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Independent, no-nonsense ratings and reviews
Interactive Investor is on a growth mission, gobbling up smaller trading firms. The service is getting better from a cost perspective for larger portfolios - it’s hard to beat. The research on funds and shares is strong and getting better. But behind the scenes it still doesn’t hang together as smoothly as we’d like and it’s a bit clunkier than some competitors. For some investors, this will be easy to overlook given the relatively low charges bigger account holders will pay.
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
Wide range of investments
Good for share dealing
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 131 reviews
Impossible to speak to anybody. Took ages to transfer in two pensions and no customer support at all. When you try to sell or buy shares the quoted prices seem to be at odds with values quoted elsewhere and the advantage is always skewed to the brokers benefit. Tried to sell RMG at the price quoted on screen and the contract price was £400 less than the spreadsheet. Sick of trying to get answers because you are simply ignored.
17/09/2020
Transferred my pension funds into ii and now I am trying unsuccessfully to withdraw a tax fee lump sum. Very poor service, very unresponsive and their claim that the transaction can be completed within 5 days is laughable.
18/08/2020
I've been trying to open an account for 2 weeks. ii keeping pointing out errors in my application. 1 by 1 by 1 by 1 by... I've asked them to call me to go though my forms - and they confirm someone will call me. But they never do... I was thinking of moving circa £600k from HL as ii fees are so much cheaper, but now I know why - they are cr@p!
29/07/2020
I tried to move two ISA's and a SIPP to Interactive. Weeks of lies and list forms resulted in my lodging a complaint with the FSA.
15/07/2020
Large one off amount deposited into SIPP on 17th March before tax year end. Money returned to my bank on 30th April so I logged into account to find out why, and found a note which they had put on on Saturday 4th April saying they wanted to check that deposit had come from me. Why did it take so long to raise this question? Why not contact me proactively? Too late to do anything to recover the amount to SIPP account for last tax year - Thousands in lost tax relief. Formal complaint raised - promised response within 28 days - but still nothing. FSCS and Pensions Ombusdman next stop!
12/06/2020
If you only plan to do a small number of trades, then I would recommend finding a company that does not have a standard monthly charge. I had an account with Interactive Investor, and although I did not trade for over a year I was still being charged just for holding an account.
21/04/2020
It's cheap. But the website is not intuitive at all - I have found it near impossible to work out the relationships between the 'cash account', 'trading account', and 'regular payments'. It's like trying to solve an enigma, working out what payments will be (a) taken from your bank account, (b) how much will be invested, (c) how to to change these two. I've had several back-and-forth emails about how to change a Direct Debit, with contradictory instructions from different customer service agents. I'm not impressed with the service.
08/04/2020
I think the outstanding aspect of Interactive Investor is the value for money, which as we all know has a huge impact on the growth rate of our investments. I have found the service to be okay - nothing amazing, but fine if you are willing to be a little patient. The website is a bit old school, though it is functional.
28/02/2020
I am an ex-Alliance customer. The supposedly 'seamless' takeover has been anything but and I have effectively been frozen out of my accounts for months. Not that this has stopped them charging me. I have now spent over 4 hours on the phone trying to sort this out and getting no sense out of them not least because it is impossible to speak with anyone with authority or sense. I would close the accounts now but they are effectively preventing that. My other accounts are with Hargreaves Lansdown who in comparison are a model of efficiency!
31/01/2020
Accessed my account for the first time in a while yesterday, easy to get in, easy to navigate and more importantly easy to follow. I didnt do any investing as it happened, but I will be doing.
24/01/2020
Good value for a high value portfolio (ISA trading account and SIPP). Moved over from ATS, and better site than ATS for some things, but less functionality in other areas. Have raised three queries with them in last three months and all dealt with speedily and adequately.
23/01/2020
Auto switch from Alliance Trust was mostly smooth and now significantly cheaper. Still getting to grips with the Interactive Investor interface but response to online secure messaging is quick and generally helpful. Phone line for more complex issues is answered quickly and referral to other staff is immediate when required. Very good value for larger portfolios and payments are processed quickly and immediately following dividends if requested. Dealing facility is becoming familiar and seems straightforward and efficient. Based on experience so far - highly recommended.
23/01/2020
Good service with clear pricing structure and good for those with larger portfolios. The mobile app could be a bit more user friendly (not as detailed as HL).
