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Independent, no-nonsense ratings and reviews
26/10/2018
Interactive Investor, the UK’s second largest platform has bought Alliance Trust Savings, for the tidy sum of £40 million. Is this good news for customers?
Tapas this week amigos as there has been a lot going on.
First up on the platter, Interactive Investor, the UK’s second largest platform has bought Alliance Trust Savings, for the tidy sum of £40 million. Is this good news for customers?
Secondly, the King of Fund Management Showbiz, Terry Smith, has launched his new Smithson Investment Trust today which raised a record-breaking £823 million (against a target of £250 million). What’s all the excitement about?
And thirdly, politicians, personal finance hacks and almost no-one else are in frenzied excitement about Monday’s Budget. Will pensions get attacked?
Finally, if you’re finding your feet in the world of investments and losing the will to live, I recorded a podcast with The Telegraph this week (“It’s Your Money” on iTunes) aimed at helping newcomers to investing. We chat about where to go to buy your ISAs and set up investment accounts, robo advisers and who’s any good! I also unveil my most awful investment mistakes, thinking back to the tech crash of 2000. #facepalm #sausagesoftware
The combined assets of Britain’s second largest investment shop, Interactive Investor, and Alliance Trust Savings will be about £35 billion. By comparison, market leader Hargreaves Lansdown has £94 billion. Fidelity sits in third place with about £18bn.
Interactive Investor’s biggest claim to fame is that they charge a fixed fee. So for example you pay £22.50 a quarter for an ISA. And £120 a year for a pension pre-retirement. Most investment providers charge on a % basis which is typically better if you have, say, £30,000. But worse if you have about £70,000 or more. Of course for some, this is about value and service not just price – you can check out what we think about all major platforms on our Best Buys tables.
I think Alliance Trust savings customers will be better off. They will typically pay less, and they’ll join a business in rampant growth mode (!) which is investing in sorting out tech and people and taking the fight to Hargreaves. My more detailed assessment was published in Citywire on Wednesday and you can read it here.
Despite my regular "boring" sensible blurb about good investing being all about diversification and slow and steady etc. we all love the frisson of spotting the ‘next big thing’. Terry Smith runs the Fundsmith fund. He’s a bit like Wagner on the X-Factor – the public adore him but the judges have reservations. His fund appeared in the top three of Most Bought lists on 6 major investment shops for September. But he does not appear on any of their Favourite Funds lists. Price is one factor at play here – charges are 0.95% which is certainly at the top end. Analysts will argue people can get similar stuff for cheaper elsewhere. The punters ignore them and keep buying – returns have certainly been good. You can have a look at the Most Bought funds on 6 major platforms here.
Today, Smith launched his Smithson Investment Trust which buys small and mid-sized companies globally worth £500 million to £15 billion. It’s timely. Anyone can see that the US has almost single-handedly been powering growth this year. And that the massive tech stocks are starting to splutter. So this is probably a good way to diversify. On the flip side there is no track record. And it’s not actually Smith running the money – but a couple of former Goldman Sachs chaps who have joined the cast. I don’t feel a mad rush to buy – but it will be interesting to see if Smith can transfer the Midas touch.
On Monday, Philip Hammond will deliver the Budget. There are some rumblings that he might cut the annual allowance for pensions (currently you can put in up to £40,000 a year and get the freebie top-ups from the Government). If you are thinking about a chunky pension contribution this year, it may be worth accelerating your plans. Hargreaves Lansdown have a good pre-Budget analysis here, delivered by their pensions expert Tom McPhail who, despite channelling a fashionably un-pensionsy dishevelled look, knows more about retirement income planning than most.
So. In the news this week. An opinionated headline-hungry blonde at the Tory Conference we all wish would disappear in a puff of their own hot air. I refer of course to Katie Hopkins. And Theresa May wins the national “I’ve had the worst week at work” award. Amidst the Strepsils and the pantomime, there were 2 important personal finance announcements. Energy caps and changes to tuition fees.
Think of interest rates like caffeine. If the economy is sluggish then lower rates can give it a double shot. If the economy is starting to look a bit hyper (and don’t forget the rise in the cost of living is currently a slightly uncomfortable 3%) then an increase in interest rates is like putting it on chamomile tea and calming things down.
What are other people doing? Learn from their experiences.
If you know your shares from your SIPPs but could still use a few tips, you might be an Intrepid Investor. Take a look at our specialised Learning Path for an ISA MOT and some fund ideas.
Intrepid InvestorsI 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
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
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
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
I am a beginner investor and would like to invest in a "socially responsible" Stocks & Shares ISA. I have looked into the Nutmeg and Wealthify funds. Is there information about any other such providers on your website? And do you have any advice about how to compare the "socially responsible" criteria on the different funds?
Joy | Glamorgan | 16/04/2019 | 2
I have two separate company pensions from previous employers. For the last 12 years I have not contributed to a pension. I am now 44 and know I need to put money into one. I'm not financially aware and the robo providers sound tempting but, obviously, I want the possibility for the best return at medium risk. Your Q2 2018 results update showed Nutmeg’s Portfolio 10 as returning different figures than the Best Buys page for Nutmeg says. Why are these figures so different? Is Vanguard Lifestrategy 60 a good choice, though they don't have a SIPP.
Dave | West Yorkshire | 26/03/2019 | 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
For the last 9 months I've drip fed just over £10,000 into a Moneyfarm Investment ISA... it has been a very volatile year as you know. Moneyfarm seem to have done a good job of protecting my capital... however I haven't really made much in the way of gains... If I wanted, would I be able to transfer the whole lot to another platform where the fees are lower? I know you're not allowed to give regulated advice - but I'm uncertain if I should transfer the whole lot in one go, or drip feed.
Robert | UK | 14/03/2019 | 3
I am in my mid 20s & earning a regular salary. I have decent savings and am toying with the idea of Wahed Invest (I am looking for shariah compliant funds). I am also dabbling with the idea of property. If I have no financial commitments (living at home for next 2 yrs), is it worth using 90% of my savings for a house deposit for buy-to-let purposes? I am thinking this would reduce my loan to value?
Zara | West Midlands | 12/03/2019 | 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
Trying to get a bit more pro-active with my pension. If my money had been in an online managed fund like Nutmeg for example, is it reasonable to assume that as the markets fell last year the funds would have been managed in real(ish) time to limit the damage? If so, is it therefore a no-brainer to transfer my pension to an online managed pension or is it not quite as simple as that?
David | London | 08/02/2019 | 3
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
Is there a Robo Investor who provides both income and growth for those who are retired? (There must be a large market for this?) It seems to me that at the moment all the Robos focus on long term growth and reinvesting dividends - which is fine if you are younger.
David | 18/01/2019 | 1
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'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
Nutmeg require a minimum investment of £5,000. As I have less than £5,000 per annum income I am a bit confused about how much I can put into a pension. I know the government will only gross up a maximum of £2,880 per year but can I put more than this in and forgo the gross up?
Barbara | Hertfordshire | 10/07/2018 | 1
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
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
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 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
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
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