EQi is a big established player whose parent company looks after a lot of the shares held by those who get issued shares through work. This DIY offering however needs work to get the systems and service working as well as they need to. It’s tricky to find what their unique selling point is today, or what they do better than others.
IG Review: The investment service sits very uncomfortably on their main spread-betting site and this feels a bit like an arranged marriage which is awkward to watch.
A well-established player, EQi offers a wide choice of investment products and pensions. Read our review and what EQi customers have to say.
When Joely Carey’s two children left home she felt ‘bereft’, then decided it was time to rediscover herself as a woman.
When Joely Carey’s two children left home she felt ‘bereft’, then decided it was time to rediscover herself as a woman.
What exactly are cryptoassets? How do you get start investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Blockchain, and the rest? Read our intuitive guide to make sense of it all.
Our webinars are designed to help real people just like you understand the world of investing and get involved. Find out what's coming up next!
Introducing our brand new Sustainable Disclosure Prototype. You said you found comparing ESG funds difficult and confusing. We've responded with a prototype that should make this easier for you. Find out more.
Have you got broadsheet burn-out? Sign up to Holly's weekly blog to get the low-down on what's happening in the world and how it really matters to you!
This digital platform opened to the public in November 2021 and offers to help retail investors make better decisions with hand-picked funds, trusts and ETFs.
Investing in the stock market for the first time is daunting. Crypto-this and equity-that, there are endless choices, lots of jargon and piles of experts who may or may not be trustworthy.
Wombat is app only and the app has clearly been designed with the user in mind. It is easy to use, with a nice interface and a clear layout. Adding investments is very easy and there is a designated tab for performance, which shows your portfolio value on a month-to-month basis.
eToro is a fast-growing social trading network with millions of registered users and endless trading and investment tools. Find out more.
Revolut is the disrupter bank adopted initially by many for its favourable treatment of exchange rates when travelling or making payments abroad. Find out more.
Claro Money is the UK's first financial coaching app that provides an 'end-to-end' journey to help you invest ethically. Read Boring Money's review.
Octopus MoneyCoach offers financial coaching to help people sort out their finances without the sometimes hefty price tag of regulated financial advice. Find out more.
Headquartered in Bristol, Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK's largest investment platform. Read Boring Money's in-depth review here.
Wealthify is a robo adviser that lets you invest as little as £1. Read our review of it here.
Sometimes it’s a quick email to ask for an immediate opinion. But sometimes it’s a more involved survey or interview. We will pay typical market research rates for your time on these more involved projects.
This blog is for anyone who thinks that investments are, well, just a little bit boring. For anyone who wants some validation about what you're planning. Our mission is to cut through the cr@p, to explain stuff in normal language and to help everyone who has ever felt a bit alienated, patronised or simply cross-eyed and exhausted, to make some good decisions and to get those financial monkeys off your back.
Sometimes it’s a quick email to ask for an immediate opinion. But sometimes it’s a more involved survey or interview. We will pay typical market research rates for your time on these more involved projects.
Headquartered in Manchester, AJ Bell is a fast-growing platform for investors who want a fair price and decent service. Read our review of its Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) here.
Headquartered in Bristol, Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK's largest private investment platform. Read our review of its Lifetime ISAs (LISAs).
Nutmeg Review: Nutmeg is the most established of the ‘robo advisers’ and it offers a great option for people who want to invest without the hassle.
Nutmeg is the most established of the ‘robo advisers’ and offers a great option for people who want to invest without the hassle. Read our review here.
Hargreaves Lansdown Review: Hargreaves remains boringly good. The website is off-putting to less confident investors. For those familiar with the service, though it's easy to use and reliable
The website is big, bold and professional, but carries a large amount of industry-speak, leaving something that is visually quite appealing
iWeb offers a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) with access to more than 2,500 funds, shares, investment trusts and more. Read our full review here.
Very yellow. Bit dull. Safe. Reliable. It works pretty well and is simple enough to navigate, even for beginners.
Aegon is a well-respected platform in the retirement space. Read our review of its pensions products here.
This is a simple to use, modern pension which feels different from the start. Onboarding is relatively quick and easy and there is a strong sense of the ‘personal’, with ‘BeeKeepers’ allocated as client service managers to help customers throughout the transfer process. Language is kept simple throughout, charges can be illustrated as £s or %s – and the proposition feels much more customer-focussed than traditional incumbents.
