How to use our Investment Fees Calculator: step-by-step for 5 types of investor

Should you use all the customisation options of our new Investment Fees Calculator, or could you get the answers you need in just two clicks? Here's how 5 very different investors use our tool, from absolute beginners to seasoned deal-hunters.

Whether you feel completely in the dark about how and where to invest, or you’re confident and experienced but want a quicker way to compare providers, our new Investment Fees Calculator is made for you. It’s free to use, fiercely independent, and full of optional customisation options for people who love the detail. It’s also ridiculously easy!

Here are five different ways you could use the calculator to compare fees and reviews, depending on your confidence, your goals, and the complexity of your accounts.

How 5 very different investors use our calculator

From most straightforward to most customised.

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Bob, a beginner investor

Wants to invest: £600 in a tax-free ISA over a year

Preferred approach: Make a start at investing without having to know or do much

Funds or shares: Not sure what's best yet (so we recommend funds as they're an easy all-in-one option that spreads the risk around different investments)

See how people like Bob should use our calculator (https://www.boringmoney.co.uk/learn/articles/bob-investment-fees-calculator/) – results in 2 easy steps

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Reginald, an investment deal hunter

Wants to invest: £20,000 in a tax-free ISA and £30,000 in a GIA – to be transferred from an existing provider

Preferred approach: Checking to see if moving investments to a new provider will mean paying less in fees

Funds or shares: As a confident DIY investor, Reginald will trade shares a few times throughout the year

See how people like Reginald should use our calculator (https://www.boringmoney.co.uk/learn/articles/reginald-investment-fees-calculator/) – results in 7 easy steps

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Janice, a retirement prepper

Wants to invest: £40,000 in a SIPP (self-invested private pension)

Preferred approach: Checking to see if she could get a better deal by moving the money in her self-invested pension pot to a new provider

Funds or shares: Mostly shares – Janice began investing with funds but, as her confidence grew, she started to trade shares too

See how people like Janice should use our calculator (https://www.boringmoney.co.uk/learn/articles/janice-investment-fees-calculator/) – results in 6 easy steps

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Winona, a confident DIY investor

Wants to invest: £100,000 in ISAs, £75,000 in a SIPP, £25,000 in a Junior ISA, and £50,000 in a GIA – to be transferred from other providers

Preferred approach: Checking her current providers' fees are still competitive. Will pay a little more for great service.

Funds or shares: A variety. Over the years, Winona has accumulated multiple balances across various investment accounts. She continues to invest in funds but also regularly trades shares.

See how people like Winona should use our calculator (https://www.boringmoney.co.uk/learn/articles/winona-investment-fees-calculator/) – results in 10 easy steps

How do you intend to use our Investment Fees Calculator?

In case their profile pictures didn’t give it away, Bob, Beth and all their chums are actually made up. They’re just examples, but we’d love to know how real people like you use our new tool.

Once you’ve had a go, please send us your stories (anonymised is OK!) and help us replace Bob with reality.

What are the decisions you are making and what matters to you? Price? Service? Security? User feedback? Help us to keep doing what we always do – put the (real) customer voice at the heart of all of this boring money stuff.

We'd love to hear from you

Twitter: #ClearerCharges @boringmoney

Email: calculator@boringmoney.co.uk