DIY Investment ISA

What is a DIY Investment ISA?

A DIY Investment ISA allows you to take control over what you invest in.

Different platforms offer different levels of control.

Some platforms give you the freedom to choose from a range of funds to make up your ISA investment. E.g. Legal & General offer 50 funds within their portfolio all with different objectives and risk profiles.Barclays offer a similar offering.

So if you are inclined to invest for income or growth or you want to pick only funds that invest in companies that have been ethically screened then you can have that choice.

Going deeper some fund platforms offer you complete control so you buy individual company shares and bonds. These platform providers include Hargreaves Lansdowne and AJ Bell.

What to Consider when choosing a DIY ISA provider?

1. What are the charges? Choosing active management of your investments isn’t always cheaper than DIY: there are some price advantages to trading in scale. You need to be looking at annual administration charges, dealing fees, and any other costs, including exit charges.
2. How much are you investing? Platforms that charge flat-rate fees work better for large investors with £50K or more in their portfolios.
3. What kind of tools does the platform offer? Many investors are prepared to pay a bit more in fees for a platform that offers really useful apps and services.
4. Do you want to be able to invest in independent funds, or are you happy investing via a fund manager such as Legal & General that offers just its own funds?
   1. Platforms such as Nutmeg, Shepherds Friendly and Scottish Friendly offer their own funds as well as managed portfolios including other products.

Some ISAs require large minimum deposits whereas some don’t. Make sure you find one that suits your needs 

Investment ISA

An Investment ISA is a tax-efficient and flexible way to invest in the market.

Features:

1. Options to put away a little money each month or investing some spare cash, you could possibly receive a higher return on your savings when compared with a standard ISA
2. Many accounts now offering managed collective investment portfolios for you, it is now easy for people to begin investing as no experience is required. This also works for very busy people
3. It’s always worth remembering however, that there is an element of risk involved and you could end up with less than you originally invested. Investment ISAs are viewed as a long term investment, usually for a minimum of 5 years.

What to Consider when Choosing a Stocks and Shares Provider?

1. Assess the level of risk you’re willing to take, most providers can filter assets depending on the level of risk you’re willing to take or even provide you with a ready-made portfolio
2. Low risk investing tends to focus on bond funds which pay interest or dividends regularly, whereas higher risk portfolios tend to focus on property investment and the stock market
3. Some providers hold a limited amount of carefully selected options to invest in whereas others have a much larger range of funds. Work out which is right for you
4. Some providers have a simple interface with clear copy about each investment and its past performances. Make sure you find one that you find easy to use, helpful and clear
5. Be careful of management charges and account fees. All investment ISAs have some form of charge, whether that’s a trading fee or an account management fee. Make sure you know how much your ISA will be costing you before you invest
6. Providers often let you hold cash in your account, ready to invest whenever you choose. You can even earn interest on that money so make sure your potential provider offers this if you think you may need this option