We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.
Please recommend a decent stock-investing platform

DraxDomax
Posts: 43 Forumite

Hi, I have had an ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown for a little while now, invested in a fund...
It's alright but I find sometimes I have a little gut feeling or some insight and would like to buy some specific shares.
I've tried googling something and found an app but turns out it was rubbish - the company running it was registered in Malta and immediately after opening an account with them, I started getting rubbish calls from Fiji and Panama... I ended up not depositing anything with them...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"
Cheers
It's alright but I find sometimes I have a little gut feeling or some insight and would like to buy some specific shares.
I've tried googling something and found an app but turns out it was rubbish - the company running it was registered in Malta and immediately after opening an account with them, I started getting rubbish calls from Fiji and Panama... I ended up not depositing anything with them...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"

Cheers
0
Comments
-
If you were up to the task trust me you would not need to ask the question.
Individual shares if done successfully require an amount of due diligence and hard work beyond most investors, myself included.
1 -
iWeb - owned by Halifax/Lloyds. £25 to open an account and £5 per trade; no custody or ongoing charges. You can have an account in either ISA or non-ISA (trading) format.
0 -
DraxDomax said:Hi, I have had an ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown for a little while now, invested in a fund...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"
If you're invested in open-ended funds at HL (or any other funds platform) you would only get the chance to buy/sell a quantity of shares/units or a total value of shares/units at the next available price - not pick your own price. That's how subscribing into (or redeeming out of) open ended funds works
However, if buying individual stocks or investment trusts at HL, you can pick your price - see a live price and accept it during market hours, or set a stop or limit order for a future sale. You don't need to change platforms if all you want to do is make a few trades on a major stock exchange, and you can do it from inside your ISA so that there's no need to keep tax records. HL are in a 'responsible country' (the UK) and allow you to trade shares in the way you describe.
Most mainstream investment platforms that are rivals to HL and offer funds, also offer shares (e.g. Youinvest, IWeb, Interactive Investor, Charles Stanley etc). If you only want shares that can be bought via the London stock exchange you could try Jarvis's x-o.co.uk, which is cheap and cheerful. Or there are some commission free options like Freetrade if you want to take a punt on using a startup and only want to trade the more well-known stocks on major exchanges.
2 -
DraxDomax said:Hi, I have had an ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown for a little while now, invested in a fund...
It's alright but I find sometimes I have a little gut feeling or some insight and would like to buy some specific shares.
I've tried googling something and found an app but turns out it was rubbish - the company running it was registered in Malta and immediately after opening an account with them, I started getting rubbish calls from Fiji and Panama... I ended up not depositing anything with them...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"
Cheers1 -
DraxDomax said:Hi, I have had an ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown for a little while now, invested in a fund...
It's alright but I find sometimes I have a little gut feeling or some insight and would like to buy some specific shares.
I've tried googling something and found an app but turns out it was rubbish - the company running it was registered in Malta and immediately after opening an account with them, I started getting rubbish calls from Fiji and Panama... I ended up not depositing anything with them...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"
Cheers
0 -
TBC15 said:
If you were up to the task trust me you would not need to ask the question.
Individual shares if done successfully require an amount of due diligence and hard work beyond most investors, myself included.
How did the people "up to the task" become aware of the investment platform?
Like, if you were born into an "up to the task" brain, you would somehow magically know this?
0 -
bowlhead99 said:...
However, if buying individual stocks or investment trusts at HL, you can pick your price - see a live price and accept it during market hours, or set a stop or limit order for a future sale. You don't need to change platforms if all you want to do is make a few trades on a major stock exchange, and you can do it from inside your ISA so that there's no need to keep tax records. HL are in a 'responsible country' (the UK) and allow you to trade shares in the way you describe.
Most mainstream investment platforms that are rivals to HL and offer funds, also offer shares (e.g. Youinvest, IWeb, Interactive Investor, Charles Stanley etc). If you only want shares that can be bought via the London stock exchange you could try Jarvis's x-o.co.uk, which is cheap and cheerful. Or there are some commission free options like Freetrade if you want to take a punt on using a startup and only want to trade the more well-known stocks on major exchanges.
I want to thank you again for taking the time to think about my question and bring onto my consideration some interesting ideas!0 -
4ndy8 said:DraxDomax said:Hi, I have had an ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown for a little while now, invested in a fund...
It's alright but I find sometimes I have a little gut feeling or some insight and would like to buy some specific shares.
I've tried googling something and found an app but turns out it was rubbish - the company running it was registered in Malta and immediately after opening an account with them, I started getting rubbish calls from Fiji and Panama... I ended up not depositing anything with them...
I am looking for an honest place to trade shares, ideally something registered in a responsible country. Also something that allows me good control over the deals. For example, if I were selling: what price will I be asking for my stock (not just how many units I would like to sell).
Also looking for something not-too-pro, because I know how these places can get, where they use terms and don't explain them because everyone on there is already quite into it (and I am not, yet).
I won't be doing any fancy casino-style stuff like short-selling or anything. Just good old "buy low, sell high"
Cheers
1 -
DraxDomax said:TBC15 said:
If you were up to the task trust me you would not need to ask the question.
Individual shares if done successfully require an amount of due diligence and hard work beyond most investors, myself included.
How did the people "up to the task" become aware of the investment platform?
Like, if you were born into an "up to the task" brain, you would somehow magically know this?
For example when you are looking at the HL website where you already hold an investment account, if you click on the banner at the top of the page where it says 'Shares', it takes you to https://www.hl.co.uk/shares, where you can buy shares.
So if you are looking to buy shares, and are already visiting the website of the largest retail investment platform in the country where you have an account, it is not much of a stretch to click Our Services / Investing / Share Dealing or even just Shares, and see that you can Deal Shares Online / Deal Now.
It doesn't seem 'stupidly wrong' for him to think this or to point this out... Sorry if that sounds harsh. Good luck with it all.1 -
OP, I "trade" shares on HL (as well as funds ETFs ITs etc) fairly infrequently. They are perfectly fine for that and for you conveniently no need to open a new account. More expensive than some but unless you are trading small amounts frequently it will make little difference.However, If you will be trading US shares frequently (or Euro) I recommend ii because there once you have a US share in $, when you sell it the money remains as $ , so you can then buy another $ share without incurring additional currency exchange fees. (same for € obvs)I no longer have an account with ii but they worked well, I dont trade my US/Euro shares frequently not because of the cost of buying/selling but because of the currency exchange.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.4K Spending & Discounts
- 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.7K Life & Family
- 254.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards