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Independent, no-nonsense ratings and reviews
17/07/2020
Hi folks. Just a quickie this week. Vicar.
More people than ever are becoming DIY investors. There are over 6 million accounts in the UK and our audience is growing as people want help with their choices.
Most of us are suspicious about large financial firms which don’t exactly have a glowing track record of treating their customers fairly. And we at Boring Money know that the ‘Trip Advisor’ bit of what we do – collecting ‘real people’s’ ratings and reviews – is really important. So…
Which is the best online investment service? And which is the best fund manager? Your opinion. Your view.
We’ve designed the voting for busy people with low boredom thresholds – this will take less than 2 minutes. Will you help us – and help other investors who are making their decisions – by casting your vote?
The winners will be announced in our blog and on social media on Friday 24 July.
Alternatively, there will be a star-studded awards ceremony in Park Lane with endless dull speeches, a comedian you’ve never heard of, 53 sponsors, 95 awards, cold food, warm wine, Dad-dancing AND free groping after midnight – all yours for £500,000 a ticket*. Please contact us for details ;0)
Have a great weekend everyone.
Holly
*Disclaimer – this is a joke but if you would like to send me £500,000 I will see what I can arrange**
**Disclaimer – this was also a joke.
Best Online Investment Service and Best Fund Manager
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Like so many, Mr Mackay Senior holds the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, perennial bestselling investment trust on many platforms, (which has shot up by 50% over the last three months, 250% over the last 5 years) and was asking himself about taking profits and getting out.
Where are people putting their money since the stock market crash? Top funds from the big providers
I want to move my children's stocks and shares ISA to a robo adviser - what are my options?
Funmi | LDN | 12/10/2020 | 5
Hi! All going well I will be selling my flat next month and will be left with a large sum. Do you have a recommendation as to where I could put this money to best use during that time?
Matt | MLN | 18/09/2020 | 6
My question was about a man offering a 22.2% average return on his stock picking ability. I've tried to find reviews of his services but cannot find them anywhere except on a really old forum of his older product 'Spreedbet Beginner' where people have said they are blocked pretty swiftly on Twitter etc if they raise an issue. What is even more odd is that he cannot be found on Companies House. I would like your opinion on this matter as I have no idea what I should do.
Max | Lincolnshire | 27/08/2020 | 20
What are your views on Fidelity Multi Asset Income Fund, please? To me it seems to be a stable, low risk fund, paying a good dividend in today's climate but it won't shoot the lights out. Only negative for me is that it seems to invest in a lot of other Fidelity funds investing in UK stuff.
Nigel | Bedfordshire | 06/08/2020 | 3
When investing across a range of funds, should I be putting the same amount into each fund or tailoring the amount to the % split I'm looking for? What if the platform I'm using has a minimum regular investment? Do I need to up the total investment to cover the minimum on all funds, or rotate which fund gets what each time?
Simon | Nottinghamshire | 29/07/2020 | 1
How can I compare the performance of different tracker funds (e.g. between PensionBee, Nutmeg, AJ Bell)? I want to see their track records.
Vivienne | London | 22/07/2020 | 2
I'm 50 now and hope to retire at 60. I have been paying into Vanguard Lifestrategy for a few months now. I have just 9.5 years to pay in and grow, do you think this is a long enough period to invest in or should I stick with cash if shares and bonds are likely to take a hit in a few years?
Richard | Hull | 25/06/2020 | 41
With China's economy emerging from COVID-19, is now a good time to invest into China? What funds with equities that have a China focus are out there on the market?
Tariq | Lancashire | 09/04/2020 | 5
I was going to sell my investments when COVID-19 surfaced, are any platforms faster at carrying out a deal?
David | Strathclyde | 26/03/2020 | 1
I really don’t like this market meltdown during the coronavirus outbreak. Should I sell and just get out?
| 19/03/2020 | 18
I'm looking to start investing and I'm torn between Evestor and Vanguard Lifestrategy. The entry requirements are much higher for Vanguard (£500 upfront and £100/month) while Evestor starts at £1. Is there any benefit of stretching my investment to use the Vanguard fund? Also do you know if I miss a monthly payment, will I be charged?
Charlie | UK | 30/07/2019 | 10
We currently have a Scottish Mortgage fund with Baillie Gifford. But we’ve received a letter stating that they plan to transfer us to Hargreaves Lansdown. Is this a good idea or should we look elsewhere? - Charles Stanley Direct, for example?
Matthew | London | 30/05/2019 | 4
I have minimal pensions and would like to start a new pension to save for the next 12 years. I've already set up a Stocks & Shares ISA with Nutmeg, so would like to start my pension with another provider. Which would you recommend?
Sam | Norfolk | 30/05/2019 | 0
I’m thinking about investing £1000 in Sirius Minerals. I would like some advice on whether this is too small an amount to get any gains from. At the moment I would be leaving it in for the long term of 5-10 years. I do realise that no dividend is being paid.
Adam | Cleveland | 30/05/2019 | 0
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 | 0
We have just retired to France. Our pensions cover our expenses but we also have £230k which we would like to invest for a monthly income. Could you please explain the low-risk options we might want to consider?
Keith | France | 10/05/2019 | 2
I have just received a letter from JP Morgan saying that they will no longer offer ISA accounts from the end of September 2019. I have an ISA with them and seem to have a choice of transferring the ISA to another company "as is" or liquidating and reinvesting. Any thoughts?
David | Staffordshire | 09/05/2019 | 0
I'm a 30 year old woman earning a reasonable salary with a low cost lifestyle. I have saved almost £8,000 and want to start investing. I like the idea of using a robo-investor like Wealthify, but I'm not sure if it's better to start with a Stocks and Shares ISA instead? Should I go with a Stocks and Shares ISA or a Robo Advisor, or both?
Kate | London | 29/04/2019 | 6
I am a British/Irish citizen living in Malta and have between £5k-£10k to invest for 5 years. Clearly, ISAs are out as there is a requirement to be a UK resident. I am happy to accept a medium level of risk, and would appreciate some info on where to put this to maximise returns.
Phil | Malta | 25/04/2019 | 4
I've a Cash ISA with about £80k in it, so I'm considering moving £50k into a Stocks & Shares ISA. I'm 73, retired, married, a house-owner and would like to utilise my savings better. What would you recommend?
Barry | Berkshire | 18/04/2019 | 1
My parents (father since died) put money into Halifax 'Money Fund'. This then apparently changed to some form of 'investment'. I noted in January 2019, that a letter had been sent just under 3 years previously, advising that this was not the best place for their money. I made contact and complained. What can we do, as this money may as well have been under their mattress? It was originally mis-sold.
Maureen | Gloucestershire | 04/04/2019 | 0
We have £100,000 in Premium Bonds to invest. We need it as serious illness has changed our lives completely. We have been advised to invest in a Capital Investment Bond, but fees seem high to me - 0.3% and 1.7% management and on-going advice. I'm considering Wealthify or other online funds. Can you help?
Melanie | London | 25/03/2019 | 3
I have had a Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks & Shares ISA for the past 2+ years, divided into their Portfolio Plus Balanced Growth and in a mixture of shares I selected myself. While I am happy to keep the shares element, I don’t feel the managed portfolio is working for me and I could do better elsewhere. Where would you suggest I could invest for a better return? I am happy with balanced and some element of high risk. I’m 47, have two primary school age children, & live in central London. I also have a mortgage and a workplace pension.
Jennifer | London | 20/03/2019 | 0
My Fundsmith accumulation Class 1 investment fund has done well over the last 5 years, and its share price today is just about the highest it's ever been. Should I bank it now in case it goes down, or leave it and diversify by reinvesting monthly elsewhere in another fund?
Peter | Stockport | 18/03/2019 | 0
I have about £100 monthly extra I want to invest, but I am not sure if my ISAs represent good value. I thought I could put the money in a higher risk investment, as it is money I can invest over 5-10 years, and had thought Nutmeg might be a good option as I have little investment experience. Am I right in thinking I can only contribute to one Stocks & Shares ISA at a time in my name? I could just put more money into my existing ISAs. What do you think?
Colin | Lothian | 11/03/2019 | 2
My 60 year old mum is not very financially literate and has has no private pension. She has approximately £900k to invest, from which she will need to draw down c.£40k a year for life. She is not very financially literate and would not be able to proactively manage the money herself. Would you favour an Independent Financial Adviser or a Robo Adviser for someone in her position? Thank you!
