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Mark Hartley

Mark is an IT professional with a background in financial technology. He developed an interest in stocks and investments while working as a systems analyst for one of the largest interdealer brokers in London. He is enthusiastic about emerging industries like fintech, biotech, AI, and renewable energy. "There is more honor in accumulating little by little than in reaching for the sky and ending up flat on your face" - Vatnsdæla Saga, c.7

Recent Articles

Tree lined "tunnel" in the English countryside of West Sussex in autumn
Investing Articles

3 UK shares to consider holding in a Stocks and Shares ISA for a decade

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley explains why he thinks these three stocks would make great additions to a long-term Stocks and Shares ISA…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

How to invest £20k in FTSE 100 stocks and target a 6% dividend yield

| Mark Hartley

Locking in a 6% yield with a reliable payout seems like a dream come true, but it's achieveable with the…

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Red lorry on M1 motorway in motion near London
Investing Articles

No longer just a grocer: here’s how a shift in strategy could help Tesco shares hit new highs

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley looks into the strategic data-driven transition that's helping Tesco become more than just a grocer, and could send…

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Wall Street sign in New York City
Investing Articles

Up 5.3%, the Dow Jones lags other US indices in 2026. Here’s why UK income investors should pay attention

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley highlights how US indices blur the real market story with tech-driven hype, and why the Dow Jones matters…

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Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

The stock market game you’re actually playing (and why you might be losing)

| Mark Hartley

Our writer recounts a painful experience of making a rash stock market decision based on emotions, not logic – and…

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UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

3 UK stocks tipped to outperform the S&P 500 in 2026

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley weighs up the growth potential of three undervalued UK stocks that have been tipped by analysts to recover…

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Young Asian woman with head in hands at her desk
Investing Articles

The passive income reality: what no one tells you about making money while you sleep

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes a sobering look at the real effort required and numerous risks to consider when targeting a passive…

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Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

Here’s why I’m bullish about a Rolls-Royce-style recovery for Diageo shares

| Mark Hartley

Despite losing more than half their value over the past five years, Mark Hartley sees a bright future for Diageo…

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Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

Barclays shares tipped to rise 30% as £15bn shareholder return strategy takes shape

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley examines how a daring new capital reallocation plan could help Barclays’ shares soar to new highs. But what…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

Here’s how Clean Power Hydrogen could be the next big penny stock winner in renewable energy

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes a closer look at one of the most exciting penny stocks to emerge from the renewable energy…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

How much would £1,000 invested in Rolls-Royce shares 3 months ago be worth now?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley reveals a surprising return on Rolls-Royce shares in the past three months, and weighs other potential growth opportunities.

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A young black man makes the symbol of a peace sign with two fingers
Investing Articles

Here are 2 ways to target a second income on the stock market with just £200 a month

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley looks at two options to aim for a second income from buying shares, with an example of how…

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The flag of the United States of America flying in front of the Capitol building
Investing Articles

With 39.3% of value concentrated in the top 10 stocks, is the S&P 500 still a diversified index?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley weighs the risks posed by the increasingly oversaturated tech concentration of the S&P 500, and mulls an alternative.

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Exterior of BT head office - One Braham, London
Investing Articles

Here’s how BT Group could bounce back to become the biggest success story on the FTSE 100

| Mark Hartley

BT's share price has fallen 50% over the past decade. Mark Hartley looks at how aggressive cost savings could help…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

At almost £13 each, are National Grid shares still a bargain for dividend income?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley has held National Grid shares as part of his dividend portfolio for years. But with the price rising,…

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Abstract 3d arrows with rocket
Investing Articles

Could this £1bn AIM stock join the FTSE 250 off the back of the SpaceX IPO?

| Mark Hartley

Despite an estimated £1bn market cap, SpaceX supplier Filtronic is yet to be listed on the FTSE 250. Could that…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

One of my favourite UK shares is down 31% this year. Am I crazy to buy more?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley isn’t jumping on the fear bandwagon when it comes to one of his favourite UK shares. While others…

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A close up side view of a father and his young daughter who is a wheelchair user having a cute affectionate moment with each other whilst on a family day out in a beautiful public park in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA for £20 a day of passive income in retirement?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley simplifies the stress and complexities around building passive income in retirement, focusing rather on a basic, daily amount.

