interactive investor is an award-winning investment platform that puts you in control of your financial future.
We have been helping investors for over 25 years, through market highs and lows offering high quality content and impartial insights. We’re now the UK’s number one flat-fee investment platform, with assets under administration over £50 billion and over 400,000 customers.
For a simple, flat monthly fee we provide a secure home for your pensions, ISAs and investments. We offer a wide choice of over 40,000 UK and international investment options, including shares, funds, trusts and ETFs.
What is Interactive Investor？
Interactive Investor, a security and fund focused company.It's a UK-based firm regulated by the FCA, offers a broad array of securities and services, including shares, indices (FTSE100, FTSE 250, NASDAQ), and various ISAs.
They support margin trading starting at 1.5% and provide a fee structure of $4.99 per month for stocks and shares, with trading fees at 0.4%.
The firm operates the Interactive Investor app and offers promotions like up to £200 cashback. Customer support is available via phone, and they provide a knowledge center with investment resources.
Regulatory Status
Interactive Investor Services Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under license number 141282.
The FCA, an independent regulatory body financed by fees from the financial services industry, oversees the conduct of retail and wholesale financial firms to ensure the integrity of the UK's financial markets.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Interactive Investor offers up to £200 cashback, attracting customers with appealing promotions. Their low fee plan starts at just £4.99 per month, making it cost-effective. Regulated by the FSA, the platform ensures secure trading. It supports a wide range of tradable assets and services, including ISAs, and provides educational resources like videos and podcasts.
Cons:
The platform's customer support is limited to phone only, which may not meet all user needs. Additionally, Interactive Investor's interface and trading processes can be complex for beginners, potentially deterring new traders.
Tradable Securities
Interactive Investor offers a wide range of tradable securities, including:
Shares Trading
Interactive Investor provides trading opportunities in a wide range of shares, allowing investors to buy and sell equities from major companies in sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare. This includes popular stocks from leading exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange.
Funds and Trusts
The platform offers a variety of funds and trusts, including managed funds, index funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Examples include Quick-start Funds designed for new investors and Super 60 investments, which are highly rated picks across different asset classes.
Indices Access
Interactive Investor enables trading on prominent indices, giving traders access to the FTSE 100 (tracking 100 major UK companies), the FTSE 250 (comprising mid-cap British businesses), and the NASDAQ (known for its large tech company listings). This allows for diversified investments in some of the world's leading economic indicators.
Pensions and Retirement Services
For retirement planning, Interactive Investor offers services that include pension funds and retirement accounts tailored to individual financial goals. This includes options for both defined contribution plans and personal pensions, focusing on long-term growth and security.
Services
The Interactive Investor Cash Savings Account service helps users find better interest rates for their cash savings by comparing deals from over 25 UK banks and building societies.
It allows seamless transfers between providers through a single account to ensure investments are always on the best terms. This account offers a wide range of market-leading interest rates, making it easier for users to reach their investment goals. The service is standalone, provided by Flagstone, and is not linked to Interactive Investor's SIPP, Trading Account, or ISA.
The latest deals include various durations with interest rates such as:
- 3 years: 4.46%
- 2 years: 4.75%
- 18 months: 4.65%
- 12 months: 4.95%
- 9 months: 4.77%
Each deal has a minimum deposit requirement of £5,000 and a maximum of £250,000.
Account Types
Interactive Investor offers a diverse range of account types to meet various investment needs:
General Trading Account: This account allows investors to trade across all markets with flexibility, perfect for those who want to invest in various assets such as stocks, bonds, and funds. It offers the freedom to engage with financial markets without the specific tax benefits of other account types.
ISA (Individual Savings Account): Designed to maximize tax-free savings, Interactive Investors ISA provides a platform where capital gains and dividends are not taxed. This account is ideal for individuals aiming to grow their savings efficiently over the long term.
SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension): The SIPP account enables investors to have active control over their retirement investments. Its suitable for those who wish to manage their pension savings directly, offering a wide range of investment options and the flexibility to tailor retirement strategies.
Other Investment Accounts:
Junior ISA: This account is a tax-efficient way to save for a child's future. It allows contributions from anyone, with a total annual limit of £9,000. The Junior ISA is available at no additional cost under the Investor or Super Investor plans, making it an accessible option for family savings.
Joint Trading Account: A shared account for two individuals, the Joint Trading Account lets partners manage their investments together. This account type is suitable for investing in funds, shares, trusts, and more, making it a versatile option for couples or business partners.
Company Account: Specifically for UK limited companies, this account facilitates online trading. Companies can invest in UK and international shares, funds, ETFs, and trusts, providing a robust platform for corporate financial growth and asset management.
Commissions and Fees
Interactive Investor (ii) offers a unique and competitive fee structure centered around flat monthly subscription fees rather than percentage-based fees, which can escalate with the growth of your investments.
Additional Fees:
Subscription Plans and Fees:
Investor Essentials Plan: For investments up to £50,000, the charge is £4.99 per month. UK and US trades under this plan cost £3.99.
Investor Plan: For larger portfolios, this plan costs £11.99 per month and includes the first trade each month for free. Additional UK and US trades remain at £3.99. This plan also allows adding up to two free Junior ISAs and two friends or family members at no extra cost.
Super Investor Plan: At £19.99 per month, this plan offers two free trades per month with subsequent UK and US trades at a reduced fee of £3.99. It allows adding as many Junior ISAs as needed and up to five friends or family members.
SIPP Charges:
Pension Essentials: Starts at £5.99 per month for SIPPs with investments up to £50,000.
Pension Builder Plan: When SIPP values exceed £50,000, the fee increases to £12.99 per month.
Trading Fees:
UK and US shares, funds, gilts, and bonds, as well as US shares trade at £3.99.
Other international shares trade at £9.99 or £5.99, depending on the plan.
Dividend reinvestment is charged at £0.99.
Additional Charges:
Foreign exchange fees vary by transaction value, starting at a 1.5% margin rate for smaller amounts and decreasing to 0.25% for transactions above £600,000.
Stamp duty, transaction levies, and other specific trading fees apply according to standard UK and international rates.
Optional services like telephone trades cost £49, and extended settlement fees are £5.
Paper documents and other administrative services incur small charges.
Platforms
Interactive Investor offers a convenient trading platform that includes both web-based access and a dedicated mobile app, tailored to facilitate secure and efficient investment management on the go.
Web-Based Platform: Interactive Investors website provides a full-featured trading environment where users can search and trade over 40,000 shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, and more. The site includes extensive market information, account management tools, and the ability to place trades easily.
Mobile App: The Interactive Investor app enhances trading by offering mobile access to manage accounts, add cash, make regular investments, and execute trades. The app supports secure sign-in options including face recognition and fingerprint technology, ensuring a secure trading experience.
Promotion
Interactive Investor offers a referral promotion where existing customers can earn £200 for each friend they refer, with a limit of up to six friends. To qualify, the referred friend must open a new SIPP, Stocks and Shares ISA, or Trading Account with Interactive Investor and fund it with a minimum of £10,000. Upon meeting these criteria, the referrer receives the £200 reward credited to their trading account within 10 working days.
Additionally, the referred friend benefits from a one-year free subscription, covering the Subscription Plan or SIPP fee.
Customer Service
Interactive Investor provides dedicated customer support through various telephone lines to assist with specific needs.
For updating contact details such as telephone numbers, email addresses, or home addresses, customers can reach out via 0345 646 2366 within the UK or +44 113 346 2366 for calls from abroad.
For assistance with accessing accounts online, the support line is 0345 646 2365 or +44 113 346 2365 for international callers. The customer service team is available from 7:45 am to 5:30 pm (GMT) Monday through Friday, ensuring timely support for account management and login issues.
Educational Resources
Interactive Investor provides a wealth of educational resources aimed at enhancing the investment knowledge and skills of its users, from beginners to more experienced investors. Heres a summary of the educational offerings:
Investing Guides and Knowledge Centre: Interactive Investor offers various guides on how to invest in the stock market, using investment trusts, ETFs, and more. These guides are geared towards demystifying the investment process and providing practical advice.
Videos and Podcasts: A series of educational videos and podcasts are available, covering topics such as the basics of Stocks & Shares ISAs, SIPPs, and comparisons between ISAs and SIPPs. These multimedia resources satisfy different learning preferences and provide insights in an engaging format.
Investment Glossary and Jargon Busters: To help users navigate the often complex language of investing, the platform offers a glossary and several articles aimed at explaining key terms and jargon in plain English.
Specialized Investment Strategies: Articles and videos offer detailed explanations of various investment strategies like income investing, growth investing, value investing, and more. These resources are designed to help investors refine their strategies and make informed decisions.
Behavioural Investing: Understanding the psychological aspects of investing is crucial, and Interactive Investor provides resources to explore how behavior affects investment decisions, aiming to help investors make better choices by increasing self-awareness.
Regular Investment Reviews and Reports: The platform offers quarterly investment reviews, research reports, and updates that keep investors informed about market trends and investment opportunities.
Specialized Topics for Different Life Stages: Articles meet specific financial goals such as preparing for retirement, investing for educational costs, or planning for major life events like weddings or buying a home.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Interactive Investor offers a robust platform equipped with a wide range of investment accounts, extensive investment options including stocks, funds, and ETFs, and a educational suite aimed at enhancing investor knowledge and decision-making.
Their services are complemented by a user-friendly mobile app and dedicated customer support, making them a compelling choice for both new and seasoned investors seeking to maximize their investment potential.
FAQs
Question: Can I open more than one type of account with Interactive Investor？
Answer: Yes, Interactive Investor offers various account types including Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA, and more, allowing multiple accounts per user.
Question: What educational resources does Interactive Investor provide？
Answer: Interactive Investor offers investing guides, videos, podcasts, a detailed investment glossary, and quarterly investment reviews to help investors at all levels enhance their understanding.
Question: How can I contact customer support if I need assistance？
Answer: You can contact Interactive Investor's customer support via phone with dedicated numbers for UK and international clients, available during business hours from Monday to Friday.
Question: Are there any promotions currently offered by Interactive Investor？
Answer: Yes, Interactive Investor frequently offers promotions such as up to £200 cashback when you refer a friend and they meet specific funding criteria.
Question: What trading platforms does Interactive Investor provide？
Answer: Interactive Investor provides a web-based trading platform and a mobile app, both designed to offer a secure and convenient trading experience.
United Kingdom
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