23/01/2020
Good value for larger pots (~£300k) and limited trading. Decent customer service.
23/01/2020
I have recently transferred both my SIPP and ISA from Hargreaves Lansdown to Interactive Investor. The whole process with II was pretty smooth and they kepy me informed of progress throughout. I've also had reason to email and call them on a couple of occasions and found them to be helpful and responsive every time. Their website isn't quite as slick, intuitive or as informative as Hargreaves Lansdown, but it still gives me all the information I need. I would highly recommend II.
23/01/2020
Chose Interactive Investor for a transfer into a SIPP rather than Hargreaves Lansdown (already have a SIPP with them) as they are quite expensive. Big mistake (I only buy funds so perhaps a different story for those that invest in shares etc.). II site very amateurish and difficult to navigate - still haven't worked out how to find transaction history of specific fund purchases. Also the range of funds is not as wide as HL. Yes, II cheaper than HL but prefer the latter - the HL site is intuitive and you can drill down.
17/01/2020
Let's hope it makes other platforms sit up and improve their terms.
10/01/2020
After taking over Alliance Trust Savings (cheap but not always the best), I hoped that Interactive Investor, supposedly 2nd biggest platform would be an improvement. My 2 adult daughters old accounts included "1st Steps" (childrens') accounts for grandchildren. One's account continued with 2 additional Trading accounts included. For the other II set up separate 2 new accounts? We're still trying to sort. Re my payments in, I was given conflicting information as whether I could pay into those accounts and JISAs, plus account names and numbers! Person had to keep referring back for help!
03/01/2020
I have used this platform since 2011 and find it simple and easy to use. If you use the "regular investment" option then dealing charges are very reasonable. Good research tools too.
03/01/2020
I find the website easy to use, buying and selling is straightforward and I like the research area. Cost is competitive and the choice of investments comprehensive.
22/12/2019
No comment.
29/11/2019
It is finally getting a bit better after all the problems they had after taking on TDW, but the website keeps being down at weekends. As I work during the week and wish to review my portfolio at weekends, this is irritating.
23/11/2019
Great value for what I need. I only review/adjust my investments every six months or so so I don’t need much functionality from the website etc. Customer support has been excellent on the few times I’ve needed them.
22/11/2019
No comment.
22/11/2019
Moved from ATS. Like fixed fees, and one fee for all my three accounts. Dealing costs are not excessive. Good Morningstar content, and free digital magazines are a good add-on. BUT no experience yet of changing monthly pension amounts. I don't think I can deal while awaiting settlement, but that just requires forward planning.
22/11/2019
Low costs and good service. Their older website portfolio with its lively discussion board seems far better than the new one. Overall I am happy with their service.
22/11/2019
No comment.
17/11/2019
Good service with reasonable web site. SIPP options/management are poor and in any contact with them SIPP appears to be the poor relation. Such a shame because otherwise I am very pleased since moving my funds to them. Fees are reasonable and well explained.
17/11/2019
Excellent value for larger portfolio because of fixed monthly fee. If you are careful and don't buy and sell a lot you can reduce transaction fees.
16/11/2019
Their website is more like two websites, login to trade login to a research account. Login to research and decide to buy a product login again. The website is always being developed? (changed) not impressed when you compare it to other providers.
15/11/2019
Response to questions is good. Main drawback with ii is the clunky and poorly explained SIPP drawdown processes.
15/11/2019
No comment
15/11/2019
No comment.
11/10/2019
Tried to open a SIPP. Company lost the certification forms that I sent registered mail. Poorly trained customer service staff shoved me onto hold several times in follow up. Very poor operations. Not sure I want to send my money here.
30/08/2019
- doesnt have enough products for self managed SIPP, stuff that all other providers offer, they don't have - takes days to settle cash, basic fx transaction - getting out is a bureaucratic nightmare
09/08/2019
Good website, plus app for use on mobile, very useful. Plenty of funds to choose from at competitive rates. I find its sister magazine Money Observer a useful source of information.
20/07/2019
Excellent service from Preet. She was very helpful in my queries. Highly recommended
26/06/2019
The fees are now £9.99 monthly. You can have other packages if you trade more. Good service, website not so easy to use but fine. Good value and you know where you are with fees which are clearly explained.
