Holly Mckay
Holly MackayFounder and CEO
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    Online Investment Platforms

    The basics of online investment platforms

    In a nutshell

    • Decently priced one-stop shops

    • Hold shares, funds, ISAs and pensions here

    • All-in fees of about 1.2% a year including funds

    What is an online investment platform?

    Think of a platform a bit like an online supermarket or a department store. It's one online account where you can hold your shares, funds, ISAs and even a pension under a single roof. This one-stop shop makes the boring admin of your investments so much easier – one password, one account, one tax statement... you get the point!

    These days they are more user-friendly than ever. Even the least confident can still have a walk through some decision trees and pointers which will guide you into a mixed bag of investments. If you really feel unsure then look at a 'robo adviser' alternative which will do it all for you, although these guys typically are less established brands.

    Is an online investment platform right for me?

    Of females in their 30s, only 30% identify as feeling confident enough to pick their own investments, which is where online investment platforms can prove especially handy!

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    Most platforms will let you buy funds, shares, and/or exchange traded funds. And you can also decide whether to put these investments in a trading account, an ISA, or a DIY pension - referred to as a 'SIPP'.

    The other benefit of most investment platforms is that these days they have helpful tips and pointers for those of us who don't have the foggiest where to start or what to pick.

    Most will have fund shortlists and research analysts will have compiled their top picks. If this is still more choice than you want, many offer ready-made portfolios - a sort of Blue Peter, here's-one-I-made-earlier.

    The rather packed chart above gives you an at-a-glance list of what each provider is offering.

    The benefits of online investment platforms

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    Important stuffHolly and the team have worked in the finance industry for many years but we are not regulated to give you personal financial advice. For every story on this website about a good investment, or something which went up by 10% or made someone £200, we could also share a story about a bad investment, something which fell in value or lost someone £200. We aim to provide general information and pointers – and btw we are totally agnostic about which providers you might pick – but if you have complex affairs, want personalised advice or need specific recommendations, please look at advice pages and see if regulated digital or traditional financial advice would be the best solution for your needs. Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London, England, EC3R 6AF.
    Risk warningAs is always the case with investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your portfolio can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
    Boring Money Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales under registration number 09459832 and we have our registered office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London, England, EC3R 6AF.
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