Whilst there may be research and knowledge backing up your investments, the same could be said for someone gambling on the outcome of a sporting event.

The consequences of someone punting on your investments, and seeing a negative outcome, could be very serious. Far more so than choosing between a fortnight in Tenerife and a five star stay in the Maldives.

[Lowbankclaret]

Nobody is claiming that you will manipulate the results. And you don't need to keep telling everyone how good you've been at saving for the future. Some people just think that you gambling a very large amount of cash to determine the quality of holiday you can afford and posting it on here for entertainment purposes is crass. If you don't agree then that's fine, but that's clearly how it's been interpreted by some people.

I will disagree that’s it’s a large amount of money, just about each Burnley player earns that amount each week. That’s not seen as crass. Plus they spend it on very expensive cars which we all walk past on match days.
The results will be the same whether it’s £380, £3800 or £3.8 million.
You see it as entertainment, I am hopefully showing you can invest for a better future.

[Lowbankclaret]

Anyone who is reading this thinking they want to know more. Here is a link to a very good utube channel where you can watch and learn.
https://youtu.be/HeWLcsgBpgM

[KateR]

seems every subject thread is a divisive one these days, can see both points of view, there have been odd times I have thought about posting something, but within 5 nanoseconds decided not to for exactly the type of comments, attacks and abuse being posted here. If someone posts something that some think well they are just showing off then it seems to cause problems no one really wants, with the accusations, just another topic similar to politics/C-19, etc for people to have a go at.

For me the one thing we should have all learned is that things happen, we have had the 2008 crash, C-19 in terms of dramatic effects to our normal daily lives in terms of the simple things we expect, such as being able to go to to work, events outside virtually anyone's control has shown life is not fair.

I think a post on things like "it's a good idea to start saving at the earliest opportunity" should be welcome, I am positive myself there was nothing written that said you must save and look you could be as rich as me, I didn't see any malice in the post. I thought it was maybe brave or foolish to post an actual portfolio but definitely for me interesting and obviously there have been numerous investing type threads lately, for me more a sharing of ideas, you can find different things you never thought about.

All households I would think have different opinions on "how can we save more money" numerous structures and numerous risks regardless of how much you have, certainly in our households it was divisive from the beginning, savings account versus investing, but discussion and understanding helped and life continues, here I am talking about a young couple with very little to spare. We have certainly been effected in the past with one of us losing there job and the "savings" had to be raided and belt tightening for months, if you avoid this in your working life time you are very lucky indeed.

just a little rambling, sorry.

[Boss Hogg]

Speaking as a very experienced stock picker this is completely the wrong forum and if political posts are being banned then this certainly should. I’m surprised the mods haven’t pulled this and similar threads.

[robclaret]

Well I found this very interesting.I was hoping for some tips or advice. If I was doing well in something,I'd to share. I like to bet on football and do ok, but I wouldn't encourage others because you have to be able to restrain yourself.Obviously be able to accept the losses without financal struggle. I do this by betting small and within my limits.I do believe though you can do the some with shares. Ive been doing shares for about 4 months. Just very recently ive discovered a different way. I work not long term,but in and out. I was holding Rolls Royce shares. Watching relentlessly. There can be a trend. If I'd cashed out when I was up and bought when it dropped,I'd be way better off. My idea with RR was long term but I think my strategy of in and out pays.It's more often. I think this is called day training. I hadn't seen this mentioned, so I have. BTW I'm losing,{not alot} but I think it's the way. I can pick a share and when to get it, just maybe hold to much. .. but I am learning. Dropping is as important as buying.

[robclaret]

Well I found this very interesting.I was hoping for some tips or advice. If I was doing well in something,I'd like to share. I like to bet on football and do ok, but I wouldn't encourage others because you have to be able to restrain yourself.Obviously be able to accept the losses without financal struggle. I do this by betting small and within my limits.I do believe though you can do the same with shares. Ive been doing shares for about 4 months. Just very recently ive discovered a different way. I work not long term,but in and out. I was holding Rolls Royce shares. Watching relentlessly. There can be a trend. If I'd cashed out when I was up and bought when it dropped,I'd be way better off. My idea with RR was long term but I think my strategy of in and out pays.It's more often. I think this is called day training. I hadn't seen this mentioned, so I have. BTW I'm losing,{not alot} but I think it's the way. I can pick a share and when to get it, just maybe hold to much. .. but I am learning. Dropping is as important as buying.

[Lowbankclaret]

Speaking as a very experienced stock picker this is completely the wrong forum and if political posts are being banned then this certainly should. I’m surprised the mods haven’t pulled this and similar threads.

If this forum becomes just about football, it’s going to get very boring. If only because football is getting very boring. I think we need some positivity in the world. Just trying to provide some.

[KateR]

Well I found this very interesting.I was hoping for some tips or advice.

