Simple stocks & shares ISA

VoucherMan

I keep thinking I should save into a S&S ISA as well as my cash ISA. Especially as I may soon have more 'spare cash' than I can put in a cash ISA.

My only previous attempt at a shares ISA was a Halifax ISA Investor in about 2004 which at the time seemed to give a fairly good return. At one point I was getting about 20% per year (rough calculation). I closed the ISA in 2008 when it started to lose value so I've no idea on recent performance.

I notice on here most/all advice seems to be to avoid saving schemes like the Halifax's. I've seen places like Hargreaves Lansdown suggested but I would like to 'invest & forget'. I've no experience of managing investments and no desire to learn, preferring to leave it to those with more experience.



Any advice on where I should be looking to invest? Does anywhere, other than the banks, have schemes where you just choose the level of risk & leave them to choose/manage the funds?

dunstonh

My only previous attempt at a shares ISA was a Halifax ISA Investor in about 2004 which at the time seemed to give a fairly good return.

Halifax have never had a good option. They are known for their consistently poor investments.

At one point I was getting about 20% per year (rough calculation). I closed the ISA in 2008 when it started to lose value so I've no idea on recent performance.

You have to average out the ups and downs which will occur over the economic cycle. The cycle is typically around 10 years. Any investment of less than an economic cycle is risking either hitting a poor period or a getting lucky with a good period. Neither is going reflect the long term average.

Any advice on where I should be looking to invest?

That is a regulated activity and the board doesnt allow advice on investments.

Does anywhere, other than the banks, have schemes where you just choose the level of risk & leave them to choose/manage the funds?

Hundreds of them and all the best do not come from banks.

VoucherMan

dunstonh wrote: »

That is a regulated activity and the board doesnt allow advice on investments.

Thanks.

I'm not after details of any particular stocks & shares, just any firms that offer the service. Reading the previously mentioned HL's main S&S page it says The Vantage Stocks & Shares ISA is primarily designed for investors who make their own decisions so isn't what I'm looking for. The only decision I'd want to make is the risk level, or whatever they use to categorize funds these days.

I assume in this case I'd need to speak to an IFA then? Or go to Money Supermarket and hope I pick a good one.

dunstonh

I'm not after details of any particular stocks & shares, just any firms that offer the service.

nearly all investment fund houses offer at least one fund that does what you want.

HL is for people who wish to choose their investments. This could be a portfolio fund which handles asset allocation etc within the fund. An IFA will pick the platform/provider and fund(s) to use. So, it really depends on how much you want to do for yourself.