Investing in shares (Hargreaves and Lansdown)

KingLouie

I have, initially, between 5-10k to invest and with the economy being as it is I've decided to invest in the stock market. I'm a complete beginner, and after reading some info on Hargreaves and Lansdown form Martin Lewis, have been looking at them to invest though, potentially via a fund.

It all seems fairly straightforward as time is my most flexible asset. So my question is:

- Has anyone any experience with funds or with Hargreaves and Lansdown themselves?
- Has anyone invested in the stock market themselves without a manager?

Thanks in advance

xylophone

http://monevator.com/category/investing/passive-investing-investing/

Some reading ( before doing anything with your cash).

Linton

Yes to funds, no to H&L but yes to other platforms, yes to invest in stock market. Just like many on the forum. It is all straightforward. Just like playing a piano - hitting the keys is easy, the clever bit is making a decent tune.

KingLouie

You dealt with H&L before? Was it a bad experience?

xylophone

Hargreaves Lansdown is a very efficient operation with customer service second to none and an excellent, easy to use web site.

However, they are not the cheapest in terms of charges - (see the comparison chart - link in Monevator site).

For a modest portfolio this might not matter too much - for a novice investor, their ease of use might be the predominant consideration.

jimjames

KingLouie wrote: »

You dealt with H&L before? Was it a bad experience?

I have. Great service but not cheapest. Some people prefer Waitrose, others prefer Aldi. So decide what's most important to you

Vortigern

KingLouie wrote: »

You dealt with H&L before? Was it a bad experience?

I have. It's not a bad experience but they are more expensive than most.

Don't be misled by their "Wealth 100/150+." Some say these are just marketing lists of the funds they want to sell. They point out that these lists are suggestions, not advice.

treemachine

I presume you are investing through an ISA?

andrewm1981

Personally, I use HL, and find them excellent.
I'm a novice investor, with a decent amount in shares / fund with them.

What I like the most is all the tools for analysis they have, and a super app you can download, so its very easy to check how each and every share / fund is doing.

I know shares and funds are for the longer term horizons (which mine are) but I've got mildly obsessed with checking how each of my shares and funds are doing on a virtually daily basis (much as do with rightmove for house prices), as it takes literally 30 secs to log on and everything's there for you.

Yes, it may cost fractionally more, but as I buy-and-hold shares (very little trading costs), and tend to use the cheaper funds (less than 0.5%) I see the convenience value as well worth it.

KingLouie

I'm quite new to this, but if investing through an ISA means I don't pay tax on the 'winnings' then yeh I'll probably do that.

Good to know about HL. Tbh I think any sort yields have to be better than what the establishments are currently offering. And I personally don't see it recovering for a while yet, which means looking to pastures new.

Any other ideas or advice is appreciated, as I say, bit of a newbie here.

dunstonh

I'm quite new to this, but if investing through an ISA means I don't pay tax on the 'winnings' then yeh I'll probably do that.

Investing is not about winnings. investments provide income and growth. Outside of an ISA, those things can be taxable (although the ISA is not the only tax wrapper available).

ood to know about HL. Tbh I think any sort yields have to be better than what the establishments are currently offering.

The platform/provider has no impact on the yield. it is the investment you hold on the platform (or off platform as that can often be the better option).