This segment was broadcast on 10 March 2016. Some information may be out of date.

Should you try to pick shares?

  • Market has done well lately
  • Lessons from student stock picking game:
  • Most people are not good at picking
  • Buy several shares to reduce losses
  • Shares are for the long term only
  • Best way to invest in shares

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Mary Holm is a freelance journalist, a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. From 2011 to 2019 she was a founding director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it.