David Field

The main problem for the private investor is that the market is always against you. Huge multinational corporations that turn over billions of pounds every day are competing with you to make a quick buck on the stock market while all you can do is spend a couple of hours a week after work researching the best deals for you and your family.

As a result, historically, Brits opted merely to depend on financial advisors, "experts" who would spend their time doing what's best for your finances… although it doesn't take a genius to work out that they were also getting something out of the bargain.

And surprisingly, so I found, they always seemed to be richer than me.

So I've decided that I'm going to go it alone for a while, researching the best performing shares over the long-term and seeing if I can beat, or at least match, the financial heavyweights of this world.

And it appears that this is a developing trend in the UK. People are becoming less trustful of professional investors and are more cocksure about their own chances in a murky trade that can make or break reputations, marriages and bank accounts.

In a new survey released this week, the internet came top with 75 per cent in a poll asking Britons what they thought was the best source for reliable information about financial products.

By contrast, only 11 per cent of respondents to the survey said they believed financial advisors to have the best knowledge of the right deals for them and a meagre two per cent trust their high street bank.

Dale Lovell, editor of Finance Daily, which conducted the research, said the results were not surprising: "In a time pressed age the internet is the fastest and easiest way to research financial products.

"I am not surprised that most people would not turn to their local bank for advice on any new products as the advice they offer is always skewed towards their own financial products."

The findings were backed up by another poll by the British Bankers' Association, which found that most people ask their friends and family or go to the web for money advice.

Again, it was the same old news for financial advisors, who rolled in behind banks and post offices - on a par with television adverts.

Angela Knight, chief executive of the BBA argued that individuals are now much more confident about determining their own financial future and should be equipped with the tools to do so.

"People are clearly comfortable asking their friends and family about their finances," she said.

"There is also a demand for good online advice. But we must ensure people have the tools to make sensible and informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

"We believe the best way to help people make sound decisions about what to do with their money depends on education. This should start young and we support efforts to see financial literary taught in schools."

This is clearly a huge change from the mid-nineties, when consumers were nervous about the state of the economy – with fresh memories from Black Monday - and the majority did not have the net.

But with all the financial tools on the internet and a brimming confidence about the stable economy, it looks as though now as good as any time to venture onto the stock market alone.