I’m a married, 63 year old eye surgeon in Belfast still working away. I have a number of outside interests and one of them is the stock market. Looking back, I must have had an interest as a teenager as I clearly recall a visit I made to the (now long gone) Liverpool Stock Exchange, in my home city. I still recall a pervasive air of gloom and various men in suits telling me how bad things were. Well, it was the 1970s! I then excitedly pursued a career in medicine and actually had no interest at all in money, save only in spending it, until 6 years ago!!

I really was astonishingly ignorant and had no savings in ISAs and, I’m ashamed to admit, I believed that my final salary pension would actually equal my final salary. I know. I can scarcely believe it myself now. I quite suddenly realised that I’d better get a grip to make sure my family would be ok and that I would have a secure retirement.

I paid a lot to a financial adviser but noticed the high annual fees and left after a year as I honestly felt I could manage on my own and I certainly felt I was the one with my own interests most at heart.

I read everything I could get my hands on and started investing as much as I could afford. And, yes, of course, there have been bumps along the way but no disasters. I have taken it seriously but it is fun and interesting.

I’ve definitely benefited from advice from London Stone Securities through their excellent videos and webinars, though I do have an obsession with taking decisions myself - then any mistakes are mine!

Thanks to Ranjeet, Chris and the team. And here’s to the next Bull market!