fool.com (Motley Fool)

Advantages: Free registration, quality advice from experts, excellent discussion boards
Disadvantages: Number of posts means you can't keep up, "Official" site advice re getting a tracker

I was pointed in the direction of the Motley Fool website (www.fool.co.uk) a couple of years ago, after the other half stumbled across it in the firewall log at work – strange (possibly sad) but true. The Fool (TMF) is a financial and investment related website, aimed at ensuring that people get the most from their money. I would not be exaggerating – at least not much – if I said that TMF has changed my life and my financial outlook. ...
...was founded by brothers David and Tom Gardner. In 1997, the concept made its way across the Atlantic and TMF UK was born, set up by David Berger and Bruce Jackson (TMFGoogly). The TMF name, incidentally, comes from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”. The stated aim of TMF is to “educate, amuse and enrich”, to tell people the truth about finance and help them take control of their cash. Since the site is independent, it ... Read review

Advantages: Good information, presentation and advice from real people
Disadvantages: Too many adverts (but it can't be helped)

The Motley Fool website is a one-stop shop for financial news, information and advice, and I have found it invaluable since I discovered it a few months ago. When I left uni and started work I didn't have the first clue about which financial products I needed and why - the whole world of pensions, ISAs and insurance was a closed book to me while I was a student. When I started earning a salary I decided I needed to find out more, and was lucky enough ...
...research. The site is large but easy to navigate. The front page has daily articles about all sorts of financial subjects: mortgages, pensions, savings, government policy on finance, benefits etc. There is plenty of market news and comment for those interested in investing in shares, and advice/news about investment strategy and ideas. Everything is always presented in Motley Fool style - the information is clearly presented and humorously written ... Read review

Advantages: Finance explained in simple terms without jargon
Disadvantages: None really

The Motley Fool (TMF) is a financial website which offers advice on a wide variety of financial matters. It works on the premise that the person most interested in your financial well-being is YOU and that - armed with fairly minimal education, an understanding of some basic terms and a reasonable amount of patience - you are as well equipped to take control of your finances as many so called independent financial advisors. Some people may not be ...
...since they don’t have any money to invest (at the moment), the site is not for them. However, whether you have a mountain of debt, a few quid a month to tuck away or a small fortune, you will probably find something on this site which will benefit you. TMF sets out to provide an introduction to a wide range of financial topics. The style of writing is down to earth, often entertaining, and the contributors to the site clearly make an effort ... Read review

Advantages: Well set-out, works for all levels of understanding, very useful information
Disadvantages: Lots of adverts, share prices not in real time

I’m one of those greedy capitalists who in the Thatcher era ploughed what little spare cash he had into buying shares in privatized industries. I used to spend many an evening updating my spreadsheet with the latest share increases, rubbing my hands like Shylock as my net worth (in monetary terms!) rose significantly, allowing me to dream of early retirement, a yacht in the Med and a house in the country. Well the bubble burst and I now realise ...
...lost interest in my spreadsheet and I’m now a humbler and wiser person, albeit with significantly less capital. Nevertheless, I’ve still retained my shares as well as an interest in the financial markets but now I treat it as hobby akin to watching horse racing rather than a nest egg for when I retire. So much so, that my wife gave me a couple of good books for Christmas, one, which explains how to read the financial papers and another, ... Read review

Advantages: Down-to-earth, sensible advice, regualr updates
Disadvantages: It is not comprehensive and should not be treated as such

I was looking at the Ciao reviews on the Motley Fool (www.fool.co.uk) and found that there had not been anything new written for a couple of years. I do not intend to give an exhaustive overview of everything to do with or on the site, but rather say why I find it of use as a consumer website offering advice on managing your personal finance and monitoring financial products on the market. POSITIVES i) The thing I like best is the many articles ...
...These often take the form of lists, such as '10 Ways to Become Richer', '5 Top Ways to Clear Your Debt' and 'Six scams to shun'. Behind these melodramatic titles, there are usually some very basic pieces of advice, such as if you take sandwiches to work, rather than buying one from the local sandwich bar, you could end up saving several hundred pounds a year. ii) I have signed up to their mailings. These usually come once a week, but recently they ... Read review