Investing Archives - COOLCURATION

June 23, 2026 — No Comments

Premium Bonds vs Investing UK: Which One Suits You?

Last updated: 21 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This is not financial advice. It reflects my own experience, so please do your own research or speak to a qualified adviser before making any money decisions.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Premium Bonds vs Investing2026 Guide

Premium Bonds vs investing: a prize draw, or the stock market?

Premium Bonds vs investing is a money question I get all the time. So here is my honest, first-person take, because I have held both at once for four years. Crucially, this is not an either or for everyone. In my experience, the two really answer different questions.

Want the hands-off investing option?

Maybe you want investing that mostly runs itself, like the Premium Bonds draw does. In that case, a ready-made managed portfolio is the closest fit. The current JPMorgan offer, and how to claim it, are kept up to date on our referral page.

See the JPMorgan investing offer

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: investing, investing uk, Premium Bonds

June 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Can AI Turn $1,000 Into $10,000? My AI Stock Picking Experiment

My AI stock picking experiment: can four AI models grow $1,000 into $10,000 on Lightyear? I post honest, not-advice weekly updates.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Investing, Personal finance

Tags: AI investing, AI tools, Autopilot, ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Grok, investing, Lightyear, us stocks

May 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Stocks we bought in May 2026: our first portfolio diary

Last updated: 5 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Welcome to the inaugural edition of "Stocks We Bought This Month", a new monthly portfolio diary on CoolCuration. Each post records what I personally added to my own portfolio in the previous few weeks, the reasons each company caught my eye, and the things that could absolutely trip me up. In short, this is what we bought, why we bought it, and what we plan to revisit in future editions.

The stocks we bought this May were three: Brookfield Corporation (BN), Meta Platforms (META) and Tencent Holdings (TCEHY). All three went through self-managed UK broker accounts.

Affiliate disclosure. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Important disclaimer. I personally hold positions in all three companies named in this post. This is a personal disclosure diary, not a recommendation, not a tip sheet, and not a personalised view of your circumstances. CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Capital at risk. When investing, the value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Please do your own research, or consult a qualified independent financial adviser, before making any investment decision. All content here is for informational and educational purposes only.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: brookfield, china stocks, Freetrade, investing, lightyear Suggested Categories: Finance, meta, personal finance uk, portfolio diary, stocks we bought, tencent, us stocks

April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Trading 212 Review UK 2026 — Honest Verdict After 3 Months

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This Trading 212 review reflects my own experience using the app daily for three months alongside Freetrade, my main broker.

This is our honest Trading 212 review after three months of using it alongside Freetrade, our main broker. When Trading 212 kept coming up in conversations, we figured we should give it a fair shot. After using it daily for a full quarter, the verdict is clear: Trading 212 is a perfectly fine platform trapped inside a frustratingly cluttered app. The fees are competitive, the savings rate is genuinely good, but the experience of actually using it every day left us reaching for Freetrade instead. Here is why we are sticking with the alternatives.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Cool Factor

★★☆☆☆

2 out of 5: Lukewarm

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews

Tags: Commission-free trading, finance, Freetrade, investing, investment apps, isa, reviews, Trading 212

April 9, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Autopilot App Review UK: 10 Months of Copy Trading Tested (2026)

Last updated: 21 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Welcome to my updated Autopilot app review from a UK perspective, with performance as at 21 June 2026. Two months ago I was sitting on a tidy gain. Since then, I have sold out of one folio entirely, doubled down on another, and watched a third quietly surge. Same app, same dual-app setup, yet a very different portfolio. If you ever wanted proof that copy trading is a bumpy ride, this Autopilot app review is it.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This is a personal account of my own experience and does not constitute financial advice.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This Autopilot app review is based on ten months of personal use since 11 August 2025, copy trading through a Robinhood UK account with real money on the line. Every number, friction point and verdict below comes from my own portfolio.

Cool Factor: 2/5

Want to try copy trading via Robinhood UK?

Autopilot cannot run without a connected broker, and Robinhood UK is the account I use for it. Your capital is at risk, and the latest sign-up terms sit on our referral page.

Open a Robinhood UK account

Published by Stiv in Apps, Investing, Reviews

Tags: Autopilot, copy trading, Inverse Cramer, investing apps, investment review, Jim Simons, Pelosi Tracker, Robinhood UK, stock trading, US stocks UK

April 8, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

What Is Investment Risk? A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

What is investment risk UK? Learn the types of risk, how to manage them, and where to start investing with confidence. Beginner-friendly guide.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Money

Tags: beginner investing, investing, investment platforms, investment risk, personal finance, risk management, stocks and shares isa, uk investing

March 31, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Dividend Tax Rise 2026 UK: New Rates, Who Pays More and How to Shelter

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax rules can change and their effects vary based on individual circumstances. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified tax adviser or accountant before making decisions.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

From 6 April 2026, UK dividend tax rates are rising by 2 percentage points at the basic and higher rates. If you receive dividends on shares or funds held outside an ISA or pension, your tax bill is going up. Here is what has changed, who is affected, and what you can do about it.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: dividend allowance, dividend tax rise 2026, dividend tax UK, investing, stocks and shares isa, tax planning, uk finance

March 30, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Tax Year End Checklist UK: 7 Things to Do Before 5 April 2026

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This checklist covered the 2025/26 tax year, which ended at midnight on 5 April 2026. The deadlines and allowances described below applied to that tax year.

CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax rules can change and their effects vary based on individual circumstances. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser or accountant before making decisions.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

The 2025/26 tax year ends at midnight on 5 April 2026. Once it does, several valuable allowances and reliefs disappear for good. Whether you are an investor, a saver, a homeowner, or self-employed, there are practical steps worth ticking off before the deadline. This tax year end checklist covers the seven most important ones.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: capital gains allowance, ISA deadline, pension tax relief, tax planning, tax year end checklist, tax year end UK, uk finance

March 27, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Lightyear Vaults explained: rates, risks and how they work (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Not financial advice. This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. It also contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

If you have been looking at Lightyear and wondering what Lightyear Vaults actually are, you are not alone. Vaults are one of the platform's standout features, yet the name does not immediately explain what they do. In short, Lightyear Vaults let you earn interest on cash through low-risk money market funds. So, here is a clear guide to how they work, the current rates by currency, the fees, the risks, and how they compare to a savings account.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Services

Tags: BlackRock MMF, cash ISA, interest on cash, Investing apps UK, Lightyear, Lightyear Vaults, money market funds, savings vs investing

March 21, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo vs Chase UK: Which Bank Account Is Better? (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

After the bigger sign-up bonus?

Chase's refer-a-friend offer pays £50 when you join and deposit £1,000 within 30 days; our referral page walks you through it.

Claim the Chase £50 offer

If you're weighing up Monzo vs Chase in 2026, you're in good company. Both are app-only banks, both are free to open, and both promise to make managing your money less painful. However, once you dig past the slick onboarding screens, the two take noticeably different approaches to savings, cashback and everyday features.

Chase (a trading name of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited) lures new customers with a boosted saver rate and 2% cashback on everyday spending. Monzo, the UK's original fintech darling, counters with powerful budgeting tools, paid plan perks like a free Railcard, and one of the most feature-rich banking apps on the market.

Below, we break down every meaningful difference so you can pick the one that actually fits your life. We also link to both referral offers if you want a bonus for signing up.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Banking, Comparisons, Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Reviews, Saving, Services

Tags: app review, bank comparison, cashback, chase, chase uk, digital bank, fintech, monzo, monzo vs chase, personal finance, savings, uk banking