Last year was a tough one for investors.

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What to buy and what to avoid in the year ahead

A shock slump wiped out over three-quarters of this small-cap company’s valuation. But why? Tom Bulford investigates.

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The strangest penny share story you’ll hear all year

Rather than looking after your money, many funds are greedily skimming off your cash in fee charges. So, how can you keep your costs down? Paul Amery explains.

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How to safeguard your cash from fund managers’ fees

A strong basis in financial stocks is the key to this US equities fund.

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Fund of the week: Grab a slice of America’s cash hoards

If you still don’t know what to get for that special someone this Christmas, don’t panic. Merryn Somerset Webb tips five ideas for last-minute gifts that keep on giving.

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Five last-minute Christmas presents

Take advantage of the new seed enterprise investment scheme to save thousands of pounds in capital gains tax.

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Tax advice of the week: Plant a seed

From human randomness to the true history of debt: here are five of the best books we’ve read this year.

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Our pick of 2011’s most interesting reads

When Robyn Jones, founder of catering firm CH&Co, was made redundant 20 years ago, she turned her bad luck into a fortune. Here’s how she did it.

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Robyn Jones: How I took the canteen business upmarket

The past year hasn’t been kind to investors, says Dominic Frisby. But it has been educational. Here, he explains some of the lessons the year has taught him.

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What 2011 taught me about investing

The euro-feds are stealing from the living to feed the zombies, says Bill Bonner.

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A perfect heist from the ECB