Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks and Shares ISA Review

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

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The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

Our bottom line

As the UK’s largest investment platform, Hargreaves Lansdown are experienced at what they do. For years they’ve been a prominent and reliable choice for people looking to invest. The stocks and shares ISA from Hargreaves Lansdown is well rounded and will suit many long-term investors, especially those who prefer funds in my opinion.

Hargreaves Lansdown has won plenty of awards over the years. Their goal is to provide investors of all abilities somewhere you can go to get what they need. There’s a big choice of investments, a well-designed mobile app, decent-value share-dealing charges, and expert research and information.

Top features of Hargreaves Lansdown’s Stocks and Shares ISA

The ability to buy and sell funds for no cost is a big advantage of this account. Long-term investors looking to fill up their ISA with funds have plenty to choose from. Your account can be set up for just £100 or relatively small monthly investments of £25. There are no penalties or costs for withdrawing, transferring, or closing an account, which is also a bonus for investors.

On top of their wide investment choices and ease of moving money, they also offer a satisfaction guarantee (terms apply). This means that if you’re unhappy with the services after 12 months, you can get in touch and they’ll refund your account charges and you can move somewhere else.

If you’re ever unsure about the suitability of an investment for your own circumstances, please seek independent financial advice

Hargreaves Lansdown’s platform

Hargreaves Lansdown allows investors to buy investments and manage their account online or through the mobile app. Along with having access to a wide choice of investing options, the platform has some really useful tools. Investors are able to set stop-loss and limit orders along with access to interactive charts and real-time share alerts.

The website was refreshed and revamped a few years ago to give it a nice smooth look both online and on the app. Both work pretty seamlessly and the application in particular has drawn lots of positive feedback from users.

Hargreaves Lansdown’s research offerings

Hargreaves Lansdown has been in the investing game for a long time so they know their stuff. They use this knowledge to help out investors by providing ideas and information from their expert analysts.

Along with general market insights and news, there’s some great specific research based on individual companies. You’re also able to access press and broker tips from ShareCast, which is great for those who like to do some extra digging around the investing landscape.

New investors can easily find lots of basic information to help get you started on your journey. For those with more experience who want to research the nitty gritty details, there’s plenty of materials available that are updated on a regular basis.

Do be mindful that any investment information and expert opinion provided on Hargreaves Lansdown’s website is not personal advice and is designed for investors who are happy making their own investment decisions. If you’re unsure about the suitability of an investment for your circumstances, you’ll want to seek out your own independent financial advice, as investing puts your capital at risk.

Customer service and support

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a number of dedicated phone lines based in Bristol that are available from 8.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am – 12.30pm on Saturdays. They also offer share dealing support during market hours.

You can also get in touch with them through a contact form on the website. They aim to provide enough resources and account access to minimise the need for contact, but they’re there if you need them.

Is a Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks and Shares ISA right for you?

If you predominantly buy funds, then I believe this account can be of great value. Because this stocks and shares ISA makes it easy and cheap to deal funds, it may be a good place to start with this type of investment. Then you can always develop out into things like individual shares as you get more experienced.

For someone who prefers individual shares, this account definitely rewards more active traders. However, I’d say there can be better value found elsewhere if you tend to just make a small number of individual share purchases each month.

Hargreaves Lansdown offers great all-round stocks and shares ISA, providing lots of choices and decent value. It’s not the cheapest account out there, but I believe the research and support available make this an attractive pick for both novice and experienced investors alike.

Alternatives to consider

If you’re looking for a stocks and shares platform that’s suitable for beginners and also has an excellent choice of funds, you should check out: