Investors are regularly told that they need to asset allocate, build a balance portfolio and think long term - but how do you do that? Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management, gives us his tips. He includes topics from how to asset allocate, to how to target what you see as growth areas and why a combination of both passive and active funds can be a wise move.

Savers sick of paltry interest rates are pouring £9million a day into websites where cash is invested in unsecured loans to strangers. The amount being invested in these so-peer-to-peer accounts is set to soar because they can now be classed as Isas. Returns are better than cash, but are they worth it?

While you may use in-store loyalty cards, or scour the internet for good deals, there could be a whole host of unused perks and discounts sitting right under your nose. From free hotel stays, to money off designer labels and free gift cards - we round up the best shareholder offers and compare them.

The use of low cost passive funds has soared in the past two years after the end of trail commission. But Vanguard's newly-launched range will have an ongoing charge figure of between 0.6 and 0.8 per cent - half of the 1.6 per cent that other active funds tend to charge.

If you do want to build your own share portfolio - or just understand how people do it - how do you go about it? We asked our friends at Stockopedia to build a buy-and-hold DIY investing Isa share portfolio - and explain how it was done.

The Bank of Japan shocked markets last week by refusing to provide a 'big bazooka' to kick-start its economy. Many foreign investors have lost faith - but could now be the time to buy in? The Japanese stock market is cheap relative to its history, and the BoJ may just be biding its time.

Investors looking for dividends either for income or to build their wealth need to watch out for the traps. But how can you tell a high-yielding pitfall from a reliable dividend star that can pay year-in, year-out? Fidelity Moneybuilder Dividend fund manager Michael Clark joins the Investing Show to discuss how to look for the best dividend shares and reveals some that he likes right now.

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 it is easier to grow a business from a lower base, smaller companies can offer the greatest potential for future earnings growth, which after all is the real driver of long-term returns, says Maike Currie. Smaller companies also tend to be more nimble, flexible and closer aligned to shareholders' interests.

I like the idea of investing in collectibles. Are they are good investments, and how do I go about it? Holly Black, of the Investment Clinic, explains how these days you can invest in just about anything. Art, wine, whisky, stamps and coins are among the more popular choices for those looking at alternative investments. But you must know the risks.

City of London investment trust has raised its dividend payout for 50 years in a row, Job Curtis - the trust's manager for the past 25 years - discusses income investing and his best ideas.

With the wrath of the financial crisis burnt into memory, many investors have preferred to play it safe, choosing to invest in high quality, ports in the storm type companies while steering clear of out of favour sectors and stocks. Value investors meanwhile have been left holding the bag - just have a look at the dividends on companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Sainsbury's. But trends can, and do, reverse and astute investors shouldn't ignore the possibility of a change in market leadership this year.

If you want to build your wealth over the long-term, some simple investing is most likely to be the best plan - and the key to doing it is dividends. Over the past decade, the FTSE All-Share has risen a feeble 11%. Factor in its dividends, however, and the total return rises to 58%. By comparison the average UK Equity Income investment trust's total return is 103%.

Smart beta is the new investing buzzword, but what does it mean and is it any better than a simple index tracker? Hector McNeil, of ETF specialist Wisdom Tree, joins Simon Lambert to explain index investing, exchange traded funds and why some investors prefer to tilt these to try and deliver better returns.

UK Equity Income is often one of the most popular investment trust sectors. It's easy to see why, with returns more than trebling a £100,000 investment in two decades. Investors would have seen annualised dividend growth over 20 years of 4.6% - considerably more than inflation, which averaged 2.8% over the same time period.

While global markets have been rocky in the year to date, there is a silver lining for investors in this year's Budget. The Treasury has dramatically cut capital gains tax, which will help individuals hold on to more of their profits when they sell shares. It's the latest accommodating measure for investors.

Laura Foll, co-manager of Lowland investment trust, explains why she's buying some oil and commodities stocks and where she and fellow manager James Henderson look for future dividend stars.

The 20 investment trusts with the longest-running history of raising payouts to investors have been revealed in the latest Dividend Heroes list. The trio of trusts leading the list are knocking on 50 years of unbroken increases, according to the Association of Investment Companies. We reveal the top 20.

There are many websites offering fund and share dealing services and it can be really difficult to pick one. The best place to start is with fees, because you need to make sure you're not paying too much. If you're going to be an infrequent trader, then it's best to look for low-cost flat fees.

In the latest Investing Show, we look at two questions investors face. Are beaten down bank shares a buy yet and how do you find a good fund to profit from opportunities in the market storm? Richard Hunter, market analyst, and Marcus Brookes, of Schroders, join us for a look at how Britain's banks stack up and how to pick funds.

These vital lists are used by hundreds of thousands of savers to pick investments for their Isas each year. Our analysis showed the best-buy lists promoted by major DIY investing platforms were full of mediocre funds. We found just one in ten funds tipped three years ago had ranked among the best performers in its category since then.

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?

It seems bigger isn't always better as the top three funds for income all came from smaller firms, according to a leading piece of research. At the same time, most of those relegated to the Black List were high profile names, including Schroders, BlackRock and Standard Life Investments.

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?

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.