Educate yourself before you start investing

Before you open a broker account, shop around to compare services and the cost of share dealing Pic: Getty

No one in their right mind bets serious money on the horses without studying the form book. Becoming a DIY investor is no different.

If you want to make money buying stocks and shares by yourself, especially if your retirement depends upon it, you need to accept that it will require a combination of knowledge, time, humility and luck.

Before you open a broker account, it will certainly pay to shop around and ...