Best stocks and shares isa broker

By Simon Lambert Updated: The rise of DIY investing has delivered a revolution in the way investors buy shares, investment trusts and funds - offering them huge savings and a big boost to their returns through online brokers. Not so long ago, investing typically required a stockbroker or financial adviser and the willingness to hand over a big chunk of commission.

Now armed with a computer - or in some cases even just a smartphone - investors can use a DIY investing platform or online broker and the wealth of research at their fingertips to hopefully build their fortune. But picking the right DIY platform is crucial and the array of different options has left many investors scratching their heads.

We explain how to decide on a DIY investment platform to invest in the full range of options: Check the table for the brief details and read our full round-up of each platform's features and who they could be good for below.

The right Isa wrapper or investing account has the power to boost your investments, helping you to build a portfolio and limiting how your hard-won returns are eaten into by fees. DIY investing platforms act as a place to buy, sell and hold all your investments and a tax-efficient wrapper around them if you choose to invest in an Isa. We highlight Isa and non-Isa charges , but don't forget that investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from as much tax as possible.

The good news is that costs are consistently being trimmed and being made more transparent. Something that complicates picking a platform is that DIY investors can hold a variety of assets in their Isa - not just one fund or a handful of them.

Charges vary for those Isa investors choosing to hold investment trusts, ETFs, shares and directly traded corporate bonds, alongside traditional managed funds in the form of OEICs and unit trusts. Bearing all of this in mind we've busted the charges of what we consider some of the best and cheapest DIY investing platforms. We would advise considering the points below first. DIY investing platform prices can be chiefly be split into two camps.

Some charge a flat administration charge, while others charge a percentage of investors' holdings. The former tend to charge for buying and selling investment funds, while the latter tend to have bundled this cost into their admin fees and offer free fund dealing.

If you are a buy and hold investor putting away a large sum of money then you may benefit from a flat fee rather than percentage-based charging, which can mount up to a hefty amount. But if you plan on buying and selling regularly watch our for dealing charges, as these can also add up substantially and easily erode the gain from a flat fee. Cheapest is not always best: You need to think about a combination of price and service - it is worth paying for quality but make sure you are actually getting that.

What will you invest in: Different dealing fees for shares, investment trusts and funds mean you need to think about how you will invest and tailor your choice accordingly. What level of useful portfolio building tools and information does a platform offer?

Don't just look at the admin fee or dealing charges. You need to combine both to get a true cost, along with costs such as dividend reinvestment and regular dealing charges. A low admin fee might look good but if you are an active investor who buys and sells a lot, then dealing charges will soon rack up and send costs soaring.

Check for regular monthly investing discounts, dividend reinvestment fees, transfer charges and other elements. Below we publish our view on the best DIY investing platforms and explain who they are good for and why we have picked them. We have also created a new tool to help you compare the best DIY investing platforms and online brokers with our partner BrokerCompare. You can select how you want to invest, whether in a general account, Isa, Sipp or combination of these, and how much you will invest and how often you are likely to buy and sell funds and shares.

It will then do the calculations to show you which DIY investing platforms and online brokers look like the best deal for you. Try it now and if you have any feedback on it, please email editor thisismoney. How we choose the best DIY investing platforms. We have focused on two vital aspects, cost and quality. This is not a collection of all of the absolute cheapest platforms, these are some we think stand out and that also compete keenly on price. All discount initial fund charges down to zero in most cases.

Some funds can still carry an initial charge though - platforms should provide you with a list to check. We have picked DIY Isa platforms to suit different investors and focus on those that offer a choice of investments - not just funds. Each one will be better for some investors than others and you should choose depending on your needs. Remember there are plenty of others available too. This list is in no particular order.

Hargreaves Lansdown is the big gun of DIY investing. The website is packed with information from its advisers and analysts, the shares and fund data is comprehensive and there is a very handy app. Investors pay a 0. Shares and investment trusts also incur a 0. Hargreaves has negotiated some reduced annual management charges from fund managers. Fund dealing is free. If you trade more than 10 times per month share-dealing costs step down. Hargreaves' non-Isa Vantage account carries the same charges except for removing the fee for holding shares and trusts.

Who is it good for? Those looking for an advice-rich service that is price-competitive but not the cheapest around. It does come with lots of bells and whistles, including a very good app and portfolios for easy investing. Interactive Investor's pricing structure is good if you play it right, getting all of your admin fee back in free trades.

It is definitely worth a look for those with larger sums to invest. It offers a wide range of investments along with solid research and is good for those regularly investing. The model portfolios on offer are well researched and a cheap and easy way to invest.

Fidelity is one of the big investing names and has a platform packed with useful information, guides, market commentary and videos. It has recently made some changes to its account, these make it potentially good for those holding popular investment trusts and ETFs but remove the option to hold shares.

Fidelity previously offered a ShareNetwork account run by Charles Stanley where investors had to separately hold their shares, investment trusts and ETFs. Now that service has been removed and investors can buy a select range of investment trusts and ETFs through the fund platform. Existing share investors are being moved to Charles Stanley. Fidelity says it has plans to include share-dealing but won't be drawn on when.

So, there is currently no facility to hold shares with Fidelity. Investing in funds carries a 0. However, if you are investing small amounts the charging structure is slightly different.

There are no fund dealing charges for buying and selling. If you want to invest in exchange traded funds or selected investment trusts, buying and selling costs 0. Be warned, however, the range is limited. Fidelity offers very useful service. It is one of the big guns, has model portfolios, tools to help you decide how to invest and a wealth of information on offer.

Best way to buy and sell shares - cheapest stock brokers | This is Money

The fact that you can't buy funds and shares in the same Isa will be a major drawback for many DIY investors. However, the new charging structure does make this potentially a good platform for building a portfolio of popular ETFs and investment trusts. Investors get dealing at just 0. The provider offers a range of complex products such as spread betting or forex, but you can also build a share or exchange traded portfolio and put it in an Isa.

As a promotion it has removed dealing fees for more than 1, ETFs until 30 April meaning you could build a portfolio for nothing other than the costs of the products. ETF dealing will cost the same from May. This is a low-cost way to build an ETF and share portfolio as long as you are unlikely to want to buy funds.

Investors get four online trades per year included. It offers access to the full run of investment trusts, shares, ETFs and direct bonds available. Investors using it can access research and tools from Morningstar with their portfolio. Charges are the same for standard share dealing, including the administration fee.

Investors can buy trusts, shares, corporate bonds and ETFs and it is good for monthly regular investors in these too, although dividend reinvestment is pricey. New charges have come in, however.

Remember, you can only pay new money into one Isa wrapper each year, but you can keep an old-tax-year's Isa wrapper open with no new payments into it and open a new-tax-year one, or transfer all your holdings onto the same platform beware exit charges typically apply.

Charges are the same. In return for that rise in dealing charges, the annual admin fee has gone.

If you plan to build a portfolio of shares this is still a cost effective way of doing it. TD Direct's charges are slightly confusing but it can prove to be a cost effective way to invest.

An extra charge applies on top of this for fund investments of 0. There is a quick start and recommended fund range for easy investing and recommended ETFs.

TD Direct's charges work out at reasonable value for fund investors if you qualify for the removal of the account fee and so just pay the 0. Qualifying share and investment trust investors would pay no fees on these holdings.

The Share Centre - Self-Select Isa. The Share Centre offers investors a full DIY choice in its Self Select Stocks and Shares Isa. Regular monthly investing in funds shares, ETFs, trusts and bonds costs 0. The Share Centre offers cost-effective share dividend reinvestment into individual stocks, trusts and ETFs at 0. That needs to be weighed up against fund dealing charges, however, these could soon rack up if you do much buying and selling. For those with large sums invested it could prove good value compared to percentage-based charges even when dealing fees are taken into account.

It's good for stock pickers who reinvest dividend shares, trusts or ETFs and investors looking for a variety of investments, with some good analysis, tips and advice. Its stocks and shares Isa offers the chance to invest across shares, investment trusts, funds and ETFs, with a big one-off set-up charge but then no annual or quarterly admin charge beyond that.

Bear in mind that you do need to pay for fund-dealing here. And also check out Club Finance's Frequent Trader offer. Unfortunately, however, there are no reduced regular monthly investing charges for shares and trusts, nor is there cheap dividend reinvesting. In an unusual step those who invest through a Sipp, as self invested personal pensions are known, see their charges cut to 0. BestInvest offers a selection of model portfolio funds, rated in an investing risk-style. BestInvest is a good option for fund investors looking to take advantage of its research and lack of dealing charges.

The ready-made portfolios offer an easy hands-off route into investing at a reasonable cost. It's also an interesting offer if you have a small Sipp and want to manage all your investments under one roof, as the Sipp charge is competitive. AJ Bell Youinvest has a 0. For fund holdings it steps down to 0. Youinvest scores with a low percentage admin charge that is also capped for shares, trusts and ETFs. There is cost effective regular monthly investing in funds, shares and selected investment trusts.

There is no cheap dividend reinvestment. The broker's online platform Charles Stanley Direct platform has a low 0. Changes arriving on 1 November will see this cut to 0. There is also a 0. This is removed monthly if you trade at least once in that month. Active fund investors get a good deal at Charles Stanley with a low annual fee and no buying or selling charges.

Once you've decide on an investing Isa you also need to work out what to put in it. You don't need to do that immediately, however. Good platforms will let you pay cash into the wrapper to use up your allowance and then take your time investing it. Don't leave it sitting around too long though, as you will be losing interest you could have earned in a savings account. Here is some essential reading to help you decide how to invest: Six simple steps for wiser investing. How to invest in funds, investment trusts and ETFs.

How to invest in shares. Fund and investment trust ideas from the experts. The best and cheapest low-cost tracker funds. Among the wealth of options for DIY investors, there are a number of funds-only platforms. You will not be able to invest in shares, investment trusts, or ETFs usually here, but you can often benefit from free fund dealing and some keen pricing.

We highlight three below that stand out. Rplan is an interesting funds-only option for DIY investors. Its positions itself as a technology-rich answer to help you invest better. It charges a simple 0.

