Why are some ISA investments not available with some brokers?

d712

Hello

As mentioned in another thread, I'm looking to start a stocks and shares ISA and have looked at various brokers.

I have seven investments I had in mind for my ISA but only three of them could be found on the iweb market watch search engine.

I was able to find all of them on the Hargreave Lansdown site including the ISIN numbers.

Is there any reason why these investments would be available through one broker but not another?

I was looking to use iweb because their fees are so low but maybe I've discovered the catch.

colsten

It would have to be platform-specific funds (e.g. HL's own multi-manager funds, Virgin's FTSE tracker etc), or otherwise quite exotic investments, to not be available on all major DIY platforms.

What are your chosen funds?

d712

Thanks for your response


The ones that iweb don't have are:


Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index
Vanguard Global Small Cap Index Fund
iShares II plc FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Markets Property Yield
iShares III plc FTSE Gilts UK 0-5 GBP (IGLS)

colsten

You are probably just being hampered by bad website implementation.

The Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index, for instance, is definitely available on iWeb https://halifaxiweb.digitallook.com/security.cgi?username=&ac=&csi=2701269&record_search=1&search_phrase=vanguard

I would think the others are too. If the iWeb or whatever website doesn't deliver, may be you need to consider paying the extra for the easier to use HL service

d712

Thanks


I was originally going to go with HL, then considered iweb because their fees are so low.


But I agree, the HL site is much easier to use.

bigsy

d712 wrote: »

The ones that iweb don't have are:


Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index
Vanguard Global Small Cap Index Fund
iShares II plc FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Markets Property Yield
iShares III plc FTSE Gilts UK 0-5 GBP (IGLS)

Both Vanguard funds above and the iShares ETFs are available on IWeb.

IWeb's fund screening tool doesn't seem to handle Vanguard funds well and lists only a limited number of funds. However, most Vanguard funds appear to be available to purchase despite not showing in the 'research' section of their site.

When it comes to purchasing Vanguard funds on the IWeb trading platform you choose from either Vanguard Investments (Ire) or Vanguard Investments UK Ltd., depending on where the fund is domiciled.

I find IWeb excellent for my needs - occasional purchases within an ETF portfolio - but I do my research elsewhere.

dunstonh

Platforms come in a few different types. Some are fund supermarkets carrying a limited range of funds but dont allow all assets. Some of these fund supermarkets will actually carry out due dilligence to a limited level before allowing them on platform. Others are full wrap platforms which allow whole of market access as long as it can be traded on the LSE or is available to the whole of market.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index
Vanguard Global Small Cap Index Fund
iShares II plc FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Markets Property Yield
iShares III plc FTSE Gilts UK 0-5 GBP (IGLS)

Vanguard have two fund houses. Some of the platforms only have the UK funds and not the Irish funds. The ishares are not funds. They are direct assets. So, it would need a platform that allows direct assets. Buying direct assets may be a different method to buying funds depending on the platform software.

Others above indicate both are available on your platform.

Chris75

As far as I can see some platforms don't allow most Investment trusts - including Fidelity Funds Network and when I looked at iWeb I couldn't see CF Ruffer Total return as an example that I looked up.

masonic

Chris75 wrote: »

As far as I can see some platforms don't allow most Investment trusts - including Fidelity Funds Network and when I looked at iWeb I couldn't see CF Ruffer Total return as an example that I looked up.

Fidelity actually offers investment trusts via its ShareNetwork account. This account is outsourced to Charles Stanley Direct. Cutting out the middleman and going direct to CSD would allow you to combine ITs and funds in the same account and would tend to be the lower cost option as well. However, I don't think you'll get your Ruffer fund there either.

Chris75

masonic wrote: »

Fidelity actually offers investment trusts via its ShareNetwork account. This account is outsourced to Charles Stanley Direct. Cutting out the middleman and going direct to CSD would allow you to combine ITs and funds in the same account and would tend to be the lower cost option as well. However, I don't think you'll get your Ruffer fund there either.

I think that it is just poor web site design then. If you follow the Investment Trust links on the S&S ISA page it takes you to a page that offers you the 5 Investment Trusts that are available on the platform. I see what you mean about Charles Stanley but it isn't obvious.


I have signed up with AJ Bell.

Porcupine

One route is any platform that allows you to buy shares, because then by definition investment trusts are available. It's worth checking if there's a IT version of the fund you're after - eg Ruffer Total Return might not be available, but if you can buy shares you can have Ruffer Investment Company instead.