Investing regularly in the stock market harnesses the power of compounding — your gains generate their own gains, creating a snowball effect over time. A large enough pot of dividend-paying shares can deliver passive income that exceeds the UK State Pension.
The key is consistency. Even modest monthly contributions can grow substantially over decades, especially when reinvested dividends buy more shares, which then pay more dividends.
But how exactly do you get started?
How to get started
First, choose the right account. A Stocks and Shares ISA shelters your investments from capital gains and dividend tax, making it ideal for most investors. A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) offers tax relief on contributions but locks money away until age 57.
Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.
For flexibility, I think an ISA’s preferable.
Next, decide what to buy. Index trackers and ETFs offer instant diversification at low cost. Individual stocks carry more risk but can deliver higher returns. My preference for retirement income leans toward quality dividend shares – companies with long track records of growing payouts.
However, while dividend shares provide solid cash flow in retirement, reliable growth stocks are also critical to build the pot. So how does that look?
Beating the State Pension
To beat the full new State Pension, you’d need £241.30 a week, or £12,547 a year. Using the 4% withdrawal rule, that requires around £315,000 invested.
The MSCI World index has delivered an average annual return of 8.9% over the past 40 years. At that rate, investing £300 monthly compounds to £314,688 in 24 years and five months.
So even someone aged 43 today could beat the State Pension by retirement with just £300 a month. But could smarter stock selection cut that timeline further?
Aiming higher
A stock such as Diploma (LSE: DPLM) could significantly boost your average returns. Over the past 20 years, it’s delivered an annualised return of 21.69% – more than double the MSCI World average.
Diploma suits decade-long thinking. The company has paid dividends consistently for over 40 years, with revenue growing at 20% annually since the pandemic and earnings up 44% year on year. It boasts a strong balance sheet, healthy profitability, and manageable debt levels.
Risks exist, of course. The current dividend yield sits around 0.87% to 1.17%, below the market average. Plus, the shares trade at a premium valuation: a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio around 40-50. That leaves little room for error if growth slows.
Still, long-term capital appreciation has been exceptional. A £1,000 investment two decades ago would now be worth roughly £45,910.
Worth a closer look?
For investors aiming to beat the State Pension, stocks like Diploma deserve attention. Its two-decade track record of 21%+ annualised returns demonstrates what’s possible with quality growth compounds.
No investment’s guaranteed, and Diploma’s low yield means it’s better suited for capital growth than immediate income. But for patient investors targeting long-term passive income, its strong fundamentals and consistent execution make it a compelling option to look at.
The real question is, would you rather wait 24 years with index funds, or potentially halve that timeline with careful stock selection?
Should you invest £5,000 in Diploma Plc right now?
When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.
And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Diploma Plc made the list?
Mark Hartley owns shares in Diploma.
