What to do with £250,000

Angelica123

SavvySaver24 said:

Main goal is to be able to stop working in a 9-5, 5 days a week by 45 to 50. It's not that I don't want to work but we want the freedom to be able to travel when we want for as long as we want without being beholden to Annual Leave. Travel is hugely important to us, and definitely our biggest expense but we are fairly frugal in all other aspects of day to day life.

This may be more of a career change type of thing. Is there a job you could move to that would allow you that flexibility to travel? I think that would be more realistic than retiring at 50 and making your money stretch for another 30-40 years while you are not working (and have enough to travel with too). 

Maximising your pension would be the single most useful thing you do. The fact you want to retire early means you need to be more aggressive in contributing while you are still in the workforce. 

j_netprofit

I think the OPs goal to work less hours needs to take a back seat for now, fix the current controllables first then FIRE will come a lot easier.

SavvySaver24

What's the issue with 'robot advisor' stocks and shares ISAs? Who should I be looking at instead just more the big banks?

Cornish_mum

Hi I suggest reading this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Fund-Life-You-Want/dp/1399404601

it’s in excellent introduction to managing your long term finances and has a chapter on IFAs.

CM

Albermarle

SavvySaver24 said:

What's the issue with 'robot advisor' stocks and shares ISAs? Who should I be looking at instead just more the big banks?

Robo advisors charge more than a simple S&S ISA provider. Typically around 0.7% to 1 % whereas a low cost multi asset fund on a normal platform might cost you 0.25% to 0.6%.
A couple of the big banks have reasonably competitive offerings but in this link are the more well known providers,
Stocks & shares ISAs: find the best platform - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)

j_netprofit

SavvySaver24 said:

What's the issue with 'robot advisor' stocks and shares ISAs? Who should I be looking at instead just more the big banks?

Less choice and more expense. 

Spend couple of good hours researching, reading/youtube/podcasts. There are many many other platforms but personally I can only recommend Intreactive Investor and IWeb.