25/06/2019
Great value. Saved £1000 a year since transferring from HL. Good app and website with loads of Morningstar content.
24/06/2019
Been with them 10+ years and found to be excellent.
25/05/2019
No comment.
22/05/2019
When you sell shares you have to wait a few days for the sale to go through so you can reinvest your money. This is unlike Hargreaves where you can instantly buy with sale proceeds. I've found this to be frustrating when trying to day trade
10/05/2019
I phoned to confirm my requirements and opened an account. Only to be told that all the things they told me I could do, were not true. So I closed the account. But they continued to take money from my bank account, and I'm now finding it very difficult to get my money back...
26/03/2019
Good service generally, but Website is a bit complicated. They are good on foreign investments. Secure email works well, and free changing of a foreign currency is also good into £'s. Charges are honest as fixed rather than % (the latter a rip off for portfolios >£50k in value). A professional setup and platform is reliable.
15/02/2019
II is going through a growth phase, and are updating systems, taking the best from those acquired businesses. IF you have pot larger than £50k, then the set £22.50 a quarter charge is pretty cheap as it includes dealing credits which roll over. I have used several platforms over the course of my investing and I have found II the best so far. There are no plans to move my funds in the near term.
15/02/2019
Fixed fees make this very cheap, excellent range of markets available. Not the most intuitive, but once you get the hang of it, it is fine.
03/01/2019
low charges. better research part to their site
19/12/2018
Simple to use
19/12/2018
Good value, wide range of investments, detailed info if you want it (and understand it). Simplify website
19/12/2018
Range of funds - USA etc - fixed fees.
19/12/2018
Charges are kept low as possible but still provide good technology and service. Provide a telephone help service. Good sometimes just to speak.
19/12/2018
Competitive flat rate platform charge and trading credits. The website/phone app can sometimes be slow, but not very often
19/12/2018
dividend reinvestment needs to be speeded up
19/12/2018
Good on analytical info. A touch expensive - unless you trade regularly.
19/12/2018
Generally OK. Don't re-vamp whole site like last time - a right mess.
19/12/2018
19/12/2018
Like the low commission, but would like more of web functionality on app. Eg buy history
19/12/2018
Very early days, as I only kicked off the transfer of our 6 accounts to Interactive Investor from The Share Centre yesterday. But so far very impressed with the helpfulness of the staff (Amy and I think, Kyle), the website and the transfer process - time will tell! Only problems so far have been of my own making! The one negative for me is the inability to manage both my own and my wife's accounts under a single login - it's a pain having to login and out several times a day. Something for the future maybe?
30/11/2018
No comment.
24/11/2018
Very extensive service: good range of stocks/shares and bonds, fees at £22.50/quarter can be used to pay for new trades, for shares purchase at £10/trade. Fair fees at flat rate are good, because % fee alternative for small portfolios is very poor value for a 'fixed' service from other providers. The direct debit set up for fee payment and changing banks for any reason is very poor and difficult to operate: (IWeb's fee payment and alterations is very easy in comparison). I was attracted by their website, good customer service, and cost/value for money.
07/11/2018
Having been a long-term user of II as a research tool, making the switch to a trading account turned out to be a real pain. Bureaucratic and opaque in the extreme, without any in-built "sign-posting" to re-direct you when duplicating/updating data already held on II's database. HOWEVER a very pleasant and helpful lady by the name of Natalie took me by the electronic hand and guided me through the process. I much prefer dealing with the Natalie's of this world, instead of having "computer says no" experiences without any helpful explanation as to why.
31/08/2018
Like some others, I have been with II for years. During this time I have enjoyed a good simple website and support when required from humans in Glasgow and very low flat fees. More recently and especially since they took over TD, the website has become clunky, 'old' data has been lost, human service seems to have dropped off, and the fees have increased (although they now can be offset against trades). Not yet determined to switch provider but there have been days.....
08/06/2018
I started the transfer out of a TD Direct ISA in December 2017. Whilst the shareholdings were transferred out swiftly, I am getting nowhere with transferring out a USD amount. No replies to secure messages so have had to lodge an official complaint early May, and i'm now waiting for an answer. TD Direct used to be so good, but stay well clear of Interactive Investor as customer service does not seem to exist.
30/05/2018
I've been with Interactive Investor for 7 years and a year ago, i would have rated them as highly as AJ Bell. Great site, very low cost, simple, efficient. Then, they took over TD Waterhouse. Their trading platform took 5 steps back, their customer service fell apart and they've now done something to me I would never have expected. I did 2 transactions in foreign equities and the in-and-out forex fees will be £1,500!! Not a typo, £1,500! Fees not spelt out in any way but disguised by stating, during the 15 seconds you have to "place order", an "indicative FX rate" quoted to 6 decimal places that was simply way off reality. But can you spot this, figure this out, see the impact in those 15 seconds? No, of course not. Only after you've done the transaction do they spell out the cost. When companies start taking stealth fees like this, be warned.
27/04/2018
Great value for larger portfolios, but the new website really takes some getting used to, as it's certainly not intuitive or engaging. On the plus side, they clearly listened to feedback after their first iteration of the site following the TD tie-up, as the portfolio valuation page is much clearer and more informative now. And they've introduced a raft of great shareholder services to allow voting, etc. They're not the most responsive to questions emailed to them, but what can you expect for the price? On balance, for fees vs service, I'll live with that.
23/03/2018
Excellent value. Moved from TD and Trustnet Direct. Trustnet Direct had excellent range of web apps which I miss.
30/01/2018
Too expensive, poor customer service.
30/01/2018
Another low cost provider I would use if it were not so costly and problematic to switch ISAs.They appear to give better customer service than Alliance Trust Savings.
30/01/2018
The new merger with TD has been to the detriment of a couple of key app features (e.g. can�t see cash dividends). Some nice features, but Hargreaves Lansdown is slicker.
30/01/2018
More people manning the phones so the wait isn�t so long. It's early days with them for me as they�ve taken over TD.
30/01/2018
Value for money. Rubbish new website. Unable to login and the website is being made up as they go along. Nobody answers the phones or responds to emails. It took 4 weeks to respond to my letter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30/01/2018
This was TD Waterhouse so I was very familiar with its website which I found extremely easy to deal with, I have not got used to the new layout, so not so keen. I like their new charging structure, which is structured to keep you with them. I like the lower charges on SIPPs which I was concerned about being expensive, but as thier website was so easy to use it was worth it.
30/01/2018
Prices fair. Customer service diabolical.
30/01/2018
I'm not sure yet what I think about the charging system - I know you get 'trading credits' but �90 a year for being able to trade shares seems a little high to me, but I don't have experience of many other charging systems.
30/01/2018
Transfers from TD Direct and ETrade managed ok.
30/01/2018
I opened this account to have a practical comparison with Hargreaves Lansdown, what I like are their investment suggestions. The new website is better than the previous one, but not a patch on Hargreaves Lansdown.
30/01/2018
New trading fees structure is very appealing to small investors.
30/01/2018
I was with TD direct until it took it over. Used to pay zero fees because my investments were in ITs, but now I pay �22.50 a quarter although I can offset most of these fees with free trading.
30/01/2018
Ease of use.
30/01/2018
Once logged in they have a relatively clear website. Improvements could be quicker reinvestment of dividends, respond to questions faster and making it clear as to what investments are no longer eligible for dividend reinvestment. Since they bought TD Waterhouse I can no longer get dividend reinvestment for some of my ETFs despite having it before the amalgamation. It seems an arbritary decision.
30/01/2018
Like the costs and website.
30/01/2018
Excellent service and website. Full marks for flat fees on investments over �50k. Why pay % fees for larger investments?
30/01/2018
I was profoundly disappointed by the online experience with this company. I found the website challenging and difficult to find information. Significantly less functionality than Trustnet Direct. Disinvested as soon as I possibly could!
30/01/2018
Good customer service via its telephone and online message support. The website isn't as intuitive as it could be with regard to navigation. Some transactions can only be done by post rather than online.
30/01/2018
For larger accounts, the charges are among the best as there is a fixed fee and no asset-based charge. The recent acquisition of TD Direct has led to a vastly improved website and more investment options.
30/01/2018
Cost base is good for me. Customer service very slow since recent merger.
30/01/2018
Cheap but poor customer services, it took me over 2 months to transfer to a new provider.
30/01/2018
Excellent website and good value.
