Stocks and Shares ISAs'

enthusiasticsaver

I am looking at maybe Cavendish online, HSBC or Hargreaves Lansdowne to do a S and S ISA from April 2015. I am considering an index tracker or maybe an ETF.


We are planning to retire in 2018 when I am 58 and my husband is 60 and have pensions, cash isas and emergency savings. No debts or mortgage outstanding.


Any suggestions for a fund - should I look at global or just UK FTSE and links to advice and guidance would be much appreciated?


I am not prepared to accept a lot of risk but will accept some but if I was doing a monthly payment rather than a lump sum I think I could look on it as a 8-10 year investment. Apparently it is better to do that if you are risk averse as it spreads the risk rather than a lump sum. I lost some money on a Barclays investment unit trust quite a few years ago and it has taken me some time to even consider stocks and shares again but savings rates are so pitiful that if we are to have a comfortable retirement we need to make our savings work better. I am also thinking that we should diversify rather than just high paying current accounts and fixed rate cash isas.


Thoughts or suggestions from anyone?

colsten

There are thousands of funds you can select from;you need to construct a portfolio of one or several funds that you feel comfortable with. May be look here to start with.

You need to keep your costs down whatever you select, both for the funds and for the platform. HSBC and HL aren't necessarily the best choice. Again, look here for some ideas, or browse the forum for reports about platform providers.

enthusiasticsaver

Thanks Colsten and I will certainly check those links out.


Cavendish online is one which appears on the link as a low cost platform for small investors and I have been reading about them elsewhere. I have come across a Vanguard Lifestrategy 60% equity fund which is medium risk 60%stocks and 40% bonds which looks interesting. It does include emerging markets though which may be too risky for me. Any experience of Vanguard funds or Cavendish online as a broker anyone?

colsten

There's a very long Vanguard LS thread on the Savings board, and Cavendish is also mentioned from time to time over there.