New Sunday Times Feature - Diary of a Private Investor

My latest diary update is called "Too good to be true". It tells of a weird product, concocted to satisfy savers' hunger for security and return. That's an impossible combination in today's low-interest environment.

http://www.colmfagan.ie/documents/34_Document.pdf?d=September 10 2019 14:24:54.

If you feel as strongly about the topic as I do, please share with your contacts.

I've decided not to post any more diary updates on AAM. Anyone interested can follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
 
Hi @cremeegg
Nothing against AAM. It's just that there has been very little/ no feedback on recent updates.
As to Twitter, I'm not sure. I'm only starting on it now. I'll have to get lessons on how to switch it on. I'm CFaganActuary . Let me know if you find me there!
Of course, anyone who's not on Twitter or LinkedIn can simply go to my website www.colmfagan.ie
 

That is shocking Colm. In this day and age that we still have this rubbish going on and BNP should be ashamed. I have a couple of contacts in the CB I will send the link and try and embarrass but Brendan is probably the best person. Think he has a hotline into them after the last few years!!

I am a regular reader of your website and will continue to read it. Not sure you will enjoy the delights of Twitter but sure I will follow you anyway!
 

That doesn't mean you're shouting into an empty room Colm. I've been enjoying your columns but don't necessarily feel the need to comment on each one of them. I can still read them on LinkedIn anyway.
 
Thanks Steven. I used to appreciate the feedback on AAM; some really insightful comments, which helped my understanding of issues (some stupid ones too, of course!). Maybe the reason for the fall-off is because all the questions have been asked and answered at this stage, but if you or any other readers feel like commenting on a future article, feel free to use this forum. I'll be more than happy to respond.
 
Colm, I would think I am like many other readers of this forum , I rarely post on AAM but am a regular reader of topics here. In fact I had to reregister today to post this as I have forgotten what email address I had used initially. I have an interest in investing in shares and have found your contributions and those of more knowledgeable responders very enlightening. Your contributions have spurred me to investigate some of the companies you have commented on and I have dipped my toe into one following my own research! I have also checked out your website but am not a twitter or facebook fan.

So thank you for your contributions on this thread. I would add my support to the other posters that are encouraging you to continue. While I'm in such good humour may I thank those other frequent posters here that have contributed to my education in this field. Declan
 
Thanks colm for your input, you clearly put a lot of thought into it.
With regards to being let down a bit by the lack of feedback to your posting on askaboutmoney, I think it's a general thing now and not restricted to your posts.
There is plenty of feedback on other forums especially in relation to property investment and pensions and obviously brexit.
I think there is a lack of interest now by Irish people in investing in shares in general for a number of reasons,
The onerous tax levied on Irish shareholders now.
The collapse of the many people's investments a decade ago in relation to the banking collapse.
The on going poor performance of the Irish and British stock markets obviously hard hit by brexit concerns.
Therefore most people as judged by the postings are now only interested in very low risk ultra safe investments.
Your recent diary contribution has alluded to this with regard to a "too good to be true investment product"
 
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I think @Colm Fagan above nailed it - it's all been done, most questions are asked and answered already. The answers are almost always the same. Investing in ETFs in Ireland is rubbish. Investing in shares is too much hassle and likelihood of picking dogs too high. Most lay people (myself included) have not got the time, knowledge or inclination to bother researching individual companies to put a fair value on their share price. Investing in shares with only 3k is pointless due to fees Vs with 1 million. Pay off any high interest loans first. Start a spending diary. Overpay non-tracker mortgage then. Max out your pension. Buy state saving after that. After that advice it's niche questions really.

There's nothing new anymore IMO in Ireland finance area. Best craic recently was the 3 mortgage switches in 6 months. Other than that so many people want high return with no risk or other such silliness. People don't want to read ideas about investment articles, they want to read "Buy this share now" articles. It's just all a bit "meh" really IMO. Again not a reflection on AAM it's just there's only so many questions to be asked really...
 
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It might be related to content structure.

Since you started with external PDF articles I think interaction stopped. They are harder to read and quote and comment on.

I hypothesise if you do one new thread per article and include the article text you would get more interaction.
 
Fair point.
I'll try it. Watch for the new thread!
 
I'd like to add my support and thanks for your contributions. I read your postings carefully and find them very educational. I think you do a great public service in explaining the risks and rewards of investing and I would encourage you to continue on AAM.
 
Colm Fagan said:
Fair point.
I'll try it. Watch for the new thread!
Click to expand...
Great! Thanks.

I will watch the experiment with interest. But it is biased now as folks will be interacting to encourage you to post in the future.

I too have enjoyed your articles and would be happy to continue to read them here.

It's great to have people with good maths skill, experience and financial knowledge sharing their wisdom.
 
In the spirit of transparency, openness, humility, etc., I must tell readers of a "news" item I published on my website a couple of days ago.
It relates to a"coup" I thought I had pulled off earlier this year, buying and selling shares in Charles Taylor plc. The original article is #521 above.
Here's my admission, reported in http://www.colmfagan.ie/news.php:
"I got it badly wrong with Charles Taylor. There are no two ways about it. In diary update 14 of 7 May, I reported how chuffed I was after selling my shares in the company at 249p each. No wonder I was happy: I had bought them only a month previously, at 194p each. I was even more pleased later in the summer when I saw the price fall to under 220p a share. Then, two days ago, the Directors announced that they were recommending a takeover bid at 315p a share. How wrong I was in my assessment!!"
 
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Colm Fagan said:
"I got it badly wrong with Charles Taylor. There are no two ways about it.
Click to expand...

Are you being too hard on yourself? You made a profit of over 28% in a month. I would consider that a big success. So you could have made a larger profit if you had known that the price would subsequently rise to 315p. How could you have known that, unless you were aware of the potential bidder, which presumably was a well-kept secret in April/May?
 
@LDFerguson I appreciate your support, but I completely misread the profit & loss account and the balance sheet. I thought they were losing money and increasing borrowings, with nothing to show for it. In reality, assuming of course that the buyers have done their homework, they were investing in improving the customer offering and in creating real (though intangible) value in the business. That investment paid off and good luck to them. In fairness, I would need to have been closer to the business/industry to have understood this reality.
 
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