30/01/2018
Used to be acceptable service at a good price. Since December 2017 when they changed platform and took in TD service it has collapsed and the platform is not fit for use.
30/01/2018
Very bad customer service. Glad I transferred out. Took them 3 months to do this as they blamed my new broker for the delays. All lies, then slap a £22.50 on me at the end when closed. I wouldn't trust them to run a bath, lick a stamp or to put the cat out. I would give my experience a minus, but there's no minus on here. Since Interactive Investor took over TD Direct Investing the service has gone down the pan. Takes them hours to answer the phone and they don't phone you back when promised to do so. It's like dealing with NHS Direct, waiting hours, then told to attend your local A&E. My advice to people stuck with them: get out while you can and cut your losses. I feel much better health-wise now and can sleep soundly at night with my new broker.
17/01/2018
Good value, website not very easy to use.
29/10/2017
They don't know what they are doing. Poor response times.
20/10/2017
Acceptance of international investors. I'm a UK citizen living abroad. Very cost efficient. Good fund choices.
26/09/2017
Low cost, good range of investments, active user forums. The website is not very user-friendly and customer service could be better.
26/09/2017
Like: fixed-cost broking that makes sense for investors above a certain threshold of investable assets. Needs to improve: constant admin errors - sending out message to all customers to pay their quarterly fee even when they are on a different charge-basis, slow to respond to messages, messed up a drawn-out ISA and SIPP transfer, slow to add widely available securities already available on their technology provider FNZ.
26/09/2017
Good value for larger portfolios and a reasonable website and app. ISA and trading accounts both work smoothly but their SIPP is a disaster. SIPP is subcontracted to SAS Hartley so anything you post to II is sent on to SAS, any message you send to II is sent on by II to SAS and then a reply works it way backwards. Communication is slow and errors creep in, account numbers get messed up, paperwork gets lost. I have one SIPP which has been 7 months in transfer and is still not complete. I would rate II as 5 stars for everything except the SIPP where they rate 1 star at most. This makes giving II an overall combined rating difficult.
07/07/2017
A bit basic but good value for money. Poor website.
04/07/2017
It is inexpensive for me as I have a large pot of money. They offer a no frills service which suits me fine. However, you have to send everything to them in paper format. Nothing is seamless. Lagging behind with technology in my opinion.
04/07/2017
Positive that the cost of providing service is fixed, not based on a percentage of money invested. Need more investment tools online.
04/07/2017
Simple and efficient. Could do with handling their SIPP in-house rather than using a 3rd party.
04/07/2017
Like the flat rate charges and able to trade with quarterly fee if required. Would like to be able to reset the profit/loss percentages on spreadsheets so an easy track of annual profit/loss can be observed rather than from inception.
04/07/2017
Glasgow staff are very good. Sack Hartley SAS. They are hopeless and the communication chain with them is very poor.
04/07/2017
Not too much bull**** or hard selling. The website: it's unattractive and difficult. Comparing it with Hargreaves Lansdown where I transferred from it is very much less entertaining. Buying and selling is easiest done by phone.
04/07/2017
It's too complicated and I hate the website, which isn't as flash as you think it's going to be.
04/07/2017
I wanted to try them out before I committed more funds to Hargreaves Lansdown, just to see what the competition offered. They are nowhere near as good.
04/07/2017
Good value, but clunky to use.
04/07/2017
Easy access to review and trade. Do not like the �20 quarterly charge, unless I am investing in which case it can be offset.
04/07/2017
Very cost-effective way to hold a rarely-traded SIPP.
04/07/2017
Low fixed fee for holding funds. Website is basic and can be hard to use.
04/07/2017
Relatively low costs and a wider range of investments than many others. I think the admin could be improved as its flakey sometimes but mostly ok.
04/07/2017
Low quarterly flat-rate fee (nil for my wife) is ideal for my wife and me as we don't trade often and its lots cheaper than competitors with a fee based on a percentage of the account value.
04/07/2017
Best for price but the web interface could be better.
04/07/2017
Cheap fees, easy to deal and a wide choice of investments. I don't like the 'dual login' process.
04/07/2017
They have been open and fair, also they understand what they are doing. Open trades should be displayed at all times not disappear after 30 days but are still open.
