I believe investing in UK shares is a great way of aiming to build long-term wealth. Moreover, I reckon The Twelfth Magpie is a fabulous place to start for those looking for ideas which stocks to consider buying.

With this in mind, I’ve been taking a closer look at the rhyme from which the website takes its name. What does it tell us?

One for sorrow

Savvy investors know that having a diversified portfolio is a means of spreading risk. Owning just one share could be a bad decision. Putting all of your investment eggs in one basket is a bad idea.

Two for joy

It’s a great feeling when a portfolio performs well.

Three for a girl, four for a boy

As well as having a diversified portfolio spread across various companies, sectors, and countries, it’s also important to ensure it’s balanced. What does this mean? Essentially, I believe a mix of growth and income stocks is ideal.

Five for silver, six for gold

Appropriately, some of the best performing UK shares over the past 12 months have been miners. Since May 2025, Fresnillo (LSE:FRES), the Mexican gold and silver producer, has seen its share price more than triple as investors have increasingly turned to precious metals as a ‘safe haven’.

However, the stock’s at the riskier end of the scale. Although metal prices have done well, this could quickly change. As a result, it’s impossible to accurately predict the group’s earnings from one period to the next. Also, mining’s operationally challenging.

But demand for gold’s rising, with many of the world’s central banks being the biggest buyers.

Silver’s used in more industrial applications than gold but the market’s been in supply-demand deficit for some time. Solar energy and AI data centres could help push prices higher.

On balance, I think it’s a stock to consider.

We anticipate that at least one of our advanced prospects will join our development portfolio in the coming two to three years. With demand for silver and gold forecasted to exceed supply, driven by the green energy transition and the safe-haven status of gold, Fresnillo is well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities ahead.

Alejandro Baillères, Chairman, Fresnillo

Seven for a secret never to be told

Sniffing out those hidden bargains is one way of achieving investment success.

Eight for a wish

But it’s essential not to get carried away. It’s important to invest based on a company’s fundamentals rather than sentiment or to follow the crowd.

Nine for a kiss

UK shares have a great reputation for paying generous dividends. For example, there are currently 53 on the FTSE 350 that are paying more than 6%. Of course, dividends are never guaranteed.

10 a surprise you should be careful not to miss

Every now and again, the stock market will throw up something unexpected. The key is to be ready to act quickly.

11 for health

There are plenty of UK shares with strong balance sheets. Understandably, lots of attention is paid to earnings but these are underpinned by a company’s financial health as reflected by its assets and liabilities.

12 for wealth

Ultimately, building wealth is what it’s all about. Personally, I think UK shares are a great way of achieving this.

Should you invest £5,000 in Fresnillo Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Fresnillo Plc made the list?

James Beard does not hold any positions in the companies mentioned.