Good Portfolio Result for 2021!

Despite the dislocations of Covid, 2021 has been a good year for the DIY Income Investor portfolio, which has registered a 16% increase in total value (i.e. market value + retained income). 

I hope your own efforts were well rewarded.

This past year has been one of isolation and inaction - maybe not much fun, but perhaps ideal for the DIY Income Investor:after all, there was more time for that all-important essential research.

AJ Bell Youinvest Dividend Monitor (Portfolio Buy)

If only there were a quarterly review of the highest-yielding FTSE 100 shares...

Cue the nice people from AJ Bell Youinvest 

Manchester BS Comes Good!

In the DIY Income Investor approach I try to put a brake on the most obvious behavioural biases that often hamper investors. For example, I have buying and selling 'rules' that curb the instinct to buy too quickly ("Ooh, it's shiny") - and sell too quickly ("Ooh, look how much money I've made").

However, my latest dilemma is not so easily resolved...

Here Comes The Sun (Portfolio Buy)

In the UK, at least, summer has started - taking us all a bit by surprise after months of rain. The sun is an effectively free source of energy that we, as a planet, will need to harness more effectively in order to survive sustainably. 

So, can solar energy be a good investment too?

RDI REIT Goes Wrong (Portfolio Change)

In a recent article I looked at the potential of real estate - particularly Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to generate income for the DIY Income Investor. However, in the article I did highlight the poor performance of my own holding in RDI REIT.

Egyptian Gold (Portfolio Buy)

I wrote a little article recently on how to get some gold into the DIY Income Investor portfolio.

The conclusion was that the choice seemed to be between low-yield (or no-yield) ETFs or high-yield risky direct investments in miners. I've chosen the latter. Hopefully not fools' gold.

Find the Best Deal for an ISA Platform

The Individual Savings Account or ISA is a 'must-have' for UK DIY Income Investors. It shields you from taxes, including income tax, dividend tax and capital gains tax. (Something similar may be available in other tax administrations - if you are lucky.)

I have two different ISA accounts (and manage family SIPPs) and I am careful not to exceed my annual investment allowance. But am I getting the best deal that I could?

FTSE 100's Best Dividend Yielders (Portfolio Buy)

The perennial problem of the DIY Income Investor portfolio - what to do with cash?

Most of the portfolio is tucked up in geographically-spread Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), diversified between dividend shares and fixed-income. But I do like a bit of excitement from owning individual securities.

How To Double Your Money

I'm guessing that most people would like to double their money. It's a pretty simple goal, yet it seems so unlikely.

But once you start thinking about it - it's just about numbers, and time. There is no real magic about it apart from consistent (but not necessarily spectacular) performance from your investments.

My Biggest Holding - How Good Is It?

My DIY Income Investor portfolio is quite diversified and includes 28 securities, all (well, nearly all) producing income, either from dividends or from fixed-income instruments.

However my biggest holding accounts for 8.6% of the portfolio and is one of the few managed funds - as opposed to passive Exchange Traded Funds - that I own. Is this too big a holding? And has it been a good investment?