M
04/07/2017
Monthly dealing can be used for money held on account (not just direct debit). Good dealing options (beyond basic stop loss) and ability to buy portfolios cheaply. The website is rather basic.
04/07/2017
Ongoing fees for limited changes in fund holdings. Comparison tools on website seem to only allow comparison of fund with index rather than with other funds.
04/07/2017
Generally slick email responses
A
04/07/2017
I like the portfolio tools, needs better customer contact facilities.
04/07/2017
Good pricing and they respond quickly to queries. Mobile app needs some work.
04/07/2017
Very cheap and cheerful for larger fund portfolios. Needs a much better website with much more detailed portfolio information.
04/07/2017
Low(ish) fees and a good platform. Sometimes a little difficult to extract historical transaction data.
04/07/2017
Cost and access good. Customer service => shite
04/07/2017
Good website, research is easy and low costs.
04/07/2017
Platform is intuitive, a wider range of markets would be good.
04/07/2017
Cheap offers but the telephone service could be better.
E
04/07/2017
Very easy - I signed up my technophobic father and he uses all the functions without help. Very happy with everything.
A
04/07/2017
To be fair I have only just transferred in from AJ Bell after the latter massively increased their charges. I like the low charges and the fact you can control more things yourself through the online account.
S
04/07/2017
Good price.
04/07/2017
Cheapest one out there but needs more trading deals.
04/07/2017
Its good value. The accuracy of the content on the website could be improved.
04/07/2017
Easy to read website but would benefit from quicker reinvestment of dividends and the production of the annual tax statement
04/07/2017
We asked their fans why they rated their services, letting voters choose between Ease of Use, Price, & Service.
Voters for Interactive Investor were most likely to site Price as their reason.
28% of voters chose Ease of Use, 59% of their fans chose Price, and 13% of them selected Service.
Best Buy for Sustainable Investors
This platform has invested time in helping investors to understand the nuances of different shades of ESG investing – there are lists of funds along with a new ‘Ethical Growth’ portfolio.
This word cloud has been created from customer reviews of Interactive Investor.
Pink is positive and grey is negative.
The size of the word indicates the frequency of mentions.
Stocks and Shares ISA
Junior ISA
Investment Account
Pension
Funds from other groups
Stocks and shares
Includes a shortlist of investments
Pick your own funds
Pick your own shares
| Provider Size: | The second-largest platform for investors, administering over £30bn of investments. |
| Minimum amounts: | £25 minimum monthly amount £0 minimum initial amount |
"Hello, I have an old company Defined Contribution (DC) pension and a Free-Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution (FSAVC) pot of £430,000. I'm 55 next month and am thinking of moving into a drawdown SIPP (Interactive Investor or AJ Bell). I am thinking of taking my 25% and leaving the rest invested until I need a regular income in my mid 60s. I want to use the lump sum to top up my earnings, as I need use up to £20,000 to change my car and new kitchen. (I have no dependants and don't need a large income) I've looked at different funds and am thinking of splitting the pot into 5 or 6 (3 equity funds - maybe Fundsmith, Vanguard LifeStrategy and one other, along with a property fund and a bond fund. I am trying to find a financial adviser who is willing to spend a few hours to review my plans to make sure I'm not making any major mistakes, and that I won't run out of money (the tools I've found online all seem to come up with slightly different results), but so far they all seem to want an ongoing relationship. Where is the best place to find an adviser who will do a one off review? (I've tried the two main recommended websites for finding an advisor) Also I want to make sure my money is as safe as possible if any of the companies/fund managers get into financial difficulty. I know the Cash protection is £85,000, but I am unsure whether the investment protection is per fund or per SIPP. Thanks"
Susan, London
16/07/2019
Read our replyHello, I have an old company Defined Contribution (DC) pension and a Free-Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution (FSAVC) pot of £430,000. I'm 55 next month and am thinking of moving into a drawdown SIPP (Interactive Investor or AJ Bell). I am thinking of taking my 25% and leaving the rest invested until I need a regular income in my mid 60s. I want to use the lump sum to top up my earnings, as I need use up to £20,000 to change my car and new kitchen. (I have no dependants and don't need a large income) I've looked at different funds and am thinking of splitting the pot into 5 or 6 (3 equity funds - maybe Fundsmith, Vanguard LifeStrategy and one other, along with a property fund and a bond fund. I am trying to find a financial adviser who is willing to spend a few hours to review my plans to make sure I'm not making any major mistakes, and that I won't run out of money (the tools I've found online all seem to come up with slightly different results), but so far they all seem to want an ongoing relationship. Where is the best place to find an adviser who will do a one off review? (I've tried the two main recommended websites for finding an advisor) Also I want to make sure my money is as safe as possible if any of the companies/fund managers get into financial difficulty. I know the Cash protection is £85,000, but I am unsure whether the investment protection is per fund or per SIPP. Thanks
Susan, London
16/07/2019
Hi Susan
It sounds like you have done your homework which is great! What an exciting time for you.