Willis Owen Review: As a place to read up on ISAs, pensions, funds and shares, the website is nice. Will suit those with a mix of investments who are happy with some degree of choice. Administration can be occasionally problematic
IMPORTANT: Wealthsimple is closed to new business in the UK, announced 6 Dec. More details to follow. Existing customers to be migrated to Moneyfarm.
AJ Bell Youinvest’s parent firm started out in life as a pension specialist. And these guys know their stuff, unlike some stockbrokers who have chucked a pension into the mix. Probably one of the most solid and best value choices out there for those with more complex pension needs and questions
Willis Owen Review: As a place to read up on ISAs, pensions, funds and shares, the website is nice. Will suit those with a mix of investments who are happy with some degree of choice. Administration can be occasionally problematic
Barclays Smart Investor gives you an all-in-one portfolio, spreading your money around many different investments. Read our Barclays Smart Investor review.
Vanguard Investor Review: Low-cost ready-made investment portfolios. Huge global player. Fair. Good choice to get started as a default option. It’s still a bit lacking in help and support.
A good all-rounder. Fidelity is a big, solid, global brand which offers a decent service and a fair price. Read more.
Want a mobile-first investment service? Moneybox might be the easy-to-use option for you. Read our Moneybox Pension review to find out more.
Launched in Italy in 2011 before expanding to the UK in 2016, Moneyfarm offers a fully-managed Self-Invested Personal Pension. Read our detailed review here.
True Potential Investor offers fully-managed investment portfolios and works with almost 1 in 5 UK financial advisers. Read our review of its pensions here.
The service is good and the choice is plentiful. The relatively low price tag makes this a contender for many people who can see beyond complex dashboards.
A subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group, Halifax offers a full suite of ISAs, pensions, funds and shares. Read Boring Money's review here.
A big, reliable brand, Standard Life provides a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) which offers access to hundreds of pension funds from leading fund managers. Read our full review here.
Evestor is for DIY investors who don’t need advice but want a relatively easy digital journey with ‘ready made’ investment portfolios. Read our review.
Interactive Investor Review: These guys are now a big fish. The costs are super low for larger accounts and this service suits more affluent, engaged investors. However, the whole service feels dated
Nutmeg Review: Nutmeg is the most established of the ‘robo advisers’ and it offers a great option for people who want to invest without the hassle.
A slick, user-friendly robo adviser which actually feels like a pleasure to use. Clear graphical interfaces make things easy. A good option for less confident newcomers who value ease, simplicity and starting with low balances.
This is a new addition to the ISA scene and is worth a look for those who want a simple, ready-made collection of sustainable investments with minimum hassle. Read our review here.
BMO was better known as F&C before being acquired by the Bank of Montreal. This group was a big player in the Child Trust Fund space and so will have a lot of teenagers today on its books. With a fixed fee of £72 a year for ISAs this is decent enough. Offers access to a solid 10 investment trusts. Website is basic and help with which investments to pick could be improved.
For less confident investors who are looking for the security of a big brand bank, and some handholding along the way, this service is a decent start. Onboarding feels long and it is hard to keep up the enthusiasm to complete. Charges are fair – less than 1% in Year One which includes advice.
Halifax is for the confident investor who knows what they are doing, and who is looking for a low-cost, no-frills service. Read our review and what Halifax customers have to say.
Low-cost, no frills investing. Their LifeStrategy funds offer readymade investment solutions and with over 30 million mostly happy customers globally this feels like a safe option for most. Suitable for beginners and passive investing enthusiasts. That said, the website and associated information is sparse, and it needs work. Beginners you will have to persevere with which LIfeStrategy option (there are 5) to plump for. But these guys are solid and, let’s say it again – LOW COST! A good option for beginners or conversely those who have tried to be a Guru and now lack the energy to continue, or the belief that they can do better.
evestor is a great option for DIY investors who don’t need advice. Read our review and find out what evestor customers have to say.
BMO was better known as F&C before being acquired by the Bank of Montreal. F&C was a big player in the Child Trust Fund space – the group has lots of teenagers today on its books. This global fund manager has solid creds in the ‘ESG’ investing space and has a better responsible, sustainable story than most. There’s a £30 a year fixed fee and no dealing charges. The investment range is narrow with 10 investment trusts, which could confuse the less confident. The online experience is a bit less slick than many, but for a buy and hold Junior ISA, containing a ‘mixed bag’ such as the well-respected F&C Investment Trust, it’s not a bad option.
The digital advice journey will appeal to those who don’t feel confident about investing. The process is long, but there are some nice ‘gamified’ things to test attitudes to risk. Once this is completed, the online reporting and information is underwhelming.
Aberdeen Standard Investments is one of the world's biggest asset management companies, offering a wide choice of ISAs and pension products. Read our review.
True Potential offers pensions and ready-made ISAs for people who want help and support. Read our review and find out what True Potential customers have to say.
The ‘Barclays Ready-made Investments’ give you an all-in-one portfolio, spreading your money around many different investments in one go. Read our full review.
Looking to invest? NatWest Invest offer NatWest Stocks and Shares ISAs & Junior ISAs. Read our review to find out more & discover what customers think!
iWeb offers ISAs, Share Dealing Accounts and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Read our review here.
A trusted brand, Aviva offers a huge range of investment products and pensions. Read our review and find out what Aviva customers have to say.
Moneybox is a lovely investment app for newcomers who have little interest in how their money is put to work behind the scenes. Read our review of its LISA and find out what customers have to say.
Interactive Investor is a big player in the investment industry, which a huge range of products. Read our review and discover what customers think.
Moneybox is a super engaging option for investment newcomers, with an award winning app. Read our full review and find out what their customers think.
A good all-rounder. Fidelity is a big, solid, global brand which offers a decent service and a fair price. Read more.
Bestinvest offers a wide range of investments and is a good all-rounder. Read our detailed review and find out what Bestinvest customers have to say.
This millennial-focused company is good for the less-confident investor and offers various investment products, as well as pensions. Read our review and what Wealthsimple customers have to say.
Interactive Investor is a big player in the investment industry, which a huge range of products. Read our review and discover what customers think.
Willis Owen suits those with a mix of investments who are happy with some degree of choice. Read our full review here and find out what customers think.
Interactive Investor Review: These guys are now a big fish. The costs are super low for larger accounts and this service suits more affluent, engaged investors. However, the whole service feels dated
AJ Bell Youinvest Reviews: A good all-rounder for people who want a choice of funds/shares/ISAs and pensions. User experience and trading got better over the last year.
Freetrade transformed the UK DIY investing space on its launch in 2016, becoming the first provider to offer free share dealing to investors. Read our review and find out what its customers have to say.
A big player in the investment markets, IG offers a range of ISAs and pensions. Discover what IG customers think by reading our IG Smart Portfolio review.
A good all-rounder. Fidelity is a big, solid, global brand which offers a decent service and a fair price. Read more.
AJ Bell Youinvest is a good all-rounder for people who want a choice of funds/shares/ISAs and pensions. Read our review and what customers think.
Looking to invest? Hargreaves Lansdown offers JISAs and LISAs. Read our Hargreaves Lansdown review to find out more and discover what customers think!
Charles Stanley offer a wide range of investments & great customer service. Read our full review & find out what their customers have to say.
Moneyfarm is good for those who want help and are happy with few investment choices. Read our full review here and learn what Moneyfarm customers have to say.
Wealthify is a good choice if you're looking for a nice alternative to torrents of jargon. Read our review and find out what customers think.
This service will suit more confident investors who use ETFs to access stock markets. If you pick your own – guess what – no platform or ISA fee to pay. InvestEngine presumably hopes that enough people will not go entirely DIY but choose their managed route – answer some questions and they will suggest a mixed basket of about 15 ETFs for you. And charge a still competitive 0.25% a year for this service. Clean. Neat. Will still fry less confident investment brains.
Read Boring Money's Nutmeg review to learn how this established robo adviser is a great provider of hassle-free ISAs & easy to use pre-packaged investments.
Plum is mobile-first, with everything being done via the app. The app is available on both Android and Apple devices, and does a great job of fitting in a lot of information compactly and concisely. It can link to bank accounts and credit cards, track spending and automatically round up change from your accounts and deposit it into your savings/investments on Plum.
Vanguard is one of the most popular investment platforms in the UK. But what does Boring Money think of its Junior ISAs? (JISAs). Find out here.
I really like this. It feels very fresh and current – easy to use and actually quite a nice experience. As with most you will have to pick your own risk profile without much help so you’ll have to get your head around this. But I love the way you can add a little flavour of customisation in a simple way – nominating just a little portion of your investment to back water, clean energy or health. I also like the way others can contribute, leaving messages too. I can imagine grandparents liking this. For less confident investors and parents, this is a lovely looking choice.
Vanguard Investor offers low-cost, ready-made investment portfolios. Read our full Vanguard review and find out what their customers have to say.
Claro Money is the UK's first financial coaching app that provides an 'end-to-end' journey to help you invest ethically. Read Boring Money's review.
Aspect8 is a multi-award-winning Chartered financial planning firm, the gold standard in financial advice. We’ve been helping people like you make the most of their money since for almost 30 years.
Looking for some free tips and help on personal finance? We've got a huge selection of free resources relating to debt, savings, investments and pensions. Read more.
Interested in advertising with Boring Money? We offer plenty of options for sponsorships and advertising on our consumer site. Find out more.
What exactly do advisers take care of? How can they help you manage your money more effectively? Find out in our Boring Money guide.
What is financial coaching? How does it differ from traditional financial advice? Find out here.
What exactly is 'traditional financial advice'? Can you benefit from it? Boring Money gives you the lowdown here.
What exactly is digital advice? Is it right for you? How does it compare to traditional financial advice. Boring Money gives you the lowdown.
What exactly is digital advice? Is it right for you? How does it compare to traditional financial advice. Boring Money gives you the lowdown.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change. Chartered Financial Planner Cleona Lira explains how she helps women with their money.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change. Chartered wealth manager Susie Bewell explains how she helps women with their money.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change. Chartered accountant and financial planner Mary Waring explains how she helps women with their money.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change. Lesley James, founder of Simplified Money, explains how she helps women with their money.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change. Financial Life Planner Tina Weeks tells us how she helps women with their money.
Women Talk Finance (WTF) is our Money Tribe for women who are fed up of waiting for the finance industry to change.
Zoe is a dedicated saver – even if the jargon sometimes gets in the way.
One half of this fun-loving couple has already reached retirement and is drawing on a pension. The other half, still working and loving it, is keen to keep saving as long as she can.
Alison's always been good at saving and has amassed a decent wedge of cash alongside her pension. But cash is pitifully weak these days.
Paul is fairly confident he knows what he's doing with his pension, but why stop there?
Stay-at-home mum and business owner Victoria is hoping her decades of work will be enough to earn her a decent state pension.
Still in her twenties, time is on Elena's side when it comes to retirement planning.
Michelle has a few pensions but doesn't think about them very much.
Having worked for herself for many years, Sarah is used to taking charge - if she doesn't, who will? Now she's applying that thinking to her retirement.
With no pension yet, Alex is right at the start of her savings journey. But time is on her side if she starts now.
Retirement isn't far off for David, and he can't wait to shake the commute
What is a Multi Asset Fund and is it right for me? Read our guide, learn the pros and cons and discover the Best Multi Asset Funds available to you.
What kind of life do you want for yourself in retirement? And how will you provide it? Hard questions. Even some of us who are retired still don't know the answers! But it doesn't stop us from planning. And with the how-to tips and tools on these pages, it's easier than ever to make better choices.
What type of Sustainable Saver are you? Take our quiz to find out! And learn more about sustainable investing.
These tax-free savings accounts allow you to build up a nest egg for the kids. You can open a cash one, or a stocks & shares one, and anyone can pay into this until your child’s 18th birthday.
Investment trusts can claim a pedigree as long as the cash register, with the oldest going back more than 150 years. But unlike a cash register, there is no guarantee that they’ll dispense cash, though they have done a good job of growing wealth over the years, which explains their enduring popularity.
Top of the Pops from the ETF scene, including some of the most popular on the market. Plus, we run through everything you need to know about what ETFs are, how they work, and if they're right for you.
Shares simply let us own a small slice of a company. If they do well, so do we. If they flop, we lose money. Also known as stocks, or equities, shares exist to enable companies to raise money to fund their activity and growth.
What is the State Pension? How much could you be entitled to? Read Boring Money's no-nonsense guide here.
If you’re aged between 18 and 39, the Lifetime ISA (also called a LISA) offers a tax-free way to save – but with an appealing extra. You can save up to £4,000 a year and get a 25% top-up from the government, i.e. a free £1,000 a year!
What is an online investment platform and is it right for you? Read our handy guide now and find out the benefits of online investment platforms today.
Funds are ready-made baskets of investments managed for you by an expert. A great way to avoid making a clanger by choosing one duff share. Great for investing overseas and for outsourcing the decision-making to a professional.
What is the Private Pension? How much should you be saving? Read Boring Money's no-nonsense guide here.
Top of the Pops from the ETF scene, including some of the most popular on the market. Plus, we run through everything you need to know about what ETFs are, how they work, and if they're right for you.
A robo advisor is an online investment service which asks you questions and allocates a suitable basket of investments on your behalf. Is it right for you? Find out!
Want your money to have a positive impact? Use our sustainable and ESG investing guide to discover the basics about sustainable investments. Learn more.
Investment trusts can claim a pedigree as long as the cash register, with the oldest going back more than 150 years. But unlike a cash register, there is no guarantee that they’ll dispense cash, though they have done a good job of growing wealth over the years, which explains their enduring popularity.
Cash is the safe bespectacled librarian to the more flamboyant rock star that is shares, with some 57% of UK adults holding some form of cash savings account. We explain what cash is, how it holds up as a type of investment, and whether or not it's suitable for you.
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The rise and rise of house prices in the UK has left many people sitting on the goldmine. The problem has been how to turn the rising value of your home into tangible cash that you can spend, while still keeping a roof over your head. For around 80,000 people a year, equity release is the answer.
The days of a job for life are long gone. Many people now have multiple pension pots from previous employers. Here's our guide on how to consolidate your pension.
What is life insurance? Why might you need it? Boring Money gives you the lowdown.
So you think it’s possibly time to start investing but the idea is as frightening as hurtling down a black run backwards? There are some relatively easy ways to get going…gently.
Your mortgage is likely to be your most expensive outgoing, so it’s worth making efforts to keep costs as low as possible. Boring Money shows you how.
Your credit score matters. From mortgages to credit cards, to loans, it affects your ability to borrow and the cost of that debt. Learn more in this guide.
Should you update your funds research? Boring Money gives you the lowdown on when you might need to reconsider your investments.
JISAs operate like a normal Isa: they are a tax wrapper into which you put cash, stocks or shares.
Lifetime ISAs were launched in 2016 to help younger people (for the avoidance of doubt – that’s the under 40s) save either for their first home, or for retirement. Find out more!
Tackling expensive debt can make a big difference to how you feel as well as your finances. Learn more in our guide.
Stocks and Shares ISAs generally perform better than Cash ISAs but carry greater risks. Find out more in Boring Money's no-nonsense guide.
PensionWise is a really helpful service provided by the Government for people who want an impartial sounding board for their pension decisions when they are coming up to retirement.
When you start a new job, you'll join your employer's workplace pension scheme. This is super important, if a little complicated to understand. Read our guide.
If you don’t have a will, your assets are distributed according to the rules of intestacy, which may not reflect your wishes at all. It also makes the distribution of your estate distinctly more complicated for your family.
Financial advisers have had a bit of bad reputation in the past but the profession has had a radical overhaul over the last 10 years and there are some great operators out there now. What can you look out for to help you choose?
Currently the full state pension is £179.60 per week (woo yeah). It’s not exactly going to give you the lifestyle of the Queen, but it is money from the government that you are entitled to.
Budgeting apps will help you save, organise and get you into a suitable place to start investing.
Your pension income can come from three main sources: the government, your employer and you. The state pension is useful, but if you can’t live on £9,300 a year, you’ll need another source of income in retirement.
All inclusive: When you see this, it means that the cost displayed is calculated based on the fee for holding an account, plus the fee for the investments you hold in that account
Trading apps are a great way to have control of your investments at the tip of your fingers – literally.