Are there any reliable investment platforms in the UK?

ValiantSon

adredwood wrote: »

Planning to split what I invest, the majority in a more secure environment like funds, a smaller portion in stocks to hold for medium-long term. Does this make sense?

Honestly? No. Investing in individual shares is very high risk. Investing in funds is a much better option for individual investors.

I'm adding a second vote for using the broker comparison table on Monevator.

Peelerfart

I can only tell you the method I used before making my first investment. I read MSE,s section on investing.
Then I read it again.

I then, armed with what was reasonable expectation, consulted an ifa. He, and not treading on any toes, told me pretty much everything is already learned.
This convinced me I kind of understood, roughly what I was doing.
Posted on this forum asking for advice. Posters confirmed what I'd learned and thought was correct.

I then reread the advice again, on this site, before choosing my platform.

I've done OK, by which I mean I've made more than I would from the best paying savings accounts, at the time of writing.

MallyGirl

adredwood wrote: »

- interactive investor apparently had a catastrophic website failure recently, which doesn't sound the most reliable

A

II has recently gone through a big merger with TD and transferred all their clients across to TD system. There was a bit of planned downtime while that happened. Maybe that is what you read?

I have seen a fair few complaints from people trying to leave II as a result of merger/ changing fees and that being a slow and painful process. I had just opened a SIPP with them at this time and I have had very few issues - have transferred 3 pensions in so far with 2 more in progress. It is working fine for what I need.

GreenSnake

adredwood wrote: »

Planning to split what I invest, the majority in a more secure environment like funds, a smaller portion in stocks to hold for medium-long term. Does this make sense?

Well that depends on the fund, doesn't it?

No point buying a FTSE 100 fund and then individually buying stocks that are in the FTSE 100.
Well, perhaps some would. But I'm talking about keeping it simple and diversified.

adredwood

The ii website thing I mentioned can be found by searching for 'interactive investor telegraph' (can't post links yet).

Well that depends on the fund, doesn't it?

No point buying a FTSE 100 fund and then individually buying stocks that are in the FTSE 100.
Well, perhaps some would. But I'm talking about keeping it simple and diversified.

I'll keep this in mind, thanks.

A

AnotherJoe

GreenSnake wrote: »

OP: If you're new to investing, why are you planning to buy individual stocks?

Perhaps because they are new to investing ., though they’ve had 2 years to get their act together even if they didn’t have the money

AnotherJoe

adredwood wrote: »

Planning to split what I invest, the majority in a more secure environment like funds, a smaller portion in stocks to hold for medium-long term. Does this make sense?

No, it doesn’t. Why do you think it does ? What’s your rationale for believing that ?

(If anything it would be the opposite)

adredwood

No, it doesn’t. Why do you think it does ? What’s your rationale for believing that ?

(If anything it would be the opposite)

Wait, are you saying stocks are safer than funds?

ValiantSon

adredwood wrote: »

Wait, are you saying stocks are safer than funds?

No.

As I said above, investing in individual shares is very high risk and makes little sense for the individual investor as they are unlikely to have the necessary capital to create a properly diversified portfolio. Invest in funds.

adredwood

No, it doesn’t. Why do you think it does ? What’s your rationale for believing that ?

(If anything it would be the opposite)

Ok, I misunderstood. So what does this quote refer to?