I totally appreciate that this can be a bit of a minefield, right?!
The main focus for you will be around making sure that the income will last you for the rest of your life (which I know is a little bit like a finger in the air job!) but it is really important to ensure that your investment strategy takes this into account.
It seems that you have already tried to find an adviser to discuss these areas with you, and I am sorry to hear that you have not been successful with your search.
When seeking financial advice, if you are not looking for a simple product implementation, I would focus your search on a ‘financial planner’ rather than a traditional 'financial adviser'. Try searching for financial planners in your local area or ask for local recommendations.
Alternatively I would be very happy to connect you with a financial planner who can help you. A financial planner would be able to build out several scenarios for you, including things like annuity purchases, drawdown, tax free cash etc through the use of financial forecasting. As you have no dependants, you may wish to consider annuity purchases depending on your health and other personal circumstances.
The financial planner can also look at drawdown rates and ensure that you never run out of money. Many financial planners charge a one-off-fee (typically between £1,000-2,500) to produce your financial plan, and some would consider this without the ongoing relationship.
However I would say here that I am a huge believer that this is the one time in your life when you should seek financial advice, and consider an ongoing relationship to ensure that the pension pot continues to meet your needs.
I would highly recommend you read the book “Beyond the 4% rule: the science of retirement portfolios that last a lifetime” by Abraham Okusanya, to understand how to navigate the landscape of retirement.
From a protection perspective, if the company your DC pension is held with fails, you are protected up to 100% with no upper limit, so long as they are regulated under the FCA. You can find more information about this here.
All the very best,
Catherine
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.
"Hi. I am looking for a Junior ISA for my son and can't decide between a robo investor like Wealthify, or investing via Interactive Investor with an investment trust for my son's Junior ISA. I want to invest ethically and am happy to research investment trusts myself. The fees seem similar and both have fund managers. What would you do?"
Rick, Sussex
01/07/2019
Read our replyHi. I am looking for a Junior ISA for my son and can't decide between a robo investor like Wealthify, or investing via Interactive Investor with an investment trust for my son's Junior ISA. I want to invest ethically and am happy to research investment trusts myself. The fees seem similar and both have fund managers. What would you do?
Rick, Sussex
01/07/2019
If you’re happy making the selection yourself, and it sounds like you are, then I would suggest fund choice will be the important factor in deciding which way to go.
You mention that costs are similar, so it comes down to whether you feel the ‘robo’ option adds any value.
Investment trusts can work well for long-term investment, but there are two added complications to consider: leverage and the fact that they can run at a ‘premium’ or ‘discount’ to ‘net asset value’.
I would suggest that unless your son is within five years of turning 18 – and therefore having access to the money – then a global portfolio makes sense.
Just bear in mind that most research suggests the best ‘anxiety-adjusted’ return, is found in a diversified basket of shares and fixed interest, and only some funds will offer that.
As for the ethical side of things, your own research should reveal which funds cover the areas you feel are important.
There is definitely a wide range of ‘shades of green’ available.
Finally, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Junior ISA is a ‘locked box’, except for in extreme circumstances, until the child turns 18. Not even you can access it for your son’s benefit e.g. his education.
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 want to invest in one specific company’s shares. What’s the cheapest way to do this via an ISA?"
Peter, Lincolnshire
21/05/2019
Read our replyI want to invest in one specific company’s shares. What’s the cheapest way to do this via an ISA?
Peter, Lincolnshire
21/05/2019
Hi Peter,
All Stock & Shares ISAs enable you to invest in an individual share, including most online providers such as AJ Bell Youinvest, Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown.
The key difference will be the fees you will pay.
For example:
Hope this helps.
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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