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A good all-rounder. Fidelity is a big, solid, global brand which offers a decent service and a fair price. The website is in good shape and there is nice supporting research and info available on the site. Customer service and people on the phones are good. Good on clarity of associated costs and charges. I’m surprised their customer scores are not higher – personally think they’re a decent option.
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!
Big, secure company
Good phone support
Recently improved website
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 121 reviews
The website is massively over complicated, slow to update and confusing. If you have more than one account you can't always see which you’re in. It shows misleading info on your standing orders, to give just one example. I have also twice called the helpdesk and on both occasions I was told someone would ring me back, but they didn’t. Really rather poor service. On the plus side, it is very cheap, the offer is extremely comprehensive, and you can buy into just about any fund or share you want. Am not a great fan, but concede they have their good points.
06/01/2020
The website is improving each quarter, with additional useful functionality. The recent release of an app (for both Android and iOS) is very welcome. Transfers are irritatingly slow (perhaps not all the fault of Fidelity here) and communication while in-flight leaves something to be desired. Trades take a while to be confirmed, but the buy/sell/switch process is easy to complete. The service desk is very good: quality of service and responsiveness are both better than I have experienced elsewhere.
22/11/2019
Website is much improved over the last year - increased functionality, better lay out. SIPP is good and does not have lots of fees once you want to retire / get drawdown, unlike others! Fees are good value if you have over £250k (and others in your household can benefit form lower rate too in that case - good for kids accounts), but still good value for money if you have less. Telephone support is excellent if you ever need it!
22/11/2019
I have been a Fidelity customer for 5+ years and would be happy to recommend them. Their customer services are extremely good with great staff who are professional and very knowledgeable. I find the website very easy to navigate for the puproses of administrating my portfolio. Buying, selling and switching funds is simple and free to do. I find Fidelity charges to be reasonable and will not be changing platform. I would say however that I do not find their platform at all easy to use for the purposes of fund research, which is a shame and lets down an otherwise fautless platform and service.
05/07/2019
No comment.
23/06/2019
No comment.
04/03/2019
I would not recommend starting a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA at Fidelity. Its too expensive, their charges for small beginnings are painful. They charge an annual service fee of £25 for portfolios under £7500. If you subscribe say £1000, then a £25 charge equates to 2.5% p.a., which is seven times worse than the 0.35% they charge for portfolios over £7500. This seriously retards the potential investment growth. What's more, it is charged monthly at £2.08, and if you don't lodge cash to cover these fees, they SELL the investment units/shares to pay the fees. Most irritating!
01/03/2019
I chose Fidelity for its low cost on regular payments into two of their world index trackers. The site works but I found it incredibly clunky compared with other offerings. The transactions record is a particularly opaque layout and difficult to make any sense of. And changing a monthly direct debit payment requires going through the whole direct debit setup process from scratch instead of just changing the monthly figure. OK for buying and holding investments but I wouldn't want to be too active in there.
15/02/2019
Web site has a lot of information if you have the time to look around and research funds. Analysis of fund holdings could be simplified
19/12/2018
No comment
19/12/2018
Just seems really simple for me to understand my options, easy to research costs etc and then manage either a new investment or my existing portfolio, website was recently redesigned and is pretty intuitive. Speed that any investment activity gets updated into your account seems slow in my mind
19/12/2018
19/12/2018
Website functionality and clarity much improved over the earlier version of the online product. Fund choice is wide, easy filters if you need help finding the fund that suits you (performance, ratings, fess, asset mix, etc etc). Charges are OK - much better than Hargreaves Lansdown, St James's Place and the life assurers. Even better if you have a larger portfolio and you can add your pension into a SIPP as well.
10/08/2018
Quite expensive, Can't access messages or documents on my tablet since the website changed.
25/05/2018
I have used Fidelity for many years since my first shares were purchased through Abbey National Building Society. Excellent service received, have no wish to change.
02/05/2018
A pretty good fund as far as I can judge, but the website is very poor. For some reason, despite numerous phone calls, they are unable to share the documents for my daughter's Junior ISA with me.
21/03/2018
Good all-round. Solid service.
04/03/2018
No exit fees and dislike high charges.
30/01/2018
Website has been recently re-designed but still a bit 'clunky', it's very difficult to see the actual charges for the service, you have to look at a number of screens and work it out for yourself. Its also difficult to see 'actual' performance of funds due to the way performance is calculated by Fidelity. Its easy to buy/sell/ switch investments, have wide range of funds and easy to access research notes etc.
30/01/2018
Costs could be better, wider range of funds and the new website is harder to use.
30/01/2018
Easy to use website.
30/01/2018
Prompt service, they could be clearer with their communications.
30/01/2018
It's nothing special.
30/01/2018
Good fund supermarket.
30/01/2018
Good service. Just wish they could develop their website a bit more, it's difficult to get an overall performance figure.
30/01/2018
Responsive and clear website.
30/01/2018
Staff are well informed.
30/01/2018
Poor unresponsive customer service and confusing website.
30/01/2018
Website has recently improved, but it's still much less user-friendly than Hargreaves Lansdown. Unlike Hargreaves Lansdown, you can't pay ISA fees through transfer from a non-ISA account, so every month they sell some of my shares to meet their charges, which I intensely dislike.
30/01/2018
Ok, but it's nothing special.
30/01/2018
Good articles on finance topics and helpful with queries.
30/01/2018
Default funds are expensive (0.7% OCF) and self-select funds are cheaper but misleading (e.g. the Global Tracker is 66% UK shares).
30/01/2018
No problems.
30/01/2018
Good service and more choices.
30/01/2018
Good investment returns on its own key funds, plus plenty of others to choose from.
30/01/2018
I hate the website. When you need to sell, the only reference given is their code for the fund so you have no idea what you have selected until you click through. Really annoying! Good telephone service though.
30/01/2018
It needs an iPad app
30/01/2018
Display % increase or decrease.
30/01/2018
Striving to make improvements, investing in the website, transactions getting quicker, costs competitive and a range of funds / ETFs etc.
30/01/2018
Simple good choices, lots of back up info if you need it and pricing reflects the assets I have with them (discount for larger portfolio). Improvements: website is still a bit clunky but the phone service is excellent though!
30/01/2018
Website and costs.
30/01/2018
It's a new platform and still a work in progress, it still takes you back to old platform for some items. The service team is generally well informed and switching funds is easy.
30/01/2018
The original website/account was easy to navigate and all the account information available. The recent upgrade and redesign is more challenging but familiarity will probably help. However, there is always a reliable telephone service and a named "wealth client consultant" available. Platform costs are competitive and online investing and account management is straightforward.
30/01/2018
Good for funds, but shares not supported and investment trusts are limited. Charges are reasonable for smaller amounts, but middle-of-the-road for larger amounts. The website can be very confusing - it tries to dumb things down and just makes it harder to find what you need if you know what you're doing.
30/01/2018
Fairly easy to use their website, even for an investment novice. Had a few problems when the site was 'modernised' but find the telephone advisers knowledgeable, polite and easy to understand.
30/01/2018
Better investment options.
30/01/2018
Trusted, yet cheap.
30/01/2018
Cheap, easy to use and includes active and passive funds and a fund filter. I do not like the excess post received from them, even when you opt out.
30/01/2018
I used to like their investment offering and thought they were a high integrity company. However the website is now terrible, service even worse, and marketing talks to you in a way which treats you like an idiot. Company has lost its way and will be losing my large accounts, which I will move to Hargreaves Lansdown.
30/01/2018
Reasonable value for a small investment.
30/01/2018
Previously I would have recommended, but the new website is a huge step backwards.
30/01/2018
No comment
30/01/2018
Range of funds is good. The website makes it really hard to drill down on linked accounts, e.g. a spouse.
30/01/2018
Been almost impossible to transfer family ISAs (given up with 2 of our 4 and used Vanguard instead which was much simpler). Website poor and difficult to work out exactly where money going. Customer service polite but incompetent - have to repeat all details of problem each time I phone. Frustrating ++
25/11/2017
Annual charge is 0.20% on funds of £250k. This includes all individual family members.
03/11/2017
Some excellent funds, but so many in total that it can be difficult to choose.
26/09/2017
Unlike Hargreaves Lansdown, you can't pay ISA fees from a parallel non-ISA fund so every month they sell some of my shares to fund the ISA. That's annoying and they should change it.
26/09/2017
Good scale and scope of investments, cost and reliability. Costs could always be lower of course!
26/09/2017
Reliable and familiar.
26/09/2017
I like the fact that they offer a JISA.
26/09/2017
They have good service.
26/09/2017
It's cost effective, the website is easy to use and there is good fund choice.
26/09/2017
I get a good platform fee through Cavendish Online.
26/09/2017
Good access.
26/09/2017
Fidelity was recommended to me a couple of years ago and I am so pleased that it was. The website is clear and easy to navigate, great for a newbie like me. The charges seem reasonable but it is the customer service that is exemplary. It feels like I am calling a small company that knows me and cares about me. Very happy.
11/07/2017
Works well enough. Switching or purchasing is okay but transactions aren't as visible and transparent as one might like and there can be several days delay in pricing, positioning and executing. They take fees monthly from the largest holding, I would prefer monthly debit to bank account so that fees are clear to see.
07/07/2017
Its efficient.
04/07/2017
Readily available guidance and a huge choice of funds. Low cost 0.2% charge if your household invests more then 250k across all accounts. Need better IT integration. I suspect that they have stitched systems together into a whole website as they've grown. For example, the ISA and SIPP sites behave differently in the detail.
04/07/2017
Excellent research facilities.
04/07/2017
Like the clear and effective website tools.
S
04/07/2017
I like the ease of use and the breadth of funds for my ISA and my SIPP. I would like to be able to trade shares directly from the same platform.
04/07/2017
Needs better analysis and comparison of funds.
T
04/07/2017
Not clear on costs.
04/07/2017
I like the low cost of their fund platform.
04/07/2017
Website login process used to be terrible, but is now improved.
04/07/2017
They answer phones quickly.
04/07/2017
It has an easy to understand web page, and all investment information is grouped together for ease of use.
04/07/2017
Big name so gives confidence. Being able to deal through mobile app would be useful.
04/07/2017
Generally easy to use.
04/07/2017
Front end needs updating. Needs competitive direct stocks and shares.
04/07/2017
I like the scale of the offering, and the online options.
04/07/2017
Gives the impression of a comprehensive service backed up by massive resources, but without a high cost. Account management (separation of holdings into different accounts) is clunky and non-intuitive.
04/07/2017
Website easy to use and not clunky. But charges could be simpler.
04/07/2017
Online access can be troubling when I've not used the account for a little while.
04/07/2017
Low cost investing.
04/07/2017
Good reputation.
04/07/2017
Most of it is nice but trying to do things online is harder than it should be - trying to buy and sell funds and tweak a portfolio is just a nightmare.
04/07/2017
Easy to access and organise my portfolio. Please make advice and information more accessible.
04/07/2017
No exit fees, some unit trust fee discounts. They frequently got trades wrong when I first joined them, but excellent customer service in sorting it out. You need to page through too much to get to what you want to look at and the website is slow.
04/07/2017
Big organisation providing regular updates but please reduce costs.
04/07/2017
Efficient service at a reasonable cost and excellent telephone access with well trained support. Needs more ETFs and investment trusts.
04/07/2017
Many funds but could be improved with a better website and lower fees.
04/07/2017
Good customer service via a dedicated individual, needs an improved mobile app.
04/07/2017
I like the precision, website and communication. Its good for me.
S
04/07/2017
Its functional but that is all. The website is unwieldy.
04/07/2017
Good service but needs more choices.
04/07/2017
Good fees, helpful staff and adequate website. It would be helpful if a written guide could be provided for new customers to see them through the first transactions and to find other useful information needed to run the account.
04/07/2017
I like its simplicity. Historical presentation by graphics of the performance of your investments would be an improvement.
04/07/2017
Keeps me well informed, informative daily emails, guidance, model portfolios, allows me to monitor my investments when and where I want. Needs more transparency around platform and provider fees.
04/07/2017
Everything is in one place and well organised.
04/07/2017
I like the availability of own funds.
04/07/2017
Prompt service and swiftly resolve any problems. More fund portfolio information would be good.
04/07/2017
Returns have been good but they need to be more proactive.
04/07/2017
Quick, accessible, polite and efficient.
P
04/07/2017
Low transaction fees for purchases of investment trusts and low platform fee. Really needs a much clearer format for portfolio so that one can clearly see how much profit (� and %) one has made, with charts etc.
04/07/2017
They are good.
04/07/2017
Hate the web site and the way it works although seemingly the IFA version is very good. For me it is confusing, particularly if you want to sell a holding. You have no idea what you are selling unless you know the specific account number linked to each holding. Also they have no good way of holding cash on a temporary basis whilst you consider your next investment.
04/07/2017
Easily accessible website to view account and make transactions but would benefit from a reduction in costs.
04/07/2017
Easy access and simple to understand.
04/07/2017
Poor overall, they are well behind the league.
04/07/2017
Return has been ok. Needs to reduce charges.
04/07/2017
Lower costs than Hargreaves. Website is not easy to navigate, poor access to research or charts.
04/07/2017
Expensive
04/07/2017
Easy to use and good charges. Mass fund switches could be easier.
04/07/2017
Good investment options, website not bad to use plenty of info but needs an overhaul in design and also needs modernising and simplifying.
04/07/2017
Good website, fund range and communications but the mobile app could be improved.
04/07/2017
Good reputation but could be more simple.
04/07/2017
I don't think Fidelity will go bust. It could execute trades faster.
E
04/07/2017
Good accessibility but needs easier web navigation. Comparable to other services.
04/07/2017
Good brand but needs a better web app.
04/07/2017
Cheap and offer a junior ISA but everything else could be improved. The website is pretty shocking. Tries to push you towards high cost managed funds but does have good value trackers if you can find them.
04/07/2017
Fidelity has continued to grow as an open architecture platform, with brand awareness among investors in our consumer testing second only to Hargreaves Lansdown.
The website is mostly good to use. Helpful information is boxed up, signposting is clear and there are some ready-made options. The content is rich and does a good support job although we’d like to see more content, tools and quizzes to help consumers.
Trading has improved and nice green ticks make it a fool-proof journey. We find it maddening that they have an unwieldy 10-digit customer reference number and usernames and various security passwords.
The app is not yet as helpful as it could be.
There is a clear gulf between the ‘look at your portfolio’ stuff and the ‘read our huge library of content’ stuff. There’s so much content it’s a bit overwhelming. Once in the secure Account area on the app it’s reporting only at this stage and – if there is the capability to trade – we couldn’t find it!
Fidelity has done a lot of work behind the scenes and the website is improved. Trading and switching is easier than before and share trading has been improved. Charges are made very clear when it comes to dealing and the impact of fees is spelt out in cash terms. Customer service remains strong. It’s still not the service for enthusiastic day traders or share aficionados – but it’s clear and simple to find stuff and trade it.
Stocks and Shares ISA
Junior ISA
Investment Account
Pension
Own brand funds
Funds from other groups
Stocks and shares
Robo advice / ready-made portfolios
Help building a portfolio
Includes a shortlist of investments
Pick your own funds
Pick your own shares
A safe, solid global player which has recently improved its website for investors. Recent changes include improved share dealing services and performance reporting. If you have more than £7,500 the admin fee is 0.35% a year, so you’ll probably pay about 1.1% a year all-in (although depends on which investments you pick). If you have less than that you'll pay £45 a year for an ISA, which looks pricey for small portfolios.
Google their PathFinder range if you need help in picking the investments to sit inside your ISA or DIY SIPP. If you really want it drilled down they offer one ‘Greatest Hits’ simple fund – the Select 50 Balanced fund which is their investment ready meal for choice-haters! There are also loads of funds from other groups available.
Their performance tool compares your overall portfolio to a benchmark of your choice. It’s a nice thought – but they do use a proxy benchmark (for me it was UK large cap shares) which is a bit odd when I have a portfolio of lots of global funds too. I overlooked the nuance for now as I’m smashing it against the benchmark (!) but it feels a touch more gimmicky than useful?
| Provider Size: | Large firm: administering £bns on behalf of investors and financial advisers |
| Minimum amounts: | £50 minimum monthly amount £25 minimum initial amount |
| 12 month indicative performance: | A medium risk active fund returned 9.2% in 2017, after charges. |
"I have about £100,000 invested in an ISA with Investec Click and Invest. They are closing their Click and Invest accounts and I have to find somewhere else to invest the money. Which are some providers of a similar nature, i.e. a managed ISA fund, preferably ones which can be set up and monitored online? I am considering either medium risk or high risk accounts."
Michael, Surrey
10/06/2019
Read our replyI have about £100,000 invested in an ISA with Investec Click and Invest. They are closing their Click and Invest accounts and I have to find somewhere else to invest the money. Which are some providers of a similar nature, i.e. a managed ISA fund, preferably ones which can be set up and monitored online? I am considering either medium risk or high risk accounts.
Michael, Surrey
10/06/2019
Hi,
I was surprised to see Investec Click and Invest shut down. And I'm sorry you find yourself in this position, looking for a platform of a 'similar nature'.
If you'd like to make you own comparisons between the options out there, take a look our Best Buys page to get all the details on different providers.
Hope this is helpful.
We are not regulated to give personal financial advice - This isn’t full-fat regulated financial advice. Boring Money is a publisher and not regulated by the FCA.
This means we can't help with specific personal circumstances or recommend specific investment products. It also basically means that if we say something daft, you have no recourse to come back and complain.
We’re only allowed to give you a steer or share an opinion or tell you the facts - That said, we promise that our answer to you is an independent unbiased perspective with no commercial gain to make. If you need regulated financial advice, you can find a good adviser via sites such as Unbiased & Vouchedfor.
"My wife and I invested our full 2019/20 ISA allowance with Investec's Click and Invest offering and were very sad to learn recently that the service was to be closed. We're now in the position of looking for a new ISA provider. I'd prefer to stick with a managed service, such as the one offered by Click and Invest, where our portfolios would be managed by experts, but will consider the DIY option if that proves to be the best on offer. Which platforms are well regarded ISA providers? I'd rather not go with a digital start-up offering, but a more established player with a track record of good performance. I suppose this sounds like I'm asking for advice, which I'm not, just a steer in the right direction as we were not anticipating to be in this position so soon after investing this year's ISA allowance. We actually opted for the Click and Invest service in part, because of the 5 star recommendation on this site; of which we are fond and value the content."
Mr & Mrs S., Sussex
30/05/2019
Read our replyMy wife and I invested our full 2019/20 ISA allowance with Investec's Click and Invest offering and were very sad to learn recently that the service was to be closed. We're now in the position of looking for a new ISA provider. I'd prefer to stick with a managed service, such as the one offered by Click and Invest, where our portfolios would be managed by experts, but will consider the DIY option if that proves to be the best on offer. Which platforms are well regarded ISA providers? I'd rather not go with a digital start-up offering, but a more established player with a track record of good performance. I suppose this sounds like I'm asking for advice, which I'm not, just a steer in the right direction as we were not anticipating to be in this position so soon after investing this year's ISA allowance. We actually opted for the Click and Invest service in part, because of the 5 star recommendation on this site; of which we are fond and value the content.
Mr & Mrs S., Sussex
30/05/2019
Hi,
Thanks for your note.
I was surprised to see Investec Click and Invest shut down. And I'm sorry you find yourself in this position.
You said that you don't want to go to a new digital start-up and that you are looking for a more established brand. Plus you'd prefer to stick with an option where the investments are put together for you.
Investec Click and Invest was an active option. So read up on that, and see if you're happy to take the lower costs of passive, but potentially sacrifice some of the higher gains of active funds. Although of course these aren't guaranteed. Inactive funds may well end up costing more, and performing less.
Hope this is helpful.
We are not regulated to give personal financial advice - This isn’t full-fat regulated financial advice. Boring Money is a publisher and not regulated by the FCA.
This means we can't help with specific personal circumstances or recommend specific investment products. It also basically means that if we say something daft, you have no recourse to come back and complain.
We’re only allowed to give you a steer or share an opinion or tell you the facts - That said, we promise that our answer to you is an independent unbiased perspective with no commercial gain to make. If you need regulated financial advice, you can find a good adviser via sites such as Unbiased & Vouchedfor.
"I've been reading about Beaufort Securities, and how potentially the administrator could have used investor money to cover their costs. What is the best way to avoid the same thing happening to my Stocks and Shares ISA?"
Jenny, Greater Manchester
29/04/2019
Read our replyI've been reading about Beaufort Securities, and how potentially the administrator could have used investor money to cover their costs. What is the best way to avoid the same thing happening to my Stocks and Shares ISA?
Jenny, Greater Manchester
29/04/2019
Beaufort Securities was a stockbroking firm, and in theory money invested in an ISA through them should be ring-fenced (meaning they should separate invested client money from other business money).
However, the governance around keeping client money separate from business money was poor, and so clients funds may have been used by the firm, which is against the requirement of the regulator.
To avoid this happening to you, you should invest via bigger platforms (such as AJ Bell Youinvest or Hargreaves Lansdown) or directly via an ISA provider (such as Vanguard or Fidelity) where the governance should be better.
As soon as you invest, you should receive a contract note confirming your investment.
You can also spend time undertaking your own due diligence (or get your financial adviser to do so), to establish how the firm is separating client funds from their own – we usually look to see who the custodians and auditors are for any fund/ISA we invest in.
We are not regulated to give personal financial advice - This isn’t full-fat regulated financial advice. Boring Money is a publisher and not regulated by the FCA.
This means we can't help with specific personal circumstances or recommend specific investment products. It also basically means that if we say something daft, you have no recourse to come back and complain.
We’re only allowed to give you a steer or share an opinion or tell you the facts - That said, we promise that our answer to you is an independent unbiased perspective with no commercial gain to make. If you need regulated financial advice, you can find a good adviser via sites such as Unbiased & Vouchedfor.
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