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Low angle close up color image depicting a man holding a shopping basked filled with essential fresh groceries like bread and milk in the supermarket.
Investing Articles

Is the market about to crash? Maybe, so I’m hunting defensive stocks to buy

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley isn’t taking any risks. As global unrest shakes the market, he’s identifying the type of stocks to buy…

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Portrait Of Senior Couple Climbing Hill On Hike Through Countryside In Lake District UK Together
Investing Articles

How much would it take to supplement the State Pension up to £20,000 a year through ISA investments?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley isn’t optimistic about surviving on the State Pension alone. He calculates how much extra income would be needed…

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Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing Articles

Here’s how Lloyds shares compare to top UK banks for dividend income

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes a closer look at the income potential for the UK’s three top dividend-paying banks, revealing where Lloyds'…

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The Milky Way at night, over Porthgwarra beach in Cornwall
Investing Articles

SpaceX’s financials are out ahead of its IPO. What this means for Scottish Mortgage shares

| Mark Hartley

SpaceX has finally released its numbers ahead of a possible June listing. What impact could the results have on Scottish…

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Rear view image depicting a senior man in his 70s sitting on a bench leading down to the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs on the coastline of East Sussex, UK. The man is wearing casual clothing - blue denim jeans, a red checked shirt, navy blue gilet. The man is having a rest from hiking and his hiking pole is leaning up against the bench.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in an ISA to target a second income paying £1,850 a month?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes into account inflation, the State Pension and living costs to calculate how much you'd need to invest…

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Investing Articles

How much value remains in the top 5 FTSE 100 stocks after 100%+ annual gains?

| Mark Hartley

Almost all of the FTSE 100's top five growth stocks this past year are up 100% or more. Mark Hartley…

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Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Here’s how much £5,000 of Rolls-Royce shares bought on 1 January would be worth now…

| Mark Hartley

Remember how Rolls-Royce shares carried the FTSE 100 to new highs in 2024 and 2025? Well, it's beginning to look…

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Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Up 30% this year, the BP share price still looks undervalued despite oil surging. What’s the catch?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes a look behind the scenes to see why BP’s share price still looks cheap, and more importantly…

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Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

25% below fair value, is the BAE share price a screaming buy for bargain hunters?

| Mark Hartley

A sharp dip in the BAE share price has left shareholders shocked, but could the now-undervalued price offer an opportunity…

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Close up of a group of friends enjoying a movie in the cinema
Investing Articles

Here’s how this 35p penny stock became the fifth-largest social media business in the UK — and it’s just getting started

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley sees potential in an undervalued penny stock that’s catapulted up the ranks over the past few years. Could…

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Tŵr Mawr lighthouse (meaning "great tower" in Welsh), on Ynys Llanddwyn on Anglesey, Wales, marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait.
Investing Articles

How much passive income could a £500 monthly investment in a Stocks and Shares ISA achieve?

| Mark Hartley

A common question from new investors is how much they can expect to earn in a Stocks and Shares ISA.…

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Santa Clara offices of NVIDIA
Investing Articles

Here’s why Nvidia’s pushing the US stock market to record highs — and what it means for UK investors

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley weighs up Nvidia’s value after the world’s largest company hits $5trn and takes the lead in driving a…

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Investing Articles

How much do you need to invest in UK dividend shares for a £999 monthly passive income?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley uses both growth and dividends to ensure his passive income portfolio targets optimal results. Take inspiration from this…

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Belfast City Sunset with colorful twilight over Lagan Weir Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge spanning over the Lagan River in downtown Belfast
Investing Articles

How has this under-the-radar FTSE 250 bank grown 7 times faster than the FTSE 100 since 2021?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley takes a closer look at a lesser-known bank stock that’s risen up the ranks to give major FTSE…

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Two business people sitting at cafe working on new project using laptop. Young businesswoman taking notes and businessman working on laptop computer.
Investing Articles

Under £1, Lloyds shares are the cheapest of UK banks. But are they the right choice for passive income?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley weighs up the passive income potential offered by Lloyds' shares and takes a closer look at how other…

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A Black father and daughter having breakfast at hotel restaurant
Investing Articles

Here’s how new menu items could help Greggs shares regain £20 per share

| Mark Hartley

For much of 2023-24, Greggs' shares traded above £20 each. Now, a daring menu makeover could help the struggling stock…

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Close-up image depicting a woman in her 70s taking British bank notes from her colourful leather wallet.
Investing Articles

How much passive income could 333 Rolls-Royce shares pay out in 3 years?

| Mark Hartley

Good things come in three’s, and this year Roll-Royce shares will see their third dividend increase. But what does the…

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Investing Articles

How much do you need in a SIPP for monthly income of £1,650 in retirement?

| Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley investigates how using a SIPP combined with smart retirement-minded stock picking can deliver a decent income stream.

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

Here are 3 mistakes I made when picking stocks to buy for my passive income portfolio

| Mark Hartley

As an early investor hunting for top dividend stocks to buy, Mark Hartley made several key mistakes. Here are the…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

Here’s how much to put in your ISA if you hope for passive income of £21,000

| Mark Hartley

With a diversified portfolio of high quality shares and a disciplined investment mindset, Mark Hartley outlines his passive income strategy.

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A beach at sunset where there is an inscription on the sand "Breathe Deeeply".
Investing Articles

How oil price volatility is impacting stock market sentiment — and how to prepare

| Mark Hartley

As the Middle East crisis deepens, oil price shocks are sending ripples through global stock markets. Mark Hartley considers a…

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British pound data
Investing Articles

2 UK shares to consider avoiding as the FTSE 100 extends losses

| Mark Hartley

As the FTSE 100 dips for the second time this year, Mark Hartley weighs up market sentiment and considers two…

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