Crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending are getting bigger. They offer people and business services they can't get from the banks.  Another Crowd says, more power to them. Don't settle for less.

The IFISA, which lets UK investors hold peer-to-peer loans in a tax-free wrapper, is an ugly duckling nobody loves, according to Moneywise magazine. We disagree. We think the IFISA is only just beginning to show its true worth.

That startup you bought shares in: what does it do? More to the point, what claim do you have on revenue and assets, and will they last? How will they stand up against competition? When you're reading a prospectus, you need these things clear before you invest.

An investment crowdfunding portfolio takes patience, effort and a grasp of risk. Could DY investors be the new recruits crowd platforms should be chasing?

Seedrs' Chris Rea shares nine key ideas about equity crowdfunding that will focus the minds of investors and SME owners alike. He uses the time-honoured tactic of  "You might think it's like that, but really, it's more like this". We like his attitude.