Harry | Kent | 11/03/2019 | 1
I am 47 and I would now like to open an investment ISA for growth for at least 10 years. I am tempted by the Vanguard LifeStrategy 80 due to the low fees and strong reputation. I would also consider investing in a couple of other Vanguard funds as well. Would this be advisable or relatively unnecessary, if I'm already investing in the LifeStrategy fund? I have also been looking with interest at Nutmeg, Wealthify, IG and AJ Bell Youinvest. Is there any provider that would stand above the others as most suitable in my circumstances?
Matt | South Yorkshire | 11/03/2019 | 4
I’m 36 years old, earn £85k, and have about £40k savings in the bank, mainly in an old ISA that I’ve done nothing with. I have a five year old daughter and would like to put my savings somewhere clever so they start to do something useful by the time she starts at an independent secondary school and fees go through the roof. Any bright ideas please?
Milly | Berkshire | 22/02/2019 | 2
I recently came across your blog and it has been a great introduction to learning about my personal finances. I was wondering if you could recommend any additional resources (websites, books, online help) for beginners and that are tailored to the UK market. I am in my early 20's and I'm looking to further my knowledge of money, and foster a greater relationship with it. In addition to that, I'd like to know your opinions on how the possible outcomes of Brexit will affect the market and potential personal finance investments.
Rita | London | 23/01/2019 | 0
With a SIPP in drawdown would a company like Netwealth whose investment management fees are of the order of .66% of the value of the portfolio, be a better option compared to companies like Hargreaves Lansdown or Investec? What are the relative benefits of Netwealth over the more traditional wealth managers?
Steve | Lancashire | 22/01/2019 | 7
I've been reading recently about how investment trusts are much the same as funds, but are cheaper to own. A: Is this true? and B: Do you have an article on Investment trusts on your site?
Nick | Surrey | 16/01/2019 | 11
Hello, I really enjoy your website and find it useful and concise. My question is, what is meant by long term savings? I am 54, so what should I consider to be an appropriate time frame for any investment I make, that could supply the best results?
Jennifer | Essex | 16/01/2019 | 11
I’m new to investing and in my late 30's. I'm actually stuck in a dilemma whether to invest using DIY platforms like Interactive Investor, A J Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown OR invest using robo advisors like Nutmeg, Moneyfarm or Pensionbee. I have compared the fees and they are not significantly different. Do robo advisers have a better return rate? I can dedicate some time to DIY investing but not a significant amount of time. Please advise. Thank you.
Victor | Kent | 14/01/2019 | 1
I’m a 20 something year old woman who’d like to learn more about investing. Do you have any books or reading material that gives a complete beginner a better understanding of how investing works?
Precious | Surrey | 03/01/2019 | 0
From my retirement I received a lump sum of money and a monthly pension. I have £100,000 that I do not need for the foreseeable future... One of my main concerns with Financial Advisers are their costs... All I want is simply to see this money grow to its potential, sensibly and above inflation... Therefore my next thoughts are Stocks and Shares ISAs... My only concerns here are the current Brexit problems - I saw the FTSE drop this past week. I cannot find any information out there to assist with my decision making if this is certainly a good time to invest... I am aware that I can place £20,000 for this year. Come April 2019 I place another £20,000 and so on until the £100,000 has been utilised. Do I have to place it into the same fund or can I choose another different fund with a different company?... Please can you help to ease some of this burden, which has proved an awful part of my retirement and made me frightened to spend any money.
Katherine | Derbyshire | 02/01/2019 | 0
I'm the sole carer for my chronically ill and elderly mum, as well as a full-time police officer. I have no other family apart from her. Due to mum's condition, and the fact that I'm exhausted performing both roles, the only option is to go part-time, as mum won't accept help from anyone else. To allow me to go part-time, I will need about £25,000 until March 2020 when I will be retiring. I’m confident of getting another job shortly thereafter. In January 2021, I will receive a commutation lump sum of about £50,000. I have a sizeable fund portfolio under an ISA wrapper with Hargreaves Lansdown. That is doing very well, so I don't really want to sell any of these funds and 'lend myself money' from that. My ideal funding solution would be a bond-type IOU agreement, where 'someone' lends me the money. Are you aware of a peer-to-peer site that could assist? Thanks
Dave | Hertfordshire | 27/11/2018 | 1
I’ve been investing in Nutmeg’s Risk 10 profile for three years which helped my deposit for my house. I am now wondering whether to use Nutmeg again, or should I use LifeStrategy for my £1000 per month? Is there a difference between Vanguard's LifeStrategy option and let’s say a well known robo adviser like Nutmeg? I am still a beginner and would like to keep things simple, but happy to take risk and prepared to leave my investments for a long time.
Jordan | Surrey | 26/11/2018 | 19
Do you have any recommendations for books that I can buy my 18 year old daughter for Xmas on the subject of pensions and investments so she can start to understand the subjects? She's young I know but I would like to get her started. Many thanks!
Nicki | Devon | 15/11/2018 | 2
I was lucky enough to inherit a significant sum from my father... currently in Alliance trust platform in 10 investment trusts. They have delivered well in the last 20 years. But they are UK equity based. And highly risky. Do you offer a sanity check service for confused individuals like myself? I don’t know what to do...
Paul | Berkshire | 12/11/2018 | 2
I am 35 and working part time on a reasonable salary. I've recently taken out a Stocks & Shares ISA with Wealthify (from reading the recommendations on Boring Money) where I pay in £40 per month. However, I'm wondering if I should be doing more? Should I be diversifying and using more than just Wealthify? Or is it better to increase the amount into Wealthify?
Holly | Sussex | 17/10/2018 | 1
I am 25 and starting to seriously financially plan out my future. I would really welcome a 'sense check' on my thinking as well as some help on which investment choices to make. My goals are: To invest for 15 years - my risk appetite is very high (i.e. I could afford to lose all my money). Goal 1 - More Important: To have an investment pot of £1,500,000. Goal 2 - Less Important: To be mortgage free. My plan is: 1) Open an annual Stocks and Shares ISA each of the next 15 years. 2) Open Share trading/dealing account. 3) Reduce my mortgage term to 6 years by 2025. I appreciate the above is a lot to go though, but I'd welcome any help and guidance.
Mo | London | 15/10/2018 | 5
I shall have £10k to invest shortly, and I want to use an actively managed portfolio in a quality company. How would you rate - Investec Click & Invest/True Potential Investor/Nutmeg on the basis of ROI/customer relationship/quality/risk factors etc? I would class myself as a mid-grade risk-taker/reasonably adventurous if appropriate, with a high quality company. I presently use Hargreaves Lansdown and Wealthify but feel the need to diversify. What do you recommend?
Richard | Shropshire | 03/10/2018 | 1
The recent Metro article which Holly participated in has really inspired me and made me think that investing in shares is something which I would like to do. Unfortunately I am completely thrown about where to start. I would be grateful for any advice you could pass my way. Realistically, I would only have about 2k to invest, so any tips would be gratefully received.
Sarah-Jane | London | 12/09/2018 | 3
Is there a reason you don’t list Saga in your Best Buys? Additionally, I have purchased a few investment trust shares but can’t work out how the dividends are paid. Scottish Mortgage is an example. I wasn't given an option to choose how to receive the dividends. It would be useful if you could provide some clarity on how investment trusts pay their dividends.
Carl | Buckinghamshire | 07/09/2018 | 1
Can you advise me on the best approach when looking to invest in a product that offers compound interest? I’m thinking about funds rather than bank accounts. I also have 4 different pensions on the go. Should I keep them separate to diversify the risk? Or consolidate them? How will these pensions be treated when I retire? Will they be considered in aggregate by the tax man?
Craig | Clackmannanshire | 16/08/2018 | 1
I have about two thirds of my ISA in funds with Charles Stanley Direct and about one third left with St James's Place. I was planning to transfer the remaining one third to Charles Stanley Direct. However the recent platform price increases seem to put me in the worst position possible. After Charles Stanley Direct's fee increase, could I do better elsewhere?
Gerry | Bedfordshire | 15/08/2018 | 7
I invested my money in a St James's Place managed fund, split into ISAs and bonds, after advice from an adviser who was a St James's Place partner. My investments have done reasonably well, but I've read disturbing reports about St James's Place. Should I have concerns? Should I have found an independent financial adviser?
Glyn | Essex | 09/08/2018 | 8
I wanted an investment trust with an income, so I put £10,000 into The Investment Company. It delivers a reliable quarterly dividend but the capital value has dropped by 10% since I invested 2 years ago. What are your favourite investment trusts?
Fran | Greater London | 08/08/2018 | 4
Is there an average number of funds that one should ideally hold? I have in excess of 20. I am happy with my portfolio and coverage, but wonder if I have too many funds. The second part to the question is how long should you leave an underperforming fund?
Richard | Hertfordshire | 06/08/2018 | 4
I'm 24 and would like to begin investing. Am I better off using a robo advisor such as Wealthify/Wealthsimple or a fund such as Vanguard LifeStrategy?
Amanda | Greater London | 06/08/2018 | 7
I am 73 and cautious. There are two areas that your advice would be helpful..what if you just spend thousands on buying the gold standard footsie companies like shell and the rest and keep them for five years and then cash them in ?
DB | UK | 24/07/2018 | 6
I hope you can help. I recently consolidated two modest pensions into a SIPP in readiness to start UPFLS drawdown in May (2018). Whilst I was hoping for growth in my investments I wasn’t expecting it to rocket and now find I could well be looking at exceeding the lifetime allowance, possibly even before my first annual drawdown in May, and I’m unsure what, if anything, I should do.
John | London | 03/07/2018 | 6
What are the differences between income and accumulation income funds? How do you declare income reinvested in a fund on your tax return?
C | 05/06/2018 | 0
We have a portfolio of ISAs/PEPs worth around £250k, currently invested via Cofunds, managed by Chelsea and Bestinvest. I'm told this is quite an expensive option regarding platform charges. Are there better options?
John | Berkshire | 08/05/2018 | 6
Can you recommend some very basic books for a 69-year-old widow who is now having to manage her money?
Martha | 12/04/2018 | 0
Hi, I've got an old D.B. pension, approximate value £12k. I would like to invest & top up each month. Who would you recommend? Also I would like to make an investment, & don't know where to start? Thanks
Eve | 04/04/2018 | 5
I am post-divorce with a good settlement which I have only partially invested. Are there any courses you can recommend? I have sat in a number of meetings with accountants and financial advisers feeling somewhat patronised! I am sure that there are plenty of women in a similar position to me (aged 55!).
Eavan | Ireland | 14/03/2018 | 3
How can I find a good financial adviser?
Byron | Greater London | 01/03/2018 | 1
I am very lucky to have just received a gift which I want to invest for our retirement. My husband and I aim to retire in around five years. We have 11 more years of school fees to fund, then hopefully university fees for two after that. I've put together a plan for us - can you have a look and see if it makes sense?
Fiona | UK | 18/01/2018 | 6
We have four grandchildren (2 English living in UK, and 2 Irish living in Eire). We have decided to start savings plans for their futures. Their ages are 18yrs, 11yrs, 8yrs and 4yrs respectively. My age is 75yrs, and my wife is a little older. What should we do, please?
John | Buckinghamshire | 01/01/2018 | 1
I am already receiving a pension from a final salary scheme and I am retired. I have a sum of money I want to invest. Can I start another pension as a saver and, if so, how much can I put in every year?
Collette | Greater London | 25/11/2017 | 0
I am getting long in the tooth at 79, a little forgetful and I am going through a painful divorce. This has shattered my confidence and I need help.
Richard | Kent | 05/11/2017 | 3
I have just sold my house and have a significant sum of money I want to invest. I may want to draw some income but also want to achieve capital growth. Are there funds that aim to achieve both or should I just invest for growth and draw money as I need to for income?
Jon | Surrey | 13/09/2017 | 1
I am confused about index funds, e.g. Vanguard Equity fund. Do they track an index or include the yield? In the case of Vanguard, their low cost is attractive but their portfolio is made up of other Vanguard funds. I assume these probably each carry a fee structure - is this correct?
Robin | Gloucestershire | 03/09/2018 | 0
Is it worth using a financial adviser when it comes to switching pensions funds, or should I do the research and pick the funds myself? I am no expert in stocks and shares.
Helen | Dorset | 10/08/2018 | 4
I've got £20,000 from an endowment policy (astonishing, I know), and I'm looking into how best to invest to get a reasonable return without excessive risk. Any thoughts much appreciated!!
Penny | Peterborough | 09/08/2018 | 1
I use H&L and although they are a bit 'plumy' on the phone I quite like their website and the costs are OK. So I was thinking of H&L for [my son]. I would be telling him to open these two funds and regularly invest and forget about them for 10 years!
R | Greater London | 29/05/2018 | 1
What funds could my millennial children invest in?
Anthony | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 2
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