With his first independent fund - Woodford Equity Income - Neil Woodford has turned every £1,000 invested into £1,157 over the past year when his rivals have only managed to make an average £5. Had you put £1,000 into his Invesco Perpetual High Income fund when he took the helm in 1988, you would have had £22,286 by the time he left last year. Holly Black gets his thoughts on the investing world.

In a world of low growth, it's time for frontier markets to step up- but they're not for the faint hearted. These markets are small, illiquid and the risks are plentiful, so investors need to do their homework before buying in- or find a professional to do it for them.

'Dear Investors, we plan to sell you a stake you already collectively own in a bank you rescued...' is not how the Lloyds share sale offer page starts. Yet, it seems that many will still be taking up the offer, however cynical they are. Their reasons may amount to bad investing theory, but like them I'm tempted.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

At the risk of adding to an already extremely crowded market, I have tried to distil some thoughts on how to invest wisely into a simple plan. These are ideas that I have gleaned magpie-fashion from investors I have spoken to - or read - whose wisdom seems to shine the brightest.

As the Lloyds share sale sweeteners that could get you £200 back on a £1,000 invested are revealed, we take a look at the bank - along with a fund manager's view that the UK will do well.

Richard Hunter screens the UK stock market for shares that pay bumper income that's well covered, in the latest episode of the Investing Show. While Maike Currie, of Fidelity, looks at what next for emerging markets and the best opportunities.

Smaller Companies funds can offer greater growth opportunities than their large cap counterparts. And when markets fell recently, the small cap index's lack of resources exposure proved a saving grace. Here we look at five small cap offerings tipped to outperform over the longer term.

Whether you are a bull or a bear, quality companies will give you a reliable return regardless of what is going on in the stock market. The key is to look for strong brands and products that consumers will buy into regardless of the economic backdrop. Our columnist Maike Currie explains the hunt for quality.

Self-investing via a DIY investing platform is growing in popularity, despite recent stock market falls. But choosing a provider can prove a minefield. Last month, I road-tested 13 of the largest platforms that allow investors to trade shares and funds at the click of a computer mouse - here are the results.

How do you track down the best income shares? Look for the opportunity for dividends to grow, is the case put forward by fund manager Hugh Yarrow in the latest episode of the Investing Show. We also look at housebuilders and whether they are still worth buying or holding after their stellar run.

New analysis by asset manager Barings, suggests a motley crew of currently struggling markets should deliver the best returns over the next decade. It used productivity, demographics and the availability of credit, alongside current valuations, to forecast how assets will fare between now and 2025. We reveal the results.

I went to see a financial adviser, who told me to put all my savings in one fund. Now he's pressuring me to make a decision. What shall I do?

I'm new to investing and keen to learn more before making any rookie mistakes. Can you explain how to 'read' the figures on a balance sheet - what am I looking out for, and what criteria do you use to judge the health of a company?

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

The baby boomer generation needs no introduction but what about those following behind? For the astute investor, tapping into these different generations' behaviours, habits and preferences could open up enticing investment opportunities. Fidelity's Maike Currie takes a look.

For all the lines about 'time in the market, not timing the market', who wouldn't want to dodge a 30 per cent drop and buy back in relatively unscathed on the other side? The problem is that it's almost certain investors won't manage to pull this off.

Two holdings together will have knocked nearly 1% off my performance last month and I have to ask if was I being stubborn in not just cutting the positions, writes our columnist John Rosier. He takes a look at how his portfolio fared in a stormy summer month - and why he bought into new European opportunity Zegona.

Lowland and Henderson Opportunities Trust manager James Henderson gives us his tips for picking exciting smaller companies and dividend winners for the long-term in the latest episode of the Investing Show. Also on the agenda is what rising interest rates will mean for investors and what could move shares up as companies report summer results.

Twice-a-year investment firm Sanlam selects its14 best performing UK Equity Income funds based on performance, volatility and income over the last five years. You could have earned as much as £36.50 for every £100 invested if you picked the right UK equity income fund, according to the study. We reveal the list.

Greece's embattled economy and the threat of contagion across Europe dominated headlines over recent months, but despite all the negative press UK investors are piling into the continent. They appear to be happy to overlook the worst Europe has to offer in their hunt for returns from its better prospects. We take a look at why.

Holly Black, of Money Mail, replies: It depends what you think is in store for the yellow metal in the long term. The price of gold - which is measured in dollars per ounce - is down 40 per cent on its 2011 high. Today it stands at around $1,100 (£705), compared to a peak of $1,900 (£1,220). The price was driven so high by fear and uncertainty.

Cautious investors are being put into Absolute Return funds to beat interest on a cash savings account without taking risks with your money. The funds are designed to produce constant returns - whether the stock market rises or falls. Investors are rushing in, but is that wise?

As pensions reforms were introduced earlier this year offering workers access to their nest eggs to spend as they wish, retirees are being bombarded with so-called 'opportunities' to spend their cash on unusual investments. Property consultancy PCG Invest says it has 500 parking spaces available at two sites close to the London airport, but to secure one you must already own at least one parking space at Glasgow International airport.

Passive investors have never had it so good. Costs are falling at the same time as their opportunity to tap into markets increases. But it's not just about tracking a market anymore, smart beta combines passive approaches with active allocation and ready-made passive portfolios are also being snapped up. So what does a good tracker look like?

If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.