Investment Platforms

Startinglate

At a very late stage I am dipping my toe into a Stocks & Shares ISA. I have identified the fund(s) I am interested in and now need suggestions as to the best platform to proceed. I have no knowledge of investing and have neither the time or inclination to put together a portfolio; I have therefore concluded that the best option for me is one of the Vanguard LifeStrategy funds. I am nearly 60 and I suppose that I should be considering the 40% fund (or even the 20% fund) but I am very healthy (60 is the new 40) and so I am thinking the LifeStrategy 60% fund. I will be contributing the full £15240 this tax year as a lump sum and intend this to be a ten year investment with probable contributions in future tax years. Comments, suggestions (not advice) most welcome.

eskbanker

http://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/

BLB53

Good choice so long as you don't need much income from your investments - the yield is around 1.4%.

A broker - Charles Stanley Direct with platform charges of 0.25% p.a (£38) or AJ Bell YouInvest - charges 0.20% (£30.48).

Startinglate

Thank you for your suggestions I will take a look. No I don't need income; I'm simply looking to put the money in a diverse portfolio that will (may) give me a better return over 10 - 15 years than cash ISAs would.

Startinglate

Just an update on this post. I decided to go with AJ Bell YouInvest and have put this year's ISA allowance in Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% acc fund. I found the process of opening an account and the website generally very user friendly; thank you BLB53 for the suggestion. Thank you also eskbanker for the link to monevator I found a very useful article on how to 'lifestyle' Vanguard LS funds in future years.