You can open a standard investing account, or an Isa, but it doesn't offer a Sipp. Rplan's tools can help you compare funds on performance, risk and charges and you can try them all out on the site before you sign up. I nvestors only interested in buying funds, you can't add any shares, investment trusts or bonds into the mix.

Stocks & shares ISAs: find the cheapest platform - MSE

The rplan system is about getting people to invest better, so you can create different investment pots and goals, check how funds measure up and use some clever tools. Cavendish Online is another funds only DIY investing platform and stands out with its very low percentage charges. Investors pay just 0. Cavendish has long been a low-cost investing option without some of the frills of its rivals. It offers a selection of three model portfolios graded by risk. This is cheap investing but it is only for buying funds, you can't add any shares, investment trusts or bonds too.

This is a low-cost option for those who want to take charges to the bone and are happy to forgo the tools, tips and content others offer. Axa only offers funds, despite being badged with the official stocks and shares Isa tag, but carries some useful tools and advice. It offers all-in-one funds and expert's quick start portfolios, with investing options designed to match your attitude to risk that can be passive-only, blended, or active-only.

Axa Self Investor charges 0. Clean and simply laid out, Axa Self Investor offers an information-rich website to fund investors. But you will need to weigh that up against rival platforms that charge a similar amount and offer share and investment trusts. The All-in-one and Quick Start options give investors a simple route into some expert-selected easy investing. Before you make a final decision, think about the points above on picking the best platform, what you want to invest in: Don't forget that there is a delicate balancing act between administration fees and dealing charges.

Do your own research, sit down and work out how the DIY investing platforms you favour compare against each other. This homework will be worth it in the long run. Watch out for transfer charges and other fees from investing platforms, as well as dealing and admin charges. Investing in an Isa is one of the few opportunities we have for making money tax-free.

The reason for investing in an Isa is its tax-friendly nature, with the added bonus that you don't need to worry about a tax return or declaring gains. Any gains within an Isa are free from capital gains tax.

However, those who invest consistently over time may one day be surprised at how much those investments are worth and holding them in a tax-free wrapper makes sense. Income from investments is also treated in a tax-friendly way in an Isa. Corporate bond and gilts income is tax-free. Dividends on shares previously involved a needlessly complicated 10 per cent tax credit system and then effective tax rates of nothing for basic rate taxpayers and 25 per cent for higher-rate taxpayers.

Find the Best Online Brokerage | Easy Comparison Tool

However, if you hold shares, investment trusts or a fund in an Isa there is no tax to pay on dividend income. Isa investing also means you don't have to fill in dividend income on a self-assessment form and removes the headache of tax returns for any capital gains. It used to be that investing in an Isa was not always worthwhile, as charges were higher.

In most cases c harges are now exactly the same as for normal investing, so using an investing Isa makes sense. What type of investor are you? Read our guide on investing strategies. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline.

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Should you take out wedding insurance for your big day? Policies cover illness and caterers going bust - but not cold feet or bad weather Previous. DIY INVESTING ISA CHARGES Admin charge Charges notes Fund dealing Standard share, trust, ETF dealing Regular investing Dividend reinvestment AJ Bell YouInvest 0. WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE? Only one live Isa at a time Remember, you can only pay new money into one Isa wrapper each year, but you can keep an old-tax-year's Isa wrapper open with no new payments into it and open a new-tax-year one, or transfer all your holdings onto the same platform beware exit charges typically apply.

Six simple steps for wiser investing 2. How to invest in funds, investment trusts and ETFs 3. How to invest in shares 4. Fund and investment trust ideas from the experts 5. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS Before you make a final decision, think about the points above on picking the best platform, what you want to invest in: If you think you have a better investing DIY investing platform suggestion please tell us in reader comments below.

Why invest through an Isa Investing in an Isa is one of the few opportunities we have for making money tax-free. READ THE NEXT INVESTING GUIDE What type of investor are you? Share or comment on this article e-mail Most watched Money videos How to get out of your credit card debt Instant karma!: Thief stopped by lorry driver's quick thinking The new Nissan Qashqai will be in the showrooms from next month Jaguar Land Rover teases the opening of its classic car tour Investing Show: Are stockmarkets too expensive?

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Fund and trust ideas for emerging markets Dumb tracker, cheap do-it-all fund, or smart beta? How you can track the market. The investment industry's world of abbreviations Accumulation - any income generated by the fund like dividends or interest is automatically reinvested.

Income - any income generated is distributed by the fund instead of being reinvested. Distribution - any income generated is distributed by the fund instead of being reinvested.

Retail - the fund is aimed at ordinary investors. Institutional - the fund is aimed at corporate investors like pension funds. A, B, M, X etc: Different fund houses use letters for different things. Check with them what they stand for. Some fund houses use this name on clean funds which carry no commissions for financial advisers, supermarkets or brokers, just the fee levied by the fund manager. But other fund houses use different letters - I, D or Y, for example - so you need to find out for yourself which are clean funds.

Fund denominated in pounds. Fund denominated in euros.

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