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Please recommend a decent stock-investing platform

DraxDomax
DraxDomax Posts: 43 Forumite
Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 28 July 2020 pm31 8:48PM in Savings & investments
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

Comments

  • TBC15
    TBC15 Posts: 1,488 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper

    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.


  • 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.
  • bowlhead99
    bowlhead99 Posts: 12,295 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Post of the Month
    edited 28 July 2020 pm31 9:26PM
    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.

  • 4ndy8
    4ndy8 Posts: 22 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts
    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
    I use trading 212. No trade fee which is handy. It is a shame Robin Hood pulled out of the UK market as I'm sure they would have driven down trade fees in some platforms. I've got an invite code if you want it (if I'm allowed to post). 
  • 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
    Well it's your money so good luck, I use iWeb because it's just £5 to trade and there's no annual account fee just £25 to setup
  • DraxDomax
    DraxDomax Posts: 43 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    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.


    I don't mind people being harsh but you are just stupidly wrong.
    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?
  • DraxDomax
    DraxDomax Posts: 43 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    ...
    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.
    Wonderful. It seems like you know exactly what I was trying to ask. To be honest, I knew HL do shares as well but wanted to hear another option, if there's something more specialized, etc...
    I want to thank you again for taking the time to think about my question and bring onto my consideration some interesting ideas!
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 29 July 2020 am31 9:50AM
    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
    I use trading 212. No trade fee which is handy. It is a shame Robin Hood pulled out of the UK market as I'm sure they would have driven down trade fees in some platforms. I've got an invite code if you want it (if I'm allowed to post). 
    No such thing as a free lunch. A major part of RobinHood's business model wouldn't work in the UK as it does in the US for regulatory reasons. 

  • bowlhead99
    bowlhead99 Posts: 12,295 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Post of the Month
    edited 29 July 2020 am31 9:57AM
    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.


    I don't mind people being harsh but you are just stupidly wrong.
    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?
    TBC15 is suggesting that if you are able to figure out what shares represent good opportunities at their current market values by doing sensible research into their financial condition other than 'gut feeling', you would be more than capable of finding out how to buy shares from a broker in a responsible country rather than a Maltese bucket shop.

    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.
  • AnotherJoe
    AnotherJoe Posts: 19,622 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    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.
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