as of 23/01/2019 at 2:23 pm
This service has progressively dated compared to peers until it feels a little left behind and dated. Built for a share dealing enthusiast, there is little guide or help for those needing to start from the basics. To be fair, this is a well-priced option for larger accounts held by people who broadly know what they’re up to. For traditional well-off investing enthusiasts.
We score each provider on about 20 different criteria including cost, service, website, functionality, customer feedback and our experience of the service. All overseen by our PhD gonk!
Confident Investor
Low cost for large portfolios
Very dry
Own-brand funds pricey
Don’t want to take our word for it? We ask existing customers and investors to rate their experience with the company – based on value for money, overall service and the website. We need at least 20 customer reviews before we add anyone to our Best Buys list.
Based on 20 reviews
Stocks and Shares ISA
Junior ISA
Lifetime ISA
Investment Account
Pension
Own brand funds
Funds from other groups
Stocks and shares
Robo advice / ready-made portfolios
Includes a shortlist of investments
Pick your own funds
Pick your own shares
The Share Centre is one of the few groups that gives its charges as a fixed £ fee, rather than as a %. This makes it relatively cheap for larger portfolios (we're talking £80,000 plus), but expensive for smaller accounts. An ISA costs £4.80 per month. There is a charge for fund transactions, so it can be expensive for those looking to make small, regular investments into multiple funds. Loads of funds and shares are available.
There is quite a lot of helpful content on the site, along with share and fund tips. These guys know their shares as well as their funds. There is also a set of ready-made funds, though they are a bit more expensive than other providers' which is a shame. Their 'Platinum 120' list showcases their preferred funds and is a helpful filter. Suited to more experienced investors with larger portfolios.
Provider Size: | Mid-sized investment platform administering around £4bn |
Minimum amounts: | £0 minimum initial investment – investments will have their own minimums |
12 month indicative performance: | A medium risk fund returned 14.2% in 2017, excluding platform charges. |