Dropping is as important as buying.

Been plenty of investment threads, yet I totally agree this is not the place for getting advise and reacting on it other than thinking, that's interesting, I will get more advise, professional advise. Certainly tips regarding things that you might not understand how things like warrants, AIM and hedge funds work but it is essential in my opinion never to make investments or portfolio changes from anything posted here.

Letting things go across the spectrum of life work and everything, including investments is very difficult, often it is the "pride" we have that stops us but it is a critical element in everything we do. Just remember that what you or anyone drops, people are watching and are looking to buy when it's low enough

Very different styles to saving and investing, I have zero interest in day trading but for some it works and for others it is how they make a living but they still get things wrong.

[Lowbankclaret]

Well I found this very interesting.I was hoping for some tips or advice. If I was doing well in something,I'd like to share. I like to bet on football and do ok, but I wouldn't encourage others because you have to be able to restrain yourself.Obviously be able to accept the losses without financal struggle. I do this by betting small and within my limits.I do believe though you can do the same with shares. Ive been doing shares for about 4 months. Just very recently ive discovered a different way. I work not long term,but in and out. I was holding Rolls Royce shares. Watching relentlessly. There can be a trend. If I'd cashed out when I was up and bought when it dropped,I'd be way better off. My idea with RR was long term but I think my strategy of in and out pays.It's more often. I think this is called day training. I hadn't seen this mentioned, so I have. BTW I'm losing,{not alot} but I think it's the way. I can pick a share and when to get it, just maybe hold to much. .. but I am learning. Dropping is as important as buying.

Having worked for RR for 23 years I think it’s a brave move buying shares in RR.
Whilst some have said I am gambling, in a true sense it’s correct. But not like putting £10 on a horse in the 3:30 at Lincoln.
As I have posted buying shares can be very similar to just gambling. I have been honest and shared my losses so in no way pretending it is a bed of roses of just wins.
Day trading is very speculative and very much like gambling.

I did lots of that when I was younger, I humbly suggest the longer term strategy might be a better option.

[robclaret]

I was just saying how I've changed my trading method. Watching a few shares, definately trends to be found. I'm small time but thats because I keep to limits. Seen many shares go up and down 3,4,5 times a day. In and out pays better than long term in my view, but I am only guessing Kate.

[CaptJohn]

Day trading is gambling TBH. There is money to be made and lost. I had a flutter on IAG a few weeks back and made 22% in one day. Carnival was another I made money on but I'm really a buy and hold man myself.

[robclaret]

Lowbank, I see something move and top out and drop. Constantly doing the same thing, It seems feasable my idea could work.I'm just looking and watching. Ups and downs, just not betting the ranch lol.

[Paul Waine]

I am not suggesting people do as I do.
1/. I have had investment portfolios that have achieved 10-20% year on year, but I agree there can be years where you investments don’t make anything.
2/. I hope no one misunderstands the risks and if they do start to do investments they do some research. There are loads of places to get good info. Utube has pensioncraft which gives people lots of info. Mr Farage has just started a new website called fortune and freedom. When I started investing you had to go into the bank and ask them to buy shares for you and you got a certificate weeks later. Research and more research is always the key and people today have unlimited sources to learn from.
3/. All the funds I have bought are high risk except for the S&P500 index tracker. The info on each fund is easily available on several platforms.
4/. The missus and I would like to spend some time in Italy up and down the coast and our yearly trip to Tenerife. If it falls below 38k I will not be adding more funds. And yes your right we will not be going on holiday. Future plans are fluid, should it make 20%, we will withdraw some money to go on a holiday. But not take it below 38k. If it builds higher we will just have some more holidays.

5/. I was certainly not trying to mislead anyone and I agree the statement £25k to £300k can be misleading. Sharing my Aim share results was my way of showing it can go horribly wrong and trying to provide some balance that investing has risks.


However, I hope some people follow the thread and they might watch how it goes and maybe try to invest some money for their futures.
I still remember being 16 and having a presentation as a snotty apprentice giving us advice on saving for retirement and paying extra in. It seemed so far away then but those extra payments throughout my career have led to me being able to retire. I also think the people of today will have less state pension going forward. If this gets them to save some money , that’s good I think.

Like I did say I was happy to answer any question and have had some email traffic today.

Some people may be uncomfortable with the subject matter, but I will share the monthly results good or bad. It’s a real portfolio and people can judge on the basis of factual results. They will not altered in anyway.

Thanks, Lowbank. I think you've got your "head screwed on" with your personal financial planning. I think I'm correct in recalling that you've posted before about your job going at RR. I'm pleased you are in the position where you can chose to retire. I retired earlier this year, also. I'm now trying to work out all the intricacies of drawdown and where I can get the best deal. Alongside that, I'm planning to travel in my retirement, though that is getting off to a slower start than I'd imagined.

