Buying Shares

tigerspill

Dumb Question time.

I have various investments (funds) held with iWeb, Vanguard, HL and Fidelity.  I have good reasons for using these platforms.

However, I wish to purchase some specific shares - 100 Carnival (CCL) shares to allow me avail of the perk that gives On Board Credit when taking cruises with any of their companies (P&O, Princess etc.).

What is the cheapest way to buy individual shares.  Specifically is there a way to purchase shares without paying an ongoing regular fee?

kempiejon

tigerspill said:

Dumb Question time.

I have various investments (funds) held with iWeb, Vanguard, HL and Fidelity.  I have good reasons for using these platforms.

However, I wish to purchase some specific shares - 100 Carnival (CCL) shares to allow me avail of the perk that gives On Board Credit when taking cruises with any of their companies (P&O, Princess etc.).

What is the cheapest way to buy individual.  Specifically is there a way to purchase shares without paying an ongoing regular fee?

Of Vang, HL and iWeb the latter will let you buy for £5 plus stamp duty, no extra custody fee. For perks you might need to get iWeb to pass your details. I used to get vouchers from M&S and Greene King when I was a shareholder but I needed to prompt the broker to get me on the list to get those perks.
There are cheaper app based ways to buy shares but I have no experiece.

Martico

Freetrade - app-based, and if it's in a general investment account, it's free of platform fees and very easy

k6chris

tigerspill said:

Dumb Question time.

I have various investments (funds) held with iWeb, Vanguard, HL and Fidelity.  I have good reasons for using these platforms.

However, I wish to purchase some specific shares - 100 Carnival (CCL) shares to allow me avail of the perk that gives On Board Credit when taking cruises with any of their companies (P&O, Princess etc.).

What is the cheapest way to buy individual shares.  Specifically is there a way to purchase shares without paying an ongoing regular fee?

Worth checking how you go about claiming the benefit and proving that you own the shares.  This may help you decide how to buy them?

wmb194

k6chris said:

tigerspill said:

Dumb Question time.

I have various investments (funds) held with iWeb, Vanguard, HL and Fidelity.  I have good reasons for using these platforms.

However, I wish to purchase some specific shares - 100 Carnival (CCL) shares to allow me avail of the perk that gives On Board Credit when taking cruises with any of their companies (P&O, Princess etc.).

What is the cheapest way to buy individual shares.  Specifically is there a way to purchase shares without paying an ongoing regular fee?

Worth checking how you go about claiming the benefit and proving that you own the shares.  This may help you decide how to buy them?

Looks like it's now using an app named Stockperks. I downloaded to have a look and selected Carnival and then P&O. For US brokers it can link to them but for non-US it asks you to upload a recent brokerage statement or a picture of the share certificate.

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/shareholder-information/shareholder-benefit

Hoenir

The greatest challenge you face is that paper certificates are being phased out. Retail platforms hold company shares in nominee form. They aren't directly held in an individual's name. Making it difficult to evidence your ownership to the Company. 

You could ask the platform to transfer the share holding into your name that way you would obtain a share certificate. How long it would remain valid for is another matter. 

Eco_Miser

@Hoenir The post before yours shows that paper certificates are NOT required for this perk, a brokerage statement is sufficient.

Makes sense not to require something that is being phased out.

Hoenir

Eco_Miser said:

@Hoenir The post before yours shows that paper certificates are NOT required for this perk, a brokerage statement is sufficient.

Makes sense not to require something that is being phased out.

My comment was that of a broad nature. Some platforms assist others don't. In the way that companies themselves differ. BT immediately springs to mind for example. 

Martico

Hoenir said:

The greatest challenge you face is that paper certificates are being phased out. Retail platforms hold company shares in nominee form. They aren't directly held in an individual's name. Making it difficult to evidence your ownership to the Company. 

You could ask the platform to transfer the share holding into your name that way you would obtain a share certificate. How long it would remain valid for is another matter. 

My shares in Freetrade are in my name - I've had invitations to vote in shareholder meetings for the (few) individual company shares I own

Hoenir

Martico said:

Hoenir said:

The greatest challenge you face is that paper certificates are being phased out. Retail platforms hold company shares in nominee form. They aren't directly held in an individual's name. Making it difficult to evidence your ownership to the Company. 

You could ask the platform to transfer the share holding into your name that way you would obtain a share certificate. How long it would remain valid for is another matter. 

My shares in Freetrade are in my name - I've had invitations to vote in shareholder meetings for the (few) individual company shares I own

Freetrade is one platform of many. Mine notifies me of Corporate events nothing more. 

wmb194

Martico said:

Hoenir said:

The greatest challenge you face is that paper certificates are being phased out. Retail platforms hold company shares in nominee form. They aren't directly held in an individual's name. Making it difficult to evidence your ownership to the Company. 

You could ask the platform to transfer the share holding into your name that way you would obtain a share certificate. How long it would remain valid for is another matter. 

My shares in Freetrade are in my name - I've had invitations to vote in shareholder meetings for the (few) individual company shares I own

They're not, they're held in a nominee. You can still vote shares held in a nominee account if the broker can be bothered to let you, effectively the broker votes the shares on your behalf following your instructions. It usually happens more reliably with US listed companies - which includes British and other European companies held via ADRs - as that can all be done in an automated manner via e.g., ProxyVote.