Take care.

[Lowbankclaret]

Lowbank, I see something move and top out and drop. Constantly doing the same thing, It seems feasable my idea could work.I'm just looking and watching. Ups and downs, just not betting the ranch lol.

Yes it can work, my mother bought and sold Morrison shares for years, understood the lows and the highs and made a lot of money.
I am just saying it’s very speculative.

I am hoping I can show by investing you can get good growth.

[TVC15]

I will disagree that’s it’s a large amount of money, just about each Burnley player earns that amount each week. That’s not seen as crass. Plus they spend it on very expensive cars which we all walk past on match days.
The results will be the same whether it’s £380, £3800 or £3.8 million.
You see it as entertainment, I am hopefully showing you can invest for a better future.

Of course what footballers earn is seen as crass - the majority of people think it’s obscene. But even footballers (or most of them !) aren’t daft enough to post details of their wealth or earnings on public websites.

For you to suggest that nearly £40k in a high risk portfolio for you to play about with to fund holidays after also telling all the amount of your very healthy pension is not a large amount is just so ill informed.

Do you know what the average pension pot is in the UK ?
It’s around £50k...and to clarify that’s the pot which has to last them the rest of their retirement.

I know a big employer in east Lancashire - they employ going on for 1,500 staff. The vast majority of that workforce after working all their lives are walking out with pension pots of less than £100k each.

I originally said I thought your original post was pretty harmless but misguided. I think a number of your subsequent posts have been worse than misguided - and I think you providing your contact details to people who are seeing pound signs is completely inappropriate. You are not qualified and if people lose money on the funds you are suggesting there is zero comeback on you. Would you even be bothered if they did lose money ?

[robclaret]

No way am I saying my idea is right. its just something I'm trying. Cashout on the up. Small wins (like my footie bets) I most definately take advice. I'm on furlough Lowbank.I got my RR at 1.00 before the re issue.I can watch and do nothing.

[Lowbankclaret]

Of course what footballers earn is seen as crass - the majority of people think it’s obscene. But even footballers (or most of them !) aren’t daft enough to post details of their wealth or earnings on public websites.

For you to suggest that nearly £40k in a high risk portfolio for you to play about with to fund holidays after also telling all the amount of your very healthy pension is not a large amount is just so ill informed.

Do you know what the average pension pot is in the UK ?
It’s around £50k...and to clarify that’s the pot which has to last them the rest of their retirement.

I know a big employer in east Lancashire - they employ going on for 1,500 staff. The vast majority of that workforce after working all their lives are walking out with pension pots of less than £100k each.

I originally said I thought your original post was pretty harmless but misguided. I think a number of your subsequent posts have been worse than misguided - and I think you providing your contact details to people who are seeing pound signs is completely inappropriate. You are not qualified and if people lose money on the funds you are suggesting there is zero comeback on you. Would you even be bothered if they did lose money ?

I don’t see anyone on here saying Burnley players earnings are crass. To be fair many say we should be betting the ranch and paying more.

No one can live off 50k in retirement and maybe that’s the point they should take more interest and do more saving.

Not sure I have provide contact details. One guy posted his email and after many emails today he decided not to invest at all.
The only other person I asked to try contact me was the person who does food bank who if he contacts me I will try and help.

People can follow what I do lose or gain. But at no point do I say buy what I do.

[Jakubclaret]

I think some people are just bitter about somebody having some success, having said that though I don’t think it’s wise to disclose something that should be private as the wrong type of people could take advantage, not implying that’s the case just a possibility. I think you’ve got to be knowledgable to a certain degree to chance your arm at this.

[TVC15]

No one can live off 50k in retirement and maybe that’s the point they should take more interest and do more saving.

The very fact that I have to point out to you that they do not earn enough just adds to the overwhelming evidence that you really do not know what you are talking about.

[tarkys_ears]

Did someone really come on here telling the peasants he had £40k to splosh on shares?!!

Christ, there are people who can't afford fags and sky tv needing foodbanks you know! How are you have a spare penny to your name!

[Lowbankclaret]

Whilst volunteering at the food bank on Friday a pensioner came in with a cheque.
It was inside a card addressed to me.
The card contained a note saying she was donating her 'Winter Fuel Allowance' to us.
Inside was a cheque for £100.

Now I don't know if you give to charity or not. It's your money do as you please with it.
If you've got £38,000 you can gamble with good for you.
However, I do think its obscene to tell us you are gambling it on trying to pay for next year's holiday.
There are scores of charities that would love just part of your £38k.

But to come on here and flaunt your wealth during such devastating times, is in my opinion, obscenely tactless.

https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/09/1 ... d-bank-use

100 card 2.jpg

Still looking for your contact. If you don’t get to me through CT we will work something else